Created by James McNamara, David Maher, and David Taylor.
The Artful Dodger first premiered in November 2023.
Distributed in the United States on Hulu and globally on Disney+.
The Artful Dodger TV Series Review
The Artful Dodger is a fun historical drama that follows Jack Dawkins, once a famous pickpocket, now working as a surgeon in Australia.
Season 1 introduces Jack’s double life.
He tries to live honestly, but his old mentor Fagin returns and pulls him back into crime.
The season mixes surgery, danger, romance, and humor in an exciting way.
Season 2 raises the stakes with new enemies, deeper secrets, and bigger risks.
Jack faces harder choices about who he wants to be.
Overall, the show is adventurous, emotional, and entertaining, with strong performances and sharp writing.
CR Rating: 7.8/10.
The Artful Dodger Actors
Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Dr. Jack Dawkins / Artful Dodger
DOB: May 16, 1990.
Bio: English actor who transitioned successfully from child stardom into a respected adult career across film and television.
He first gained global recognition in Love Actually and later expanded his range with dramatic and genre roles in The Queen’s Gambit and Godless.
Role: Dr. Jack Dawkins, the former London pickpocket famously known as the Artful Dodger from Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist.
The series reimagines Dawkins as a skilled surgeon in 1850s colonial Australia, trained through his time in the Royal Navy.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (16 eps).
Interesting facts: Brodie-Sangster worked closely with medical advisors to ensure the authenticity of the 19th-century surgical procedures depicted on screen.
Notable works: Love Actually, The Queen’s Gambit, Godless.
David Thewlis as Norbert Fagin
DOB: March 20, 1963.
Bio: English actor, director, and screenwriter known for portraying complex, eccentric, and morally layered characters.
He rose to prominence with his award-winning performance in Naked and later became globally recognized as Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban film series.
Role: Thewlis plays Norbert Fagin, a reimagined version of the iconic Dickens character.
Transported to the Australian colony, Fagin is Jack Dawkins’ former mentor and surrogate father.
Cunning, theatrical, and manipulative, he constantly tempts Jack back toward criminal life.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (16 eps).
Interesting facts: Critics singled out Thewlis as a scene-stealer in reviews, his ability to inject menace and comic unpredictability keeps the series lively.
Notable works: Naked, Harry Potter (Remus Lupin), Wonder Woman 1984.
Maia Mitchell as Lady Belle Fox
DOB: August 18, 1993.
Bio: Australian actress and singer who first gained prominence in Australian television before building a strong international profile.
She became widely known for her roles in The Fosters and its spin-off Good Trouble.
Role: Mitchell plays Lady Belle Fox, the ambitious daughter of the colony’s governor.
Belle dreams of becoming a surgeon in a male-dominated world, making her a progressive force within the story.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (16 eps).
Interesting facts: Mitchell collaborated closely with the costume and production teams to reflect Belle’s social status while also conveying her practical medical ambitions.
Notable works: The Fosters, Good Trouble, Disney Channel originals.
Damon Herriman as Captain Lucien Gaines
DOB: March 31, 1970.
Bio: A highly respected Australian character actor known for his versatility across television and film.
He has built an international reputation for portraying eccentric, unsettling, and morally complex figures.
Role: Herriman plays Captain Lucien Gaines, a powerful military authority figure in the colony of Port Victory.
Gaines is ambitious, rigid, and often ruthless, representing the harsh colonial order that clashes with Jack Dawkins’ past and present ambitions.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (8 eps).
Interesting facts: Herriman’s experience playing historically unsettling figures made him a natural fit for a stern colonial officer.
Notable works: Justified, Mindhunter, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Tim Minchin as Darius Cracksworth
DOB: October 7, 1975.
Bio: Australian comedian, musician, composer, actor, and writer known for his sharp satire and theatrical stage presence.
He first rose to prominence through his musical comedy performances before expanding into acting and screenwriting.
Role: Minchin plays Darius Cracksworth, the corrupt and morally compromised harbour master of Port Victory.
Cracksworth wields quiet but significant influence within the colony’s power structure.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (10 eps).
Interesting facts: Minchin’s casting was noted as a tonal pivot, his comic background lets the series land witty asides even when the material darkens.
Notable works: Upright, Matilda the Musical, Robin Hood.
Luke Bracey as Inspector Henry Boxer
DOB: April 26, 1989.
Bio: Australian actor who transitioned from local TV and film to international and Hollywood projects.
Known for his versatility, he has played romantic leads, action-oriented roles, and complex supporting characters.
Role: Inspector Henry Boxer, a principled and determined investigator sent to Port Victory.
Boxer serves as an institutional foil to the colony’s power structures, replacing the more brutal military authority of Season 1 with a disciplined, honorable law-enforcement perspective.
Seasons & Episodes: S2 (4 eps).
Interesting facts: Bracey’s Season 2 casting was part of a wider ensemble refresh that expanded the series’ procedural stakes.
Notable works: Point Break (2015), G.I. Joe: Retaliation, various Australian projects.
Miranda Tapsell as Frances “Red” Scrubbs
DOB: December 11, 1987.
Bio: Indigenous Australian actor and writer of Larrakia heritage, celebrated for her performances in film, television, and theatre.
She first gained widespread acclaim in The Sapphires, and has been praised for bringing authenticity, humor, and emotional depth to every role.
Role: Frances “Red” Scrubbs, a cunning and notorious thief whose survival instincts and mischief make her a sometimes ally, sometimes complication for Jack Dawkins.
Her portrayal balances charm, daring, and moral ambiguity, keeping both the audience and the Dodger guessing.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (6 eps).
Interesting facts: Tapsell is also a credited writer on later season material and her casting underlines the series’ engagement with Indigenous Australian performers and perspectives.
Notable works: The Sapphires, Top End Wedding, stage work.
Luke Carroll as Tim Billiberllary
DOB: 1982.
Bio: A respected Indigenous Australian actor with extensive stage and screen experience.
Known for his authenticity and grounded performances, he brings warmth and reliability to every role.
Role: Tim Billiberllary, a hospital assistant and loyal friend to Jack Dawkins.
Tim provides practical support, local knowledge, and grounding in Port Victory, helping Jack navigate both medical duties and the complications of his past.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (8 eps).
Interesting facts: Carroll’s long career in Australian TV makes him a familiar and reassuring presence in ensemble work.
Notable works: The Alice, Mystery Road: Origin, stage and TV roles.
Kym Gyngell as Professor Alistair McGregor
DOB: April 15, 1952.
Bio: A veteran Australian actor and comedian with a career spanning over four decades.
Known for his work in both drama and comedy, Gyngell often portrays eccentric, flawed, or authoritative figures, bringing a unique blend of humour and pathos to his roles.
Role: Gyngell plays Professor Alistair McGregor, Port Victory’s chief surgeon.
McGregor is an alcoholic and often inept superior whose personal flaws create tension and danger in the hospital setting.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (9 eps).
Interesting facts: Gyngell’s comic instincts help the series puncture tension with well-timed absurdity while still allowing for dark, tragic beats.
Notable works: Australian TV comedies and dramas across four decades.
Vivienne Awosoga as Hetty Baggett
DOB: N/A.
Bio: A UK- and Australian-based actor and theatre graduate recognized for her work in television and stage.
She has built a reputation in Australian drama for delivering emotionally resonant supporting roles and nuanced performances.
Role: Awosoga plays Hetty Baggett, the head nurse at Port Victory’s hospital.
Practical, ethically grounded, and observant, Hetty often sees through the official facades around her, providing insight and moral clarity during medical and ethical story arcs.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (10 eps).
Interesting facts: Public profiles emphasize Awosoga’s theatre training and commitment to roles that highlight social justice and representation.
Notable works: Barons, After the Verdict.
Nicholas Burton as Dr. Rainsford Sneed
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Australian actor with a background in stage and screen work.
He frequently portrays professional, disciplined characters in period dramas and contemporary productions, bringing a polished and grounded presence to supporting roles.
Role: Burton plays Dr. Rainsford Sneed, Jack Dawkins’ surgical rival.
Sneed is experienced, methodical, and conservative, often clashing with Jack’s more inventive and rule-bending approaches.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (10 eps).
Interesting facts: Burton’s casting highlights the show’s emphasis on medical realism and the professional rivalries of 19th-century hospital life.
Notable works: Australian TV and theatre credits.
Susie Porter as Lady Jane Fox
DOB: 1971.
Bio: An award-winning Australian actor known for her dynamic performances across film and television.
She often portrays complex, emotionally layered women with a combination of strength and vulnerability.
Role: Lady Jane Fox, the governor’s perceptive and compassionate wife.
A subtle power player in colonial society, she influences key decisions and tempers official harshness, providing moral grounding in social and domestic scenes.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (12 eps).
Interesting facts: Porter reprised the role into Season 2 and brings decades of award-level screen experience to the show’s social and domestic scenes.
Notable works: Wentworth Prison, East West 101, numerous Australian films and TV dramas.
More Actors
Season 1 (2023)
• Damien Garvey as Governor Edmund Fox.
• Brigid Zengeni as Rosemary “Rotty” Falkirk.
• Ezekiel Simat as Ned Monks.
• Tom Budge as Hon. Mortimer Smales.
• Hal Cumpston as Oliver Twist.
Season 2 (2026)
• Jeremy Sims as Richard “Dickie” Fox (governor’s brother).
• Zac Burgess as Phineas Golden.
• Kate Mulvany as Elizabeth Maxwell.
• Toby Schmitz as Ludwig Leichhardt.
• Benedict Hardie as Uriah Heep.
FAQ – The Artful Dodger TV Series
What is The Artful Dodger about?
It reimagines Charles Dickens’ iconic pickpocket Jack Dawkins as a skilled surgeon in 1850s Australia who struggles between his medical ambitions and a return to crime when his old mentor returns.
Is it based on Oliver Twist?
Yes. The series is inspired by Dickens’ Oliver Twist, imagining what happens to the Artful Dodger 15 years later, combining period drama with crime, romance and humor.
How many seasons are there?
There are two seasons: Season 1 debuted in 2023, and Season 2 premiered on February 10, 2026.
How many episodes are in each season?
Each season consists of eight episodes released together on streaming platforms.
Where can I watch The Artful Dodger?
You can stream the series on Disney+ in most regions and on Hulu in the United States.
Conclusion
The Artful Dodger is an exciting and clever series that brings new life to a classic character.
It blends crime, drama, romance, and humor in a way that feels fresh and engaging.
The story keeps viewers interested with strong performances and emotional moments.
Each season builds on Jack’s struggle between his past and his future.
If you enjoy historical dramas with action and heart, this show is definitely worth watching.