In New York City in 1900, Dr. John W. Thackery is named Chief of Medicine at the Knickerbocker hospital when his colleague, J.M. Christiansen, commits suicide after a failed attempt at a Caesarian section results in the death of both mother and child. Now a member of the hospital Board, he finds his preferred candidate for deputy chief, Dr. Gallinger, rejected by chairman Cornelia Robertson in favor of an outside candidate, Dr. Algernon Edwards, who has an outstanding resume. To Thackery's surprise, Edwards is an African-American and he wants nothing to do with an integrated hospital. Poverty and unsanitary conditions provide a steady stream of patients for the Knick. Medicine is still in a primitive state with most surgical deaths the result of infection. Thackery has his own demons to deal with however in the form of a cocaine addiction. Written by garykmcd

Already fuming over the hospital's faulty new electrical system, Thackery tasks Herman Barrow, The Knick's crooked superintendent, to deliver more cadavers so he and his team can test out novel surgical procedures. With more patients dying, Algernon offers to share a procedure he learned in France, but is rebuffed by Thackery and Everett. Cornelia addresses a typhoid-fever outbreak; Lucy is taken into Thackery's confidence; Sister Harriet breaks a taboo. Algernon finds an alternative way to perform his duties. Written by Kevin Grogan

An old friend of Thackery's, Abbie Alford, arrives at the hospital seeking his help. She has lost most of her nose as the result of syphilis, which she acquired from her now absent husband. Thackery agrees to perform a skin graft. Drs. Gallinger and Chickering try to learn the surgical process Edwards offered to show them but are unable to do so. Dr. Edwards is looking to open a treatment center in his basement office during night hours to treat black patients. He has to face the realities of what he can accomplish with limited resources however. Herman Barrow faces an ultimatum from his loan shark who seems to be quite ready to exact payment from him, one way or another. Ambulance driver Tom Cleary is surprised to see someone he knows enter a rundown tenement building. Other cases of typhoid fever begin to appear. Written by garykmcd

Dr. Edwards is finally invited into the surgical theater but Thackery makes it clear that he's only there to guide Dr. Gallinger through the procedure. Herman Barrow is making money any way he can including selling bodies. Cleary tells Sister Harriet they will be working together from now on and he will be finding her future clients. He'll also be keeping 60% of the proceeds. Cornelia accompanies the uncouth health inspector Jacob Speight as he begins his investigation into the recent cases of typhoid. Thackery has been avoiding his friend Abbie Alford even though her skin graft has taken hold. Dr. Edwards is invited to the Robertson home for a formal dinner and has the opportunity to see his parents, who are servants there. He also meets Cornelia's fiancé, Philip Showalter. Dr. Chickering's father continues to disapprove of his son's choice of hospital. thinking the Knick is beneath him. Written by garykmcd

Gangster Bunky Collier shows up at the Knick after one of his pimps is shot in the leg. Thackery is called in to perform the surgery and is surprised to find Edwards there at that early hour. Barrow uses the opportunity to get a reduction in what he owes. Edwards is still performing surgeries at night and experiments with silver thread as sutures. He's called to the Robertson home when his mother falls ill. Cornelia and Jacob Speight continue their interviews in the typhoid cases. After seeing a demonstration, Thackery argues in favor of acquiring an Edison x-ray machine, the latest diagnostic tool. August Robertson comes up with the cash. Dr. Gallinger's baby daughter is admitted to the hospital with what appears to be meningitis. Written by garykmcd

Having lost yet another patient while performing a Cesarean section, Thackery develops a completely new method to reduce the bleeding and invites Bertie Chickering to help him experiment. Their new method works quite well. The Gallinger's baby is in hospital but declining rapidly. At the funeral, Mrs. Gallinger refuses to accept her daughter's death. Cornelia and Speight are making progress in tracking down the source of the typhoid outbreak and focus on Mary Mallon who made peach Melba for all those who fell sick. Barrow tries out a second hand x-ray machine and buys it for less than a new one, pocketing the difference. Working late one night, Thackery stumbles across Dr. Edwards' nighttime clinic and surgery. His initial outrage is soothed after he sees Edwards' suction pump and the new method for hernia operations. Alone at home in her bedroom, Cornelia is visited by her future father-in-law Hobart Showalter who makes clear what he expects from her after she marries his son. Written by garykmcd

Dr. Gallinger returns to the Knick to find his social order upended. Dr. Edwards is now a working member of the team with Thackery's full support. They are using his suction machine and Bertie performs an operation using his written guide. Constable Phinny Sears is stabbed by an irate African-American after the policeman suggests to his girlfriend that she could work in one of Bunky Collier's brothels. Sears is taken to the Knick and after he dies the mob forces its way in, attacking black patients who have sought refuge there. To save them, the staff is forced to transport them to the black hospital through the rioting crowds. With the crisis passed, Edwards and Cornelia become intimate, as do Thackery and Nurse Elkins. Written by garykmcd

Thackery's affair with Nurse Lucy Elkins continues. Bertie continues to pursue her. There is a shortage of cocaine due to the war in the Philippines and attacks on shipping. It has a detrimental effect of Thackery who goes into withdrawal. Fortunately, Lucy has a small supply but it's insufficient to his needs. Edwards and Cornelia continue their affair as well. 'Typhoid' Mary Mallon petitions the courts to set her free. The judge isn't convinced that a person can be asymptomatic and pass on the disease and so releases her. She's soon looking for a new job as a cook. Dr. Gallinger adopts a 6 month old baby girl from Sister Harriet's orphanage but his wife Eleanor says she is not sufficiently competent to care for another child. They keep the child but Eleanor simply ignores her. Dr. Levi Zinberg impresses at a medical meeting where he introduces a new device, the illuminating intrascope. The senior Dr. Chickering buttonholes Thackery asking him to release Bertie from service at the ... Written by garykmcd

The Knick continues its slide into wrack and ruin, instigated by the recent riot and the cocaine shortage. Dr. Thackery is caught in a compromising position and Lucy in her efforts to help him begins her descent into possible hell as well. Dr. Thackery's secret addiction is no longer so secret after he commits and act of desperation. Dr. Gallinger's home life is falling to pieces and it looks like his temporary family unit has broken irretrievably apart. Cornelia is forced to turn to her black lover, Dr. Algernon, but he refuses to help her. Will the feisty nun Harriet be able to help her in her time of need? Only Dr. Bertie seems to be holding it together. Written by Mehki Girl

Thackery's drug habit is catching up with him. He is growing increasingly paranoid as he is unable to perform even when under the drug's influence. When he learns that Dr. Levi Zinberg is studying the properties of blood so that it can be typed and safely transfused, he sets out to find a solution before him. It leads to tragedy however. Cornelia is determined to terminate her pregnancy and is shocked when Cleary collects her and by the identity of the abortionist. It means the end of her relationship with Algie and she decides to proceed with her wedding. Algie deals with it in his own way. Gallinger's wife meanwhile has been institutionalized and he questions her treatment. Barrow misses another payments and pays a heavy price. He visits the owner of the opium den, Ping Wu, in the hopes of getting rid of his problem once and for all. Written by garykmcd