“The Artful Dodger” probably won’t appeal to Dickens die-hards, but it remains an entertaining show for those who enjoy witty banter, clever thieving, and 1800s-style surgery.
Now streaming on Hulu, the show follows a grown Jack Dawkins (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), aka The Artful Dodger from Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist.” No longer in prison as he was at the end of the novel, Dawkins is a gentleman and surgeon in the penal colony of Australia when his carefully-crafted existence is threatened by two individuals.
The first is Norbert Fagin (David Thewlis), who Oliver Twist saved from hanging 15 years ago and is now a prisoner in Australia. The second is Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell), the governor’s daughter who demands Dawkins train her to be the world’s first female surgeon.
Dawkins is a likable protagonist. He cares for all his patients and only wants what’s best for everyone around him –– even Fagan, who abandoned Dawkins in prison 15 years previously. Struggling to reconcile his current status with his thieving past, Dawkins always tries to make the best choices.
Even though Dawkins makes a fine gentleman, his character truly shines when he agrees to start stealing with Fagin again. No longer a mere pickpocket, Dawkins is a mastermind, and he’s willing to pull any number of insane capers to get what he wants, whether grave robbing or infiltrating the governor’s mansion.
Belle, Dawkins’ love interest and the show’s secondary protagonist, has far more depth than the modern girlboss stereotype. She’s smart, beautiful, and prefers anatomy to poetry, but she’s also arrogant and dismissive of others –– qualities she works through over the course of the show. She’s disinterested in the many suitors her mother throws at her, but she supports her sister’s desire for marriage and family.
The show balances Belle’s theoretical knowledge with Dawkins’ practical knowledge and never uses her abilities to put down the titular character. Even though Belle eventually executes a successful surgery of her own, Dawkins is always shown as the master surgeon, and all of Belle’s medical discoveries aid him in helping his patients.
Even the side characters have more layers and complexities than anticipated. There’s Fagin, a selfish criminal who manipulates everyone but still cares for Dawkins; Captain Gaines (Damon Herriman), who ruthlessly hunts Dawkins down but is committed to justice; and the governor’s wife who is more competent than her husband but is also cruel and self-serving.
“The Artful Dodger” balances fun heists with medical drama –– if either appeals to you, you’ll probably enjoy the show. Throw in a cast of colorful, complicated characters and a dash of romance, and you’re in for a great time. (And don’t worry, the “Oliver Twist” connections have a fantastic payoff in the final two episodes.)
On the other hand, if you adored “Oliver Twist,” you might not appreciate the liberties the writers took with Dickens’ characters. I have never read the book, so I can’t speak to how accurately Dawkins and Fagin transfer from book to screen. If you don’t mind a less Dickens-like approach to the characters, however, you may want to give the show a chance.
Overall, “The Artful Dodger” is an enjoyable show. It has solid characters, a twisting plot, and a fresh setting. If you’re looking for your next binge-worthy show, this is it.
