'The Knick' Episode 6 "Start Calling Me Dad" Recap [SPOILERS] Season 1's First Big Plot Twist Is A Crowd-Pleaser & Cornelia Tackles Typhoid Mary - Literally!

Now that we've started our descent into the last half of season one, we're all aware of how incredibly balanced these episodes have become. While we're used to the drama and the despair of The Knick, there's always some humor and hope that shines through each week. With episode six, "Start Calling Me Dad," we definitely understand that as high our hopes can get for some of the characters, we feel the hurt of the others when it hits them. Let's recap the episode for you and open up the discussion in the comments section. (SPOILERS to follow)

Check out our episode 6 preview here!

Whatever Bertie's father thinks of his son's relationship with Thackery and the other doctors, clearly there's a higher level of respect than he would want to admit. We learn this from the opening scene of the episode, in which young Dr. Chickering is called into the hospital very early in the morning, angering his father, only to walk into a scene out of some sort of a sex novel. Thackery, going on two days without sleep, has two naked women apparently working on some experiments with the talented doctor, who tells Bertie to scrub in and promises he can do "strange things."

The scene continues with Thackery dissecting his mentor's failure in his final procedure. Bertie soon learns about the "Basketball Vagina Bullet," the invention that Thackery came up with during the weekend. The two then test the apparatus on the prostitutes - off screen of course.

On the sadder side of the story, Gallinger's baby looks so bad, you guys. Considering the baby's probably going to die, Everett and his wife decide on a bleeding procedure to counteract the meningitis. It doesn't work. Though Gallinger isn't the hero of our show, the loss of his daughter is still heartbreaking to the viewer. Maybe we feel for Eleanor, but Gallinger's latest mistake could be his biggest setback.

Meanwhile, Cornelia and Speight have made some progress with the typhoid fever case in the wealthy New Yorkers. The Health Inspector finds the link: Mary Mallon - the woman who has been preparing ice cream for the rich families. Eventually, "Typhoid Mary" is tracked down and taken in (and down by Cornelia).

Jumping back to Bertie and Thackery's new procedure: they get a real patient to use the "BVB." Enter Clint Mansell's haunting score for this week's surgery scene. Unlike the first and the last episode, this surgery has a much happier outcome. Thackery names the procedure the "Christiansen, Thackery, Chickering placental repair," making Bertie a published surgeon. Surely his father will be happy about that, right?

After the successful surgery, John discovering Edwards' "clinic" in the cellar of the hospital, but it doesn't end how you'd think. Algernon's innovations in the cellar intrigue and even impress John. Basically, Thackery now accepts Edwards and we'll probably see him in the main operating room next week!

Summing up some smaller points:

Phillip's dad is a creep!

While Lucy and Bertie are out on a date, they both can't help but gush over Thackery.

Barrow gets a secondhand x-ray machine.

Sister Harriet and Cleary could easily have a spinoff show next year.

Eleanor thinks the baby will somehow rise from the dead, suddenly making this character much more interesting! Sister Harriet suggests the Gallinger's adopt the orphan left at the Knick.

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