This Clive Owen Drama Is Also One of the Most Accurate Medical Shows

Medical shows have been a cornerstone of television programming for generations, as the nature of the profession is perfect for either a serialized or “case of the week” story. Great medical shows range in tone; comedies like Doogie Mouse, M.D. and Scrubs celebrate their unorthodox protagonists, whereas more character-based series like House or Gray’s Anatomy lean into the melodramatic aspects of their protagonists' personal lives. While inherently entertaining, medical shows play an important role in celebrating the unspoken heroes of the profession, showing the personal sacrifices that come with handling the responsibility of someone’s life. While most viewers understand that medical shows are generally a fanciful depiction of reality, the underrated drama series The Knick took a historically-minded approach to the emergence of surgical advancements.