Set in 1900 in New York, the original Cinemax series The Knick tells the story of brilliant surgeons, nurses and hospital staff in New York, who are revolutionizing medicine in a very difficult time. R n The main character in the production is Dr. John Thackery, a brilliant surgeon with new, revolutionary methods, but addicted to cocaine. He leads a team of doctors that includes Dr. Everett Gallinger, his protégé, young Dr. Bertie Chickering Jr., and Algernon Edwards, a promising, recently hired surgeon.