Talking TV: ‘The Knick’ and ‘Outlander’ take audiences into the past

This weekend saw the premieres of two very different new drama series on cable, though anyone with an Internet connection was able to watch the first episodes of both “The Knick” and “Outlander” before they made their TV debuts.

While both shows are very different in look and tone, they share a distinct ability to transport audiences into the distant past. In the case of “The Knick,” it’s New York City circa 1900. And “Outlander” takes place both in 1945 and 1743.

In “The Knick,” Clive Owen plays the chief surgeon at the Knickerbocker Hospital in New York City. The Cinemax series is notable as being directed by Steven Soderbergh, who doesn’t shy away from the more unfortunate aspects of city living in the early 20th century.

“Outlander,” which premiered on Starz, is based on the popular series of novels by Diana Gabaldon and follows a World War II nurse, played by Caitriona Balfe, who travels to Scotland with her husband to reconnect after the end of the war, but somehow manages to travel back in time to Scotland in the year 1743.

Join Times TV critic Mary McNamara and TV reporter Patrick Kevin Day right here at noon on Monday for a discussion about the newest two shows to jockey for space on your poor, overwhelmed DVRs.

Tweet your questions/comments to #asklatimes.

Twitter: @patrickkevinday