'The Knick' Episode 4 'Where's The Dignity' Recap [SPOILERS] Rats, Abortions And Flashbacks! Steven Soderbergh Steps Up The Drama & Intrigue In Cinemax's Best Series!

Episode 4 of Cinemax's mesmerizing new period drama The Knick, entitled "Where's The Dignity?" only furthers our love for Steven Soderbergh's take on 1900's surgery. The layers keep piling up, proving that skipping a week was too much for some fans. This week, Edwards finally got to operate, but at a painful price. Find out more in our episode recap below! (SPOILERS to follow)

Read our episode preview before checking out our recap HERE!

Edwards walking Gallinger through his special procedure is pretty laughable for a number of reasons. First, Algernon is doing this all by memory, but then he gives the white doctors the silent treatment as the patient begins to bleed out. His smirk as Gallinger becomes more and more stressed is priceless. Furthermore, he impresses Thackery - though Gallinger does sucker punch him.

Speight investigating the Typhoid fever in the affluent New Yorkers' community is pretty hilarious. Cornelia hates how rude he is to the wealthy, but it honestly seems like he's trying to figure out what's wrong. Am I wrong to put at least that little trust in him? Odds are, he's the one to find out what's going on with this illness - right?

We're treated to a fun little flashback to when John and Abigail were together. It seems like he was quite the handful of a partier. Back in the present, he checks in on the process of her nose's skin graft. This leads to more relationship talk

Throughout the episode, we see Barrow and his super shady dealings continuing. He sells a woman her dead husband's cremated remains, though we know he took the body for his own gain. Later, he tries to do it again but Cleary stops him.

What's up with Tom Cleary and his problem with Sister Harriet's abortion side job? He blackmails her for money, but his anger with her comes from either his disdain for her as a Nun or probably because she's a bit of a hypocrite in his eyes. Later, he realizes she's doing the abortions safely after one patient dies from trying it herself, so his anger towards the Sister is lessened. Either way, more Cleary means more entertainment for us!

Summing up some smaller points:

Algernon bought a vacuum!

Cornelia's fiancé, Phillip, finally makes his appearance, announcing he wants her to move to San Francisco.

This episode also treated us to a brief look at some family time with Bertie and his father. It turns out Senior isn't too fond of the Knick, nor Bertie's nickname.

Also, did Gallinger accidentally put rat blood into his baby's mouth? (Yes, he did!)

What did you think of this episode? Let us know in the comments section below!