The Artful Dodger: Stuck between two worlds
The Artful Dodger can be watched on Disney+
Watched September 25, 2024 → September 27, 2024
⭐⭐⭐
Let me start by saying: I had no idea that the Artful Dodger is a character in Oliver Twist. Please don’t judge. I’ve studied Dutch literature, not English. Therefore, I got into this show without any expectations, apart from the description given by Disney+. And luckily, it did not disappoint.
The viewers are introduced to Jack Dawkins. He is a surgeon with a huge debt, which hints at his troubled past. This past becomes much more clear when Fagin arrives. He is trying to get Dodger, the nickname for Jack, back into the criminal world. Jack reluctantly agrees, because he needs to repay his debt. If he doesn’t, his debt will cost him his hand and therefore his career as a surgeon.
However, while Dawkins is slowly being pulled back into the world of thievery, there is also something keeping him in the world of higher society. Apart from his job as a surgeon, there is also Lady Belle. She is the Governor’s daughter and therefore part of the highest of society. Yet, she is so much more than that. Belle is incredibly intelligent and wants to become the first female surgeon in history.
That is how the story unfolds. Jack is stuck between two words. On the one hand, Jack does not trust Fagin for what he did to him in his past, but he does enjoy being a criminal and stealing. On the other hand, he loves his job as a surgeon and slowly starts forming a relationship with Belle, even though they live in totally different worlds. It is the constant battle between good and bad for Jack, and the question what even is good for him. It is a battle between two worlds, and him feeling like he doesn’t belong in either of them.
What this show has made me realise is that I am a hopeless romantic. I did not really care about Jack’s criminal career, but really wanted to see the romance between Belle and Jack grow. Although, I do also think the romance could have been built up a little better, perhaps a little slower. I think Thomas Brodie-Sangster really delivers a wonderful performance. From the moment Jack meets Belle, you can see him steal glances at her. However, you do need to pay attention to catch these moments.
I think those moments is also what I missed once Belle and Jack got together. Once they got together, they were kissing and had an awkward conversation about sex, but that is kind of all there was to their relationship. At least, until the final two episodes. Jack finds out that Belle is dying and that allows them to have these beautiful, intimate moments. They were my absolute favourites. Belle tells Jack she is sick and dying, and both of them fall asleep on her bed. When Belle wakes up, she sees Jack still checking her pulse even when asleep. Jack then tries everything he can to try and perform surgery on her to save her. However, when practicing they realise it is of no use. The hugs they share during this time are absolutely beautiful and it shows how much they care for one another.
Apart from Belle and Jack, there was Fagin. He was a very difficult character for me, partly because of my expectations of him. Throughout the show, you see him having conversations where he says he needs Jack for something. I assumed he would use Jack for whatever heist he wanted to pull off and then betray him again. Therefore, every single time Jack went along with Fagin’s plans, I got annoyed because I did not understand how he could trust him. However, in the end, Fagin did not betray Jack and actually helped him by getting himself arrested. It was a very pleasant surprise, but I now do regret not liking him from the start. I wonder how I would feel about his character when I rewatch the show, knowing what I know now.
I’ve seen people online ask for a second season. While I do understand wanting more, I do like the ending like this. It is quite an open ending, especially because it is unclear what happens with Jack and Belle. However, I do think it is very well written. Fagin being able to get out of prison, and getting Jack out as well by making him his convict assistant, is such a fun way to bring the story right back to the start.
Overall, I’ve really enjoyed this show. There were some inconsistencies and, like I said before, I feel like sometimes there should have been a little more time to build up the relationship between Jack and Belle, but it was such a fun show to watch. I think there are so many different parts to the story, so it really has something for everyone to enjoy.
