TL;DR – This is a bloody introduction to a beloved character that promises a lot, but I am not yet wholly convinced.  

Disclosure – I paid for the Disney+ service that viewed this series.

The Artful Dodger Review –

For people of my time, this odd little TV show ran for one season but still echoed through time. Punching above its weight. Escape of the Artful Dodger had such an odd impact that I was surprised no one had taken a second bite at the apple until today. Let us then go back to 1800s Australia, stuck on the opposite side of the world from all, but at the heart of our story.

So to set the scene, it is a typical day in colonial Port Victory in what will become Australia. Hangings are common, life is cheap, and power is everywhere. Dr Jack Dawkins (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) is one of the few local doctors around; even rarer, he is competent at his job. However, he does like to gamble with people like Darius Craksworth (Tim Minchin), who is not afraid to cheat. Being in the hole for £26 and about to lose a hand is almost the worst thing to happen to him, but then a Norbert Fagin (David Thewlis) arrives. He should be dead, but here he stands, and he also knows that Dr Jack Dawkins used to be The Artful Dodger and is still technically an escaped convict. We will be looking at the episode as a whole from here, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead. 

I will say, if there is one thing this show nails, it is setting up a vibe. In the first minutes, you get to know entirely who the Artful Dodger is. He knows when you are cheating him, he can think quickly on his feet, and he has the bravado of a matador at a bullfight, but that is all just a shield for a deep compassion. I have not seen someone go from brash to endearing so quickly before, and that is part of the writing and the snappy editing, but it is also down to Thomas Brodie-Sangster’s performance. It is nice to see him get a role with some meat to work with.

 Much like the Oliver Twist serial it is based on, we get a distinct exploration of class, though through a slightly more modern lens. Because Dawkins is a commoner, not even the recommendation of the First Lord of the Admiralty is enough to make his peers see him as an equal. Indeed, his less qualified, walking medical malpractice peers. The poor end up being casualties for their hubris or hanged for stealing a chicken. It is not subtle at times, though I did like the addition of Lady Jane Fox (Susie Porter), who artfully plays the less competent men off each other.

This first episode, while there to introduce the location and characters, also has two crucial narrative throughlines. The first is Dawkins being confronted with his past right at the moment when his former skills as a pickpocket might be the only thing that saves him from losing a hand. While conversely, we also see the life of Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell), who is stuck in the role as the governor’s daughter, when she wants to be a surgeon. At this point, I should probably point out that part of this show is a pretty era-appropriate medical drama. There are no polite gowns, and blood flows freely. This might not be the show for you if you are of a squeamish persuasion.

In the end, do we recommend The Artful Dodger: The Yankee Dodge? Well, I think there is enough of a foundation here that it has me intrigued. If nothing else, it does what a pilot has to do, make me see what is next, and if they can make that final conversation of the episode work.  

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

Have you seen The Artful Dodger yet ?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day.    
Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of The Artful Dodger
Directed by – Jeffrey Walker
Written by – James McNamara
Created by – James McNamara, David Maher & David Taylor
Based On – Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Production/Distribution Companies – Beach Road Pictures, Curio Pictures, Sony Pictures Television, Hulu, Star & Disney+
Starring – Thomas Brodie-Sangster, David Thewlis, Maia Mitchell, Damon Herriman Miranda Tapsell & Tim Minchin with Luke Carroll, Kim Gyngell, Vivienne Awosoga, Nicholas Burton, Susie Porter, Damien Garvery, Lucy-Rose Leonard, Jessica de Gouw & Andrea Demetriades