Do you like crime? Medical dramas? Do you enjoy a good comedy, or maybe a romance? The Artful Dodger, directed by Jeffrey Walker, Corrie Chen and Gracie Otto, manages to combine all of these in a fun and witty, action-packed series that was released on Hulu in 2023.
This quadruple threat brings to life the story of Jack Dawkins (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), a character from Charles Dicken’s novel Oliver Twist. Set in 1850s Australia in Port Victory colony, viewers are introduced to Dawkins, also known as Dodger, a talented surgeon who left the world of crime and pickpocketing to pursue a career in medicine. The life he has created is threatened when Fagin (David Thewlis), a father figure and mentor from his past, arrived at the colony. An even bigger threat, and this one to his heart, is Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell), the governor’s daughter who is determined to become the first female surgeon.
The show begins with a shot of the surgery room, a riled-up crowd waiting eagerly to watch a leg amputation unfold, before quickly moving to one of Dawkin’s gambling in a game of cards, introducing the two worlds he’s torn between. It is a fast-paced beginning, pulling viewers into the action within seconds. This is made even more successful with the use of rock music, bringing an intense and high energy feeling to the scene as the camera switches quickly between different angles and settings.
Action is not the only specialty this show brings to the table, as many comedic situations and conversations occur between characters. An example of one of these situations is between Dawkins and his coworker/rival, Dr. Rainsford Sneed, as they flip a coin to decide who makes the first incision on their patient. This is a common occurrence between the two, quickly followed by them making a bet on how fast Dawkins can amputate the patient’s leg. Despite the gravity of the situation, it is approached in a lighthearted way resulting in an overall entertaining scene.
Another area The Artful Dodger is successful in is romance. As someone who is drawn to the romance genre, whether it be film or text, I was immediately captivated by the relationship developed between Dawkins and Lady Belle. While following the common enemies and begrudging partners to lover’s trope found in many other works, Mitchell and Brodie-Sangster had amazing chemistry throughout many of their scenes together. I found myself entirely invested in their relationship throughout the series and by the end of it was begging for more. It was sweet, heartbreaking and definitely worth the wait.
As this show is a historical drama, I also feel it is important to look at the clothing, setting, props, etc. Personally, I found that I enjoyed the costumes. Although I am not an expert on the 1800’s I did not feel like they were out of place. This was also the same for the props, as it is clearly a historical time period. Many of the scenes reflected this well, from the medical tools used to the horse drawn carriages and medical discoveries.
Something worth noting is the fact that this show is based on Charles Dicken’s novel “Oliver Twist.” Many of the names from Dawkins’ past are a mystery to me. I have never personally picked up the novel or watched a film version. While the show does make an effort to fill in some of these missing gaps, I do feel like having the prior knowledge would be extremely beneficial when watching “The Artful Dodger.” It is not a necessity but be aware that you may feel a little left out when watching certain scenes.
While this show has a variety of interesting scenes, ranging from action, comedy and romance, it is also important to note that this is a medical and crime show. It includes a multitude of different surgeries and topics surrounding health related issues while also focusing heavily on the crime aspect, such as pick pocketing, stealing and more. It also throws a historical twist in, as it takes place in the 1800’s. If all or even some of these are of interest to you, I cannot recommend this show enough.
Overall, this show is a fun, fast paced roller coaster of emotion. There are so many interesting plots and a variety of things happening each episode that they have you at the edge of your seat. You will find yourself surprised, flabbergasted, thrilled, devastated and so much more. It meets a variety of interests, and the last episode will be sure to have you begging for more. And to make it even better, it was recently announced that The Artful Dodger has been approved for a second season going into 2025. While it is still unknown when this second season will air, I can guarantee you will not want to miss it.
