Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun Dickens sequel is bloody; has sex, swears, drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
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The Artful Dodger
What's the Story?
THE ARTFUL DODGER is a modern-day sequel to Charles Dickens' book, Oliver Twist. Jack Dawkins, a.k.a. the Artful Dodger (played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster) was once a charming thief in England, but is now a former Royal Navy officer and poor surgeon living and working in the colony of Port Victory, Australia. When a local gangster cheats and leaves him with a gambling debt, Dawkins has no way of paying it back. Soon after he unexpectedly crosses paths with a much older Fagin (David Thewlis), the criminal mastermind who once taught him how to pickpocket, and who abandoned him when he was caught. Desperate for a solution, Dawkins reluctantly agrees to partner with Fagin for one last theft in order to pay what he owes. Meanwhile, Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell), the eldest daughter of territory governor Edmund Fox (Damien Garvey), is expected to marry soon, but she's more interested in studying medical journals and keeping up with the latest innovations in the field. When Dawkins and Lady Belle happen to meet during a medical emergency, it marks the beginning of what becomes a criminal plan gone wrong. As the situation gets worse, Captain Gaines (Damon Herriman), Governor Fox's right hand man, begins to suspect Dawkins and Fagan of stealing, and is doing everything he can to prove it and have them hanged.
Is It Any Good?
This quirky series successfully reinvents two of Charles Dickens' characters and places them in an interesting new world. The Artful Dodger stays true to Oliver Twist's themes, including a reliance on thievery to survive, class divides, social bonds, individuality, and the tension between fate and free will. However, it does so against the backdrop of the Australian territory in the 1850s, which is modernizing while serving as home to several British penal colonies.
There's also a modern edge to the overall production, thanks to elements like contemporary soundtracks and some obvious adult humor. However, The Artful Dodger's greatest success is delivering a story sequel in which the entertaining plotlines easily develop and evolve independently from Dickens' original story. If you're a fan of period pieces, no doubt that you'll enjoy this one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the challenges associated with reinventing classic book characters for contemporary TV and movie audiences. How much should that character resemble how they aredescribed in the original story? How will viewers who aren't familiar with it make sense of them?
Did Jack Dawkins become the adult you expected him to be? Or did the creators of The Artful Dodger go too far when creating his adult character?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 29, 2023
- Cast : Thomas Brodie-Sangster , David Thewlis , Maia Mitchell
- Network : Hulu
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : February 12, 2026
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