Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.
This is a character guide for Hulu’s “The Artful Dodger,” with character descriptions, quotes, names of actors, and more.
Please Note: This content contains pertinent spoilers; descriptions are updated as new information is presented; images are changed as better ones are captured; and this is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, guest star, or recurring role.
“The Artful Dodger” General Information
| Network(s) | Hulu |
| Genre(s) | Comedy |
| Created By | James McNamara, David Maher, and David Taylor |
| Based On | “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens |
| First Aired | November 29, 2023 |
| Executive Produced By | James McNamara, David Maher, Jo Porter, and David Taylor |
| Showrunner | James McNamara |
“The Artful Dodger” Synopsis
“The Artful Dodger” follows the adult double life of Jack Dawkins, a skilled surgeon who was once considered the prince of thieves. Partly based as a sequel/spin-off to Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist,” Jack Dawkins was once known as The Artful Dodger, a masterful pickpocketer and thief in London. Now set in 1850’s Australia, Dawkins has created a new life for himself as a respectable doctor with the ability to perform surgeries in record time. But Jack’s past returns to haunt him when an old partner in crime arrives to tempt him back into the world of crime. Jack’s career is also challenged by the governor’s daughter, Lady Belle, who wishes to become a surgeon and is more affluent with innovations in surgery. While Jack is desperate for money and to escape from his troubles, the ghosts from his past and his present start to corner him. From heists to life-and-death surgeries, from soirées to street violence, this is a tale of reinvention, betrayal, redemption, and love with a twist.
Notable Locations & Items
- Port Victory, Australia (1.1): A rambunctious and largely lawless colony where the authorities are often drunk and the people watch surgeries as a form of entertainment.
Terminology
- The Artful Dodger (1.1): The nickname Jack Dawkins once had for himself due to his masterful ability to trick and pickpocket people.
Other Noteworthy Information
- Jack Dawkins and Fagin were characters in “Oliver Twist,” a story about an orphan getting involved in a gang of child thieves that included Jack Dawkins and was led by Fagin.
Episode Listing
Season 1
| Episode Number and Title | |||
| Episode 1: The Yankee Dodge | Episode 2: Blessings of St. Coccyx | Episode 3: Dead Men’s Secrets | Episode 4: The Stitch Up |
| Episode 5: The Duel | Episode 6: Bully in the Alley | Episode 7: Wet Lettuce | Episode 8: Untapped Potential |
Jack Dawkins
Played by: Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Since a child, Jack Dawkins has been quick and nimble with his hands. His skill has turned the once-thief into a respected surgeon in Port Victory. But Jack makes little money and sees no choice but to gamble in order to accrue any wealth. By chance, when a major gambling debt occurs at the same time as the arrival of Fagin, Jack’s old mentor and partner-in-crime, Jack is tempted more than ever to return to a life of crime.
- Introduced In: 1.1, “The Yankee Dodge”
- The actor is also known for their role in “Love Actually,” their role in “Game of Thrones,” and their role in “Maze Runner.”
Additional Information
- Thomas Brodie-Sangster, at age 12, played a young Adolf Hitler in “Hitler: The Rise of Evil.”
Notable Episodes
- The Yankee Dodge (1.1) and The Sitch Up (1.4) convey Jack being torn between two different worlds.
Quotes
“My thievery’s been very occasional.”
Lady Belle
Played by: Maia Mitchell
Lady Belle Fox is more interested in the most recent innovations in medicine than getting married. As the governor’s daughter, she is expected to become a wife, but her goal is to be the first female surgeon in Port Victory. Belle’s status and resources allow her to make rapid changes to Port Victory’s hospital. While Jack is reluctant to change, Belle repeatedly shows him how change is good.
- Introduced In: 1.1, “The Yankee Dodge”
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Fosters,” their role in “Good Trouble,” and their role in “Teen Beach Movie.”
Additional Information
- Maia Mitchell is actually from Australia, where “The Artful Dodger” takes place.
Notable Episodes
- The Yankee Dodge (1.1) and The Sitch Up (1.4) demonstrate her career ambitions and complicated relationship with Jack.
Quotes
“Might I suggest you find your spine? It’s usually around the back.”
Fagin
Played by: David Thewlis
Fagin is Jack’s old, conniving mentor who presents himself as a humble, weakened man but always has a trick up his sleeve. Fagin arrives to try to convince Jack to steal again. Fagin’s relationship to Jack is best described as a strained father-son relationship, and while Fagin may truly care for Jack, he cares for money even more.
- Introduced in: 1.1, “The Yankee Dodge”
- The actor is also known for their role in “Naked,” their role in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” and their role in “Fargo.”
Additional Information
- David Thewlis has been nominated for nearly every acting category except an Academy Award.
Notable Episodes
- Blessings of St. Coccyx (1.2) shows Fagin’s adaptability and trickery under pressure.
Quotes
“The natural order of the days ahead has changed direction in a positive and, arguably, negative light.”
Captain Gaines
Played by: Damon Herriman
Captain Gaines is an officer hellbent on proving himself right instead of investigating the evidence in front of him. Gaines loves punishment and exerting his authority over others. When he suspects Jack and Fagin of wrongdoing, he makes executing them his sole mission.
- Introduced In: 1.1, “The Yankee Dodge”
- The actor is also known for their role in “Justified,” their role in “Flesh and Bone,” and their role in “Mindhunter.”
Additional Information
- Damon Herriman has played Charles Manson not once, but twice.
Notable Episodes
- The Sitch Up (1.4) and The Duel (1.5) begin to show Captain Gaines’ anger and wrath.
Darius
Played by: Tim Minchin
Darius is a dim, cheating, wormy crime boss in Port Victory. We first meet him cheating Jack out of money, yet his own vanity and rage leave Darius consistently blindsided and tricked by others. Soon enough, Darius becomes a victim of his own schemes.
- Introduced In: 1.1, “The Yankee Dodge”
- The actor is also known for their role in “Upright,” their role in “Robin Hood,” and their role in “Secret River.”
Images used for editorial and commentary purposes. All rights remain with their respective copyright holders.
