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

If you want a period romance that feels different from Bridgerton, Hulu and Disney+ offer The Artful Dodger, a two-season sequel to Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist set in 1850s Australia. The series follows Jack Dawkins (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), who leaves a life of crime to train as a surgeon after Royal Navy service, only to be pulled back into schemes and a fraught romance with Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell).

Season 1 premiered in November 2023 to rave reviews, and Season 2 arrived Feb. 10, 2026, earning a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Much of the show’s appeal rests in its central performances. Brodie-Sangster and Mitchell anchor a yearning romance that deepens in Season 2 with a love triangle involving Luke Bracey.

David Thewlis’s Norbert Fagin repeatedly steals scenes, while Lucy-Rose Leonard’s Lady Fanny Fox grows from comic relief into a richer arc. Strong supporting turns from Nicholas Burton, Susie Porter, Damien Gravy and Vivienne Awosoga add rivalry, duty and surprising sympathy.

Australia

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