REVIEW: 'The Artful Dodger' Season 2 is a Satisfying Comfort Watch That Dares to Take Risks
- Moriba Forde
- 5 minutes ago
- 5 min read
This review contains minor spoilers for 'The Artful Dodger' Season 2
The Artful Dodger is back once again to put a twist on the Oliver Twist mythos, pun absolutely intended. Doctor Jack Dawkins and his wet lettuce father figure, Norbert Fagin, reintroduce us to the extravagant medical period dramedy, filled with criminal shenanigans, tomfoolery, and Shakespearean romance.
Season 2 of the breakout series follows Doctor Dawkins as the law works against him. In this case, the "law" is Lady Jane Fox, the Governor's wife, who wants Dawkins to stay far away from her daughter, Lady Belle, dead or alive. Now there is a new inspector in town, named Henry Boxer, to keep the great doctor out of trouble and to follow Lady Jane's orders. In other words, he's supposedly there to come between two star-crossed lovers.
As for Lady Belle, she continues her pursuit of becoming the first female doctor against all odds, as her fate is held hostage by her dictatorial mother, while Dawkins and Boxer compete for her affection. To make matters more chaotic, Fagin ropes Dawkins into their biggest caper yet, while a serial killer is prowling around.
The real masterminds are on both sides of the camera, conspiring to deliver a unique contemporary historical tale. Although the narrative stumbles on occasion, the engagement and entertainment are never lost thanks to the talented cast and crew, who deliver a great story with multiple layers, amazing performances, and timeless imagery.
The Artful Dodger's Ignition Between Lovers
The Artful Dodger is an Oliver Twist spinoff no one asked for, but it is a successful expansion of a rich history and a salute to Charles Dickens as well. So, a second season was not wanted; it was needed. Good works of historical fiction are hard to find on television; the ones that aren't only cater to one demographic. The Artful Dodger has a little bit of everything for everyone, with love and devotion to a world that began with Dickens intact.
Speaking of love, Jack and Belle's romance is at the forefront of the show. In case it wasn't obvious, Jack gets the girl, not Boxer. Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Maia Mitchell's portrayals of hot-and-cold lovebirds are electromagnetic. There is no doubt
that a blind person can see their chemistry.
Brodie-Sangster, the Artful Dodger himself, makes Dawkins as charming and righteously pompous as he was last season. Throughout the course of the show, we see him struggle to distance himself from Fagin and his sketchy past to make an honest living as a great surgeon. The truth is more complicated; he is a good man, but not as righteous as he thinks. While he aims to save as many lives as he possibly can, he is an adrenaline junkie waiting for his next fix. Sangster's portrayal is a character study of a man torn between embracing and fighting his demons. As paradoxical as this sounds, he is a chaotic-neutral force for good that makes sense because of Sangster's transformation into the character.
His energy is matched by Maia Mitchell's Lady Belle Fox, the love of Jack's life and Yin to his Yang. Mitchell can easily make a case for Belle being the true star of The Artful Dodger and win. She can convince anyone of her ability to invent a life-saving surgical procedure. Lady Belle is a fighter who refuses to let societal conventions dictate her path or stop her from becoming a doctor. To say sparks will fly when Jack and Belle are together would be cliché. When they cross paths, fire meets gasoline. Individually, they are dangerous. Together, they are unstoppable.
Jack Of All Trades
The Artful Dodger season 2 juggles historical fiction, romance, medical drama, criminal action, comedy, and mystery all at once. This season is more ambitious in its subversion of genres, hooking viewers from all sides. While Jack and Belle fight Heaven, Earth, and sometimes each other for their love, Fagin plots his next heist, and Boxer is off somewhere, tracking down a murderer when he's not pining for Belle.
The Artful Dodger's efforts to deliver a well-rounded experience don't go in vain, as the subplots allow us to invest in the world from multiple vantage points through the eyes of the supporting characters. We get to see their journeys without incurring any expense to the main plot. They all connected through the grand scheme of the Artful Dodger's plot, although the whodunnit angle lags with Boxer.
Boxed In
The murder-mystery subplot is Season 2's weakest aspect. Halfway through the season, Boxer focuses on hunting a serial killer he initially suspected to be Dawkins. After discovering that Dawkins is innocent of the murders, Boxer becomes largely disconnected from the plot.
Luke Bracey is a gifted actor who portrays Boxer as an honorable soldier with a heavy heart, pursuing love and justice. Unfortunately, the writing gives him the short end of the stick. As likable as Bracey is as Inspector Boxer, he is not a convincing rival for Lady Belle's heart. Not enough time is given to him to stir up any real drama between the lovers. There is one misunderstanding straight out of a Hallmark movie, and that's it.
In the latter half of the season, Boxer ends up in a different show from everyone else. His subplot to track down the mysterious killer is uneven and distracting, often feeling like a spinoff within a spinoff.
The Artful Dodger Strikes While It's Hot
The Artful Dodger Season 2 is a vicarious trip to Australia during the 1850's, filled with adventure, romance, comedy, and tragedy. The talent wears their hearts on their sleeves to translate the magic from the pages of any Charles Dickens novel to the silver screen. Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Maia Mitchell reinforce their undeniable talent and chemistry, portraying the leading characters as two converging forces of nature.
Despite one character getting lost on a side quest, the supporting cast pulls us deeper into The Artful Dodger's narrative framework from different points of view. Regardless of your demographic, the series invites you to a timeless experience you won't regret.
About The Artful Dodger Season 2
Premiere Date: February 10, 2026
Episode Count: 8
Executive Producer/Showrunner: James McNamara
Writers: James McNamara, David Maher, Miranda Tapsell, David Taylor, Andrew Knight, Dan Knight
Director: Jeffrey Walker, Corrie Chen, Gracie Otto
Production: Beach Road Pictures, Curio Pictures, Sony Pictures Television
Distribution: Disney +
Cast: Thomas Brodie-Sangster, David Thewlis, Maia Mitchell, Damien Garvey, Luke Bracey, Louis Hunter, Lucy-Rose Leonard
Synopsis: Jack’s back! The Artful Dodger returns, and he’s in deep trouble. He’s got a date with the noose, he’s being hunted by Inspector Boxer, Port Victory’s new lawman, and if he sees the woman he loves, Lady Belle, he’ll be hung. With Boxer competing with Jack for Belle’s affection, the crafty Fagin drags him into their most dangerous heist yet, and a killer is on the loose. Get ready for an explosive season of new characters and locations with more love, loss, invention and deception than ever. The Dodger is in.
