Disney+'s The Artful Dodger has arrived with its second series, bringing along all the rambunctious energy and wit that made us fall in love with Jack Dawkins (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) last time around. But this time, he's on the run.
In a flash of mud-spattered Britches and rhubarbing extras, our hero wriggles out of Inspector Boxer's clutches, and things start moving at breakneck speed. Who is this mysterious figure blocking his path? The enigmatic Inspector Boxer (Luke Bracey) has come to Port Victory, replacing the late Captain Gaines – a murder that saw Dawkins' name tarnished, after a web of lies and betrayal.
But the plot thickens with every passing minute. A shark attack at the docks becomes a rescue mission for our surgeon-turned-convict, Dawkins rushing to save an extra man's life. It's just another day in the life of The Artful Dodger – a series that wears its wit on its sleeve and never says no to chaos.
We need a brief history lesson to wrap our heads around what's happening here. Conceived as a sequel to Oliver Twist, this series takes place 15 years after the events of the novel, with Dawkins living in Port Victory's penal colony as the leading surgeon – but with a taste for mischief and mayhem courtesy of his old friend Fagin (David Thewlis).
Then there's Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell), the governor's daughter who's caught between her duty and her desire for our hero. But what really happened at the end of the first series? Let's rewind those clock hands to figure that out.
Dawkins is still living in Port Victory, but he's not alone – Fagin has him wrapped around his finger once more, pulling strings from behind bars. The final act of season one left us with Dawkins and Fagin in prison, the bonds between them stronger than ever.
Now, things get complicated. A new player is on the scene – Inspector Boxer – while Lady Jane Fox (Susie Porter) gives Dawkins an ultimatum: stay away from Belle for two years or face the noose once again.
The frantic pace of the first series has returned, with chase sequences and punches aplenty. It's clear that The Artful Dodger isn't afraid to get loud – but perhaps a bit too loud? More of the same, but with additional gunfingers seems to be the guiding principle here.
While we're all about the action now, there's a cost to paying such high stakes. Those sweetly bashful conversations between Dawkins and Fagin have been buried under a pile of used dressings and heist demands – it feels like we're losing some of what made us love them in the first place.
So here we are: The Artful Dodger is back, but perhaps not exactly as you'd hoped. For those who wanted more emotional richness, this might be a disappointment. But hey, you've got to give credit where credit's due – it's still an adrenaline-fueled ride with plenty of pace and balls in tow.
In a flash of mud-spattered Britches and rhubarbing extras, our hero wriggles out of Inspector Boxer's clutches, and things start moving at breakneck speed. Who is this mysterious figure blocking his path? The enigmatic Inspector Boxer (Luke Bracey) has come to Port Victory, replacing the late Captain Gaines – a murder that saw Dawkins' name tarnished, after a web of lies and betrayal.
But the plot thickens with every passing minute. A shark attack at the docks becomes a rescue mission for our surgeon-turned-convict, Dawkins rushing to save an extra man's life. It's just another day in the life of The Artful Dodger – a series that wears its wit on its sleeve and never says no to chaos.
We need a brief history lesson to wrap our heads around what's happening here. Conceived as a sequel to Oliver Twist, this series takes place 15 years after the events of the novel, with Dawkins living in Port Victory's penal colony as the leading surgeon – but with a taste for mischief and mayhem courtesy of his old friend Fagin (David Thewlis).
Then there's Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell), the governor's daughter who's caught between her duty and her desire for our hero. But what really happened at the end of the first series? Let's rewind those clock hands to figure that out.
Dawkins is still living in Port Victory, but he's not alone – Fagin has him wrapped around his finger once more, pulling strings from behind bars. The final act of season one left us with Dawkins and Fagin in prison, the bonds between them stronger than ever.
Now, things get complicated. A new player is on the scene – Inspector Boxer – while Lady Jane Fox (Susie Porter) gives Dawkins an ultimatum: stay away from Belle for two years or face the noose once again.
The frantic pace of the first series has returned, with chase sequences and punches aplenty. It's clear that The Artful Dodger isn't afraid to get loud – but perhaps a bit too loud? More of the same, but with additional gunfingers seems to be the guiding principle here.
While we're all about the action now, there's a cost to paying such high stakes. Those sweetly bashful conversations between Dawkins and Fagin have been buried under a pile of used dressings and heist demands – it feels like we're losing some of what made us love them in the first place.
So here we are: The Artful Dodger is back, but perhaps not exactly as you'd hoped. For those who wanted more emotional richness, this might be a disappointment. But hey, you've got to give credit where credit's due – it's still an adrenaline-fueled ride with plenty of pace and balls in tow.
I gotta say, the new season of The Artful Dodger is like a wild rollercoaster 
...you know, one minute you're screaming your lungs out, the next you're wondering what just happened 
. But seriously, I think the writers tried to pack too much into this second series – it's all over the place, and some of those sweet interactions between Dawkins and Fagin got lost in the chaos 
. That being said, if you loved the first season, you'll still have a blast with the fast-paced action and twists 
. And let's be real, Thomas Brodie-Sangster is just so darn charming 
...I'm still here for that!
I was on a train and it just kept going and going like there was no end to it, but every station we passed was like stepping into a different world 
And then I started thinking about how much I love trying new foods and I'm still waiting for the perfect burger place...
anyway, i'm not gonna lie, thomas brodie-sangster is still my fave, even if he's kinda stuck in a never-ending cycle of trouble with that dodgy ol' fagin 
, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster's charm is still gonna win you over. The main plot thickening with new characters and twists is cool, but can we get some more emotional depth back? 
. It's cool how they're exploring different themes this time around, like the consequences of playing with fire 
. Still, more action and suspense are always welcome in my book! 
i loved how Dawkins and Fagin's banter was so witty and sweet last season, but now it feels like they're just using that as a distraction from the real plot 
still, Thomas Brodie-Sangster is serving looks as Jack Dawkins and I'm here for it 
so fingers crossed they find a balance between action and feelings next season 
Thomas Brodie-Sangster is just too cute as Jack Dawkins, but now that he's on the run it's like a whole new level of excitement 
Luke Bracey as Inspector Boxer is giving me major Sherlock vibes 
and Maia Mitchell as Lady Belle Fox is just so captivating 
and how did inspector boxer become a thing? was he supposed to be some kind of rival or something? 
but maybe we need to stick around for a few episodes to get our bearings before we can really judge it 
. but honestly, can we take a step back for a sec? because i'm kinda feeling like we've lost some of that sweet, tender stuff between dawkins and fagin 
... it's all about the action now, and don't get me wrong, that stuff is 
, but what happened to those quiet moments when they'd talk about life? where did our hero go from being a sweet little thief to someone who's basically running for his life? i mean, inspector boxer is definitely bringing the heat 
... it all feels a bit too complicated now.