More has been learned about the treatment of the human body in the last 5 years than was learned in the previous 500.

If you haven’t seen the trailer for The Knick yet, you clearly haven’t been surfing the Internet. Set in 1900 in downtown New York City, this mini-series centers on doctors and nurses at the Knickerbocker Hospital who, despite incredibly adverse conditions, are making important contributions to turn of the century health care. This highly anticipated show from Steven Soderbergh (yes, the “retired” auteur) has tongues a-wagging due to the graphic subject matter and visceral images that this much-watched trailer displays.

Soderbergh is directing all 10 episodes and undoubtedly will get behind the camera as well. The one-minute glimpse provided by the trailer is enough to suggest that Soderbergh’s trademark style will make The Knick compelling viewing. Starring Clive Owen, Eve Hewson, Juliet Rylance, Jeremy Bobb, Andre Holland and Michael Angarano, the series premieres on August 8 at 10PM. Mark your calendars now!

Clive Owen’s Dr. John Thackery in a seedy NY dwelling.

Dr. Thackery and Andre Holland’s Dr. Algernon Edwards scrub up.

An overhead view of the operating room.

A pregnant woman on the operating table.

Bloody post-surgery rags.

A toe tag on a freshly deceased patient.

A primitive amputation leaves this nurse feeling sick.

A female patient makes a rather constricted walk down a hallway.

Dr. Thackery examines a patient.

Cinemax spared no expense to recreate the NYC in the 1900s.

The Knick premieres Friday, August 8 at 10PM on Cinemax.