Rush of adrenaline.
By Matt Fowler
Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.
The Knick may have played its one, grand trick back in Season 1 (era + topic + Soderbergh + Cliff Martinez’s score), but the show can still deliver on thrills and reveals. And that’s not to say that the entire style/vibe of The Knick still isn’t a kick to behold. Even in this oversaturated era of quality drama, there’s nothing quite like it on TV.
There were elements of Season 2’s finale, “This Is All We Are,” that echoed back to the first season’s closing chapter. Edwards once again found himself on the losing end of – well – just about everything. His only recourse left, after being pummeled out of the surgery game by the wretched Dr. Gallinger, was to take up Abigail’s “talking cure” work. A new avenue for him, but one taken only, and sadly, out of desperation. Likewise, Thackery managed to handily topple his Season 1 madness by performing surgery on himself in front of a full auditorium of onlookers. Only to discover that his intestinal necrosis was far worse than expected. A noble pursuit once again undone by his manic obsession and stubborn need to take giant risks. Vintage Thack.
Oh, and nice use of/callback to the adrenaline. Bertie may have not had much to do in this season ender, but the adrenaline save was great.
And yes, that self surgery scene was impressively gruesome. A very “finale” feeling moment, if that’s what the show was going for.
The reveal that Henry was behind all the sick and diseased passengers being allowed into the country wasn’t that much of a surprise. It became somewhat obvious last week when Cornelia confronted her father about it and Henry conveniently never arrived to meet them. And her dad really did seem like he didn’t know what she was talking about. Despite the episode trying to set him up as a “spoiler,” given the backstory with the smallpox blankets. So Henry, at that moment, really did seem like the obvious crook.
But then I still had no idea just how much a monster Henry was. Yes, he was sort of pervy when it came to the nurses. And that was a side of him that kind of clashed with the man he presented to both Cornelia and Dr. Edwards. But – jeez – he went full villain here. Not only did he set the Knick fire, but it was to kill his dad. And Cornelia too if she happened to be there, which she was. Then, when confronted, he basically forced her away under the threat of death. So while I wasn’t shocked he was the guy behind the plague outbreak (and Speight’s death), he still shook me a bit with his cold cruelty.
The better surprise – from a pure “didn’t see it coming” standpoint – was discovering (via confession) that Cleary had ratted Harriet out to the cops last year. Which now, on top of the fact that he loves her, helps explain why he was so dead-set on freeing her. He didn’t anticipate how much she’d be punished. He just wanted for her to be in a place where she could be with him. I’m not sure if Harriet will ever find out about this or if it’ll remain a secret, but it was a good twist. These two – while most certainly sharing their ups and downs – still remain the couple you never anticipated but still really enjoy element on the show. Part of me will miss their actual odd-assortment friendship, but I’m okay with this next step too.
And yes, I’m also perfectly fine with a weasel creeper like Barrow leaving this season with smallpox marks. What a rotten creature he is. At least, with Gallinger, there’s a smidgen of sympathy. He’s a scorching racist who’s now headed off to Germany to preach eugenics, but we’ve witnessed him endure heavy tragedies. Barrow is just devious and devilish all the way through.
“This Is All We Are” most certainly raised the bar on the Thackery-insanity front. Again, noble pursuits are behind his crumblings and failings. This time, an effort to honor Abigail and make sure no one use ether anymore. But Thack will always find some charitable, beneficial cause and then use it as an excuse to spiral out of control. A great episode that answered a mystery (or two) while setting up the pieces for next season.
Of course, this episode could also stand as a series finale if need be. We didn’t exactly find out if the adrenaline worked to save Thackery and if it was his grand hurrah, then what a way to go out. And yes, everyone else’s story could be an end point too if it came to that. The Robertson family drama, Elkins’ issues with her dad, Edwards’ impossible battle, Bertie’s search for love – it could all end here if Soderbergh sees fit.
