'The Knick' Spoilers: What Will Happen In Season 2? 8 Burning Questions After The Season 1 Finale

Season 1 of Cinemax’s “The Knick,” came to an end on Friday with a depressingly dark finale. The premiere season of the 1900 medical drama ended with almost every major character in a state of despair and fans wondering if the titular “Knick” hospital would even still exist when the show returns for a second season.

The fact that “The Knick” is returning is about the only bright spot about the Season 1 finale. Cinemax renewed the show for a second season in July with Clive Owen set to reprise his role as the eccentrically brilliant Dr. John Thackery, and Steven Soderbergh will return to direct all 10 episodes.

Here are eight burning questions we have for “The Knick” Season 2:

Out Of The Frying Pan, Into The Fire?

The big surprise at the end of the finale was Thackery finally checking into a rehab facility to treat his cocaine addiction. However, the last shot of the episode revealed that he was being given a new medication to cope with the pains of withdrawal – heroin. Is Thackery unwittingly swapping out one addiction for another? After watching the brilliant surgeon’s manic downward spiral all season, it is hard to imagine what to expect for a heroin-addicted Thackery. Will he ever get back to his old self?

Will Everett Catch A Break?

Dr. Everett Gallinger (Eric Johnson) had a rough Season 1 on “The Knick.” After initially losing his expected promotion to Dr. Edwards (Andre Holland), he then watched his wife’s (Maya Kazan) mental health deteriorate after their baby’s death from meningitis, culminating in having to commit her to an asylum after she killed their other adopted daughter. Gallinger was suspended toward the end of the finale after attacking Edwards. Things can’t get any worse for Gallinger now, right?

Will Bertie Leave?

Dr. Bertie Chickering (Michael Angarano) was pressured to leave “The Knick” all season by his rich father (Reg Rogers), who did not think highly of the unstable Dr. Thackery. Bertie had the opportunity to leave during Season 1 when Dr. Zinberg (Michael Nathanson) arrived on the scene as a competitor to Thackery, but Bertie was too loyal to Thackery to leave. However, after seeing how low Thackery had fallen in his addiction, Bertie no longer seemed as enthused by his mentor as he once had been. Will Season 2 see him leave for Dr. Zinberg?

Will Cornelia Stay Married?

Cornelia (Juliet Rylance) was married at the end of the finale, but fans know it was not what she wanted. Her husband (Tom Lipinski) plans to move out West, where she would become a housewife in San Francisco. It is hard to imagine her giving up her job running the Knick or leaving Edwards behind. Will she stayed married in Season 2 or will she find a way to stay in New York?

Is Edwards In Charge?

Last fans saw, Edwards was getting beat up in an alley after picking a fight in a drunken state of depression after Cornelia’s abortion. Edwards may be broken up about his forbidden love, but with Thackery and Gallinger out of commission and Bertie likely leaving, Edwards is the only surgeon left at the Knick. Will the hospital make an African-American its chief surgeon?

Who Will Lucy Choose?

Nurse Lucy Elkins (Eve Hewson) spent Season 1 caught between two men. On one hand she had been seeing the respectable Bertie, who had fallen in love with her after multiple formal dates, and on the other hand she had been sleeping with (and often caring for) Thackery, whose carnal desires and genius seemed to excite her despite his volatile personality. However, with Thackery hitting rock bottom will she still stand by his side, or will she finally choose Bertie?

What Will Wu Do?

Against Thackery’s recommendation, Barrow (Jeremy Bobb) made a big mistake in enlisting Wu (Perry Yung), Thackery’s mysterious opium dealer, to kill Bunky Collier (Danny Hoch) after getting too far in debt. After Wu granted Barrow’s request (killing Collier with some unexpected theatrics) he surprised the Knick’s business manager with the news that he would be assuming control of Barrow’s debts to Collier, warning that he is not as kind to those who can’t pay. Barrow may have gotten in over his head (though seeing more of Wu in Season 2 should be a thrill for fans).

Will There Be A Knick?

The big cliffhanger at the end of Season 1 was if there would even be a Knick to come back to in the new season. Facing financial problems, the board voted to close the Knick after losing Thackery to rehab and Gallinger to suspension. No doctors and no money mean no hospital, but how can “The Knick” keep going without, well, the Knick? Will someone figure out a way to save the hospital from ruin? Fans will have to wait until next year to find out.

What do you want to see in “The Knick” Season 2? Tweet your thoughts to @Ja9GarofaloTV.