Why ‘The Artful Dodger’ Is One of the Best Shows on Hulu

When it comes to period piece TV romances, Netflix’s Bridgerton dominates streaming. However, while fans wait for Season 4 Part 2 or look for something to scratch that itch after a binge, Hulu and Disney+ have a great alternative with two seasons already: The Artful Dodger. A Wicked-style spin on Oliver Twist, The Artful Dodger acts as a sequel to Charles Dickens’ classic novel, with the emphasis now on side-character Jack Dawkins/The Artful Dodger and co-antagonist Fagin as the story’s heroes.

Set in Australia during the 1850s, The Artful Dodger follows Jack Dawkins (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), who leaves his criminal life behind and becomes a surgeon following his Royal Navy service. Fate takes an unexpected turn and he’s pulled back into a life of crime. Dodger finds himself falling for Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell), the governor’s aspiring surgeon daughter who is hiding a tragic medical secret. The Artful Dodger got rave reviews when Season 1 came out on Hulu in November 2023. Despite little marketing, it gained a cult following, and Season 2, which came out Feb. 10, 2026, earned 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. With a great cast of characters, brimming with style and romance, The Artful Dodger might be the best television show you currently aren’t watching but absolutely should.

‘The Artful Dodger’ Has A Great Cast of Characters

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What makes The Artful Dodgers‘ two seasons so compelling to watch is its central cast of characters. The heart of the series is, of course, the romance between Jack Dawkins and Lady Belle Fox. Both are strong-willed characters whose desire for one another overpowers their sense of logic. They’re fascinating as individual characters, but when onscreen together, sparks fly in what is one of modern TV’s most captivating love stories. Any fans of romance with plenty of yearning will get a lot out of the central romance in The Artful Dodger. And things become even more delicious in Season 2 thanks to the love triangle with a new inspector played by Luke Bracey.

However, the standout of the series has to be David Thewlis as Norbert Fagin. Always dirty and hunched over, darting his neck around like a vulture, speaking in a comically unintelligible cocky accent that even other characters don’t fully understand, Fagin might be Thewlis’s best performance. He plays like a 1850s version of Adam Sandler’s character in Uncut Gems. The characters’ constant schemes drive most of the plot of The Artful Dodger and put the various characters at risk, but he always manages to come out ahead. David Thewlis’ Fagin is one of television’s best characters and steals the show every time he’s onscreen (which makes sense, given that he’s a thief).

Special attention must also be paid to Lucy-Rose Leonard as Lady Fanny Fox, Belle’s younger sister, who is so desperate for a life of high society and true love but seems destined to fail at it, only to find her true calling is being a knack for criminal activity. While largely a comedic side character in Season 1, Season 2 gives Fanny a funny and fascinating arc.

The Artful Dodger has a rich supporting cast of characters, and, as the series continues, we see layers of emotional complexity. Viewers might hate them in one scene, and empathize with them the next. Dr. Rainsford Sneed (Nicholas Burton) is both a rival to Dawkins but also, surprisingly, one of his biggest allies and supporters. Lady Jane Fox (Susie Potter), Belle’s mother, is cold and controlling, but also has great love for her daughter and the country of Australia. Add in Damien Gravy’s wonderful performance as Governor Fox, Belle’s loving and supportive father (who isn’t the best politician) and Vivienne Awosoga as head Nurse Hetty Baggett. The series is full of delightful characters that not only pair off in interesting ways, but are always engaging and could support years’ worth of seasons.

‘The Artful Dodger’ Has Romance, Crime, and Rock and Roll, So What’s Not To Love?

The Artful Dodger mixes a variety of different genres and stories into hours of entertaining television. Part romance, part crime drama, set against the backdrop of medical and period costume dramas, The Artful Dodger offers something for everyone. The best way to sell it is to imagine Bridgerton, Peaky Blinders, and The Knick, all rolled into one series, with Cobra Kai‘s fun reversal of former villains into heroes and former heroes into less-than-savory characters sprinkled in for good measure. If that sounds like an interesting mix, then The Artful Dodger should be at the top of your watch list.

The Artful Dodger is also a fun watch for history fans and those who appreciate English literature, particularly the work of Charles Dickens. The series tracks the history of modern medicine, including a fictionalized account of the Yankee Dodge operation and the discovery of epidemiology, which began with the tracing of a cholera outbreak. The Artful Dodger explores notions of class in a way that will remind you of Dickens’s stories Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, and, of course, Oliver Twist. These themes feel just as relevant now as they did in the 1800s.

The show’s soundtrack also reflects this literary tone. Like Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antonintte or Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, The Artful Dodger is a period drama that uses contemporary music to highlight the similarities between the past and present. From the Season 1 premiere and Season 2 finale featuring Wolfmother’s “Joker and the Thief” to the use of Blur’s “Song 2” or Sia’s “Cheap Thrills” throughout the series, the series has a fast-paced rock-and-roll rhythm. That works, considering that the series is about a band of criminals trying to stay one step ahead of the law and a young star-crossed romance.

Watch Now and Build Buzz for ‘The Artful Dodger’ Season 3 (Hopefully)

Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Maia Mitchell in The Artful Dodger

The Artful Dodger is a great binge-watch since there have been two eight-episode seasons so far. You’ll be glued to your TV screen thanks to the compelling characters and rich stories filled with romance and betrayal. Much like Oliver Twist, it will be difficult not to ask for more.

As of this writing, neither Disney+ nor Hulu has confirmed The Artful Dodger Season 3. The series is a co-production between Sony Pictures Television’s Curio Pictures and Beach Road Pictures. On the surface, it doesn’t seem as high a priority for Disney+ or Hulu when compared to their big brands like Star Wars and Marvel. Although Disney is looking to downplay those franchises on streaming to refocus on film, The Artful Dodger is the type of series that is perfect for filling out the streamer’s library as there’s no need for a big film tie-in.

The Artful Dodger Season 2 wasn’t officially announced until November 2024, which was one year after the series debuted.That hopefully means that audience engagement was strong enough to justify another season, one that hopefully will grow with Season 2. Watch The Artful Dodger now; you won’t regret it, and it might motivate Disney and Hulu to move forward with Season 3 sooner. It would be a shame to get into the series late only to have it canceled. Turn it on and see why The Artful Dodger might be one of the best series currently streaming.