Hulu’s 16-episode crime drama brings together two seemingly unlikely creative forces: Charles Dickens’ storytelling and Guy Ritchie’s unmistakable cinematic style. The result is an entertaining genre-blending series that has already delivered plenty of surprises, with more episodes still to come. After all, some of the most rewarding television comes from shows that seem difficult to pull off at first. Balancing a large ensemble, contrasting tones, and several interconnected storylines is no easy task, particularly when working within the boundaries of a specific genre. But when a series remains faithful to its central premise and allows its characters to develop naturally, all those moving pieces can come together beautifully.
Hulu’s The Artful Dodger is a particularly strong example of how well different genres can work together. This original Charles Dickens “legacy sequel” stars Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Jack “Dodger” Dawkins, picking up his story 15 years after the events of Oliver Twist. Having traded pickpocketing for a career as a trained surgeon, Jack now works in a small coastal penal colony in Australia. However, his criminal past catches up with him when Fagin, his former mentor and father figure, arrives in Port Victory. Played brilliantly by David Thewlis, Fagin wastes little time pulling Jack back into his old world, tempting him with another elaborate scheme: a dangerous attempt to steal gold from the British Crown.
One of the series’ biggest strengths is that viewers don’t need any prior knowledge of Oliver Twist to enjoy it. Jack and Fagin make an entertainingly disastrous pair, with both men finding it difficult to resist the temptation of a life of crime. The heists across seasons 1 and 2 carry the unmistakable energy of a Guy Ritchie film, complemented by rapid-fire action, bloody confrontations, and Fagin’s eccentric collection of part-time criminals. Even the deliberately anachronistic soundtrack adds to the show’s personality, with Wolfmother’s “Joker and the Thief” standing out as a particularly effective choice. Still, Fagin is far from the only danger threatening Jack’s future.
The Artful Dodger Brings Four Genres Together In One Surprisingly Addictive Crime Drama
The Artful Dodger succeeds by weaving together four genres that rarely share the same screen: comedy, crime, historical drama, and romance. It is an amusing crime caper, an engaging Victorian-era period piece, a gruesome medical drama, and a swoon-worthy love story all at once. However, Jack’s complicated connection to Fagin and his criminal past is only part of what drives the series. He is also the most talented doctor in Port Victory, and his medical career brings an entirely different kind of excitement. Several gripping surgery sequences follow Jack and his new “apprentice,” Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell), the governor’s daughter, as the pair develop and refine daring surgical techniques. Their professional partnership gradually turns into a romance, one so carefully developed that it can rival even the best efforts of Bridgerton.
Despite juggling so many different elements, the series never feels like it is trying to do too much. Everything remains firmly rooted in Jack’s journey and personal growth. Thomas Brodie-Sangster handles the role with ease, moving naturally between a confident surgeon, a romantic lead, and a cunning 19th-century criminal. What connects these different sides of Jack is his constant craving for danger. Whether spending time with Fagin or pursuing Belle, whose social standing makes him an unacceptable match in the eyes of society, he repeatedly puts his reputation and even his life at risk. Yet the thrill is simply too tempting to resist. From performing illicit surgery and stealing kisses with Belle in a closet to executing seemingly impossible cons, Jack is always chasing the adrenaline rush that comes with pulling off something extraordinary.
The Artful Dodger Is Set To Return For Season 3, But There’s A Catch
