As The Knick prepares to move uptown, Edwards lobbies the board to be appointed permanent head of surgery. Though his suspension has been lifted, Gallinger refuses to return as Edwards' subordinate and heads elsewhere in hopes of getting Thackery to return to work.

Thackery sets his sights on a return to The Knick - a request that doesn't sit well with the Board. After a shocking discovery, Cornelia gets Cleary to do a dirty job, for a price. Henry Robertson pushes a new subway initiative while Barrow drives up construction costs.

Thackery enlists Edwards to help him test a new hypothesis. After rejecting Henry Robertson's advances at The Knick, Lucy learns that confession isn't always good for the soul. We meet Genevieve Everidge, a young journalist writing a story about a rival doctor.

Abby's worsening condition persuades Thackery to test out his novel syphilis treatment. Algernon comes clean to Opal, but does not get the response he expects. Cleary makes a last-ditch effort to raise funds for Harriet as her date in court arrives.

A subway explosion leads to an influx of patients at The Knick, but little margin for profit. Pursued by Henry, Lucy takes to heart advice from one of Ping Wu's girls. An addict's misfortune gives Thackery an ideal test case for his latest theory on addiction.

Faced with a dilemma, Bertie takes matters into his own hands at Mt. Sinai, enlisting Algernon to help. Thackery investigates the efficacy of hypnosis and takes an interest in conjoined twins. Cornelia visits the brother of a deceased immigrant with ties to Speight.

Thackery readies himself to attempt to separate twins Zoya and Nika in front of a packed audience. Cornelia attends a gala charity ball for the new Knick with other familiar guests. Algernon gets a long-overdue spotlight in the surgical theatre but complications ensue.

Thackery introduces a new kind of cure to his inebriation ward and performs further plastic surgery on Abby. Brockhurst demands the return of his "girls". Cornelia presents evidence of the company's wrongdoing to Henry. Barrow's troubled marriage comes to a head.

Thackery's connection to Captain Robertson, and how he arrived at The Knick, is revealed. The conflict between Edwards and Gallinger comes to a head after a medical-board hearing regarding Gallinger's vasectomies. Cornelia and Henry weigh the cost of a family crisis.

Thackery eschews Zinberg's advice at Mt. Sinai and opts for a dramatic, and risky, alternative course of action. Cornelia confronts Henry about his role in the business. Barrow defends his actions at the hospital construction site. Cleary refuses to give up on Harriet.