Disney+ has released another installment of its raucous adaptation of Charles Dickens' 'Oliver Twist', dubbed 'The Artful Dodger'. The series follows the titular character, Jack Dawkins (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), a young surgeon turned convict, as he tries to evade capture. Dawkins's latest predicament is complicated by his former mentor, Norbert Fagin (David Thewlis), who has escaped from prison and is now working with him in the Australian penal colony of Port Victory.
In this second series, the stakes are higher as Dawkins becomes embroiled in a complex web of theft and deception. His budding romance with Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell) adds an extra layer of tension to his already precarious situation. However, just as it seems like Dawkins has finally found a sense of stability, Inspector Boxer (Luke Bracey) appears on the scene, determined to bring him to justice.
The pace of this series is undoubtedly frenetic, with chase sequences and violent confrontations becoming increasingly common. While this may appeal to fans of action-packed dramas, it comes at the cost of emotional depth. The relationships between Dawkins and Fagin are reduced to shallow banter and the nuanced character development that made them so compelling in the first series is now all but forgotten.
Ultimately, 'The Artful Dodger' feels like a rehashing of the same plot points from its predecessor. While it has its moments, particularly when the focus is on Dawkins's relationships with Fagin and Belle, the overall effect is one of tiredness and desperation. With so much emphasis placed on high-octane action sequences, it's hard to muster up any enthusiasm for what promises to be a season filled with more of the same.
It would have been better if the writers had taken a step back and re-evaluated the core themes of 'Oliver Twist', particularly the complex relationships between the characters. Instead, they seem content to rely on familiar tropes and shallow character development. As Fagin himself laments at one point, it's clear that Dawkins and his companions are in for a world of hurt – but not necessarily in a good way.
Despite its flaws, 'The Artful Dodger' remains a compelling watch for fans of Dickensian drama and those who enjoy a good heist. However, those hoping for something more substantial may find themselves left feeling disappointed and frustrated.
In this second series, the stakes are higher as Dawkins becomes embroiled in a complex web of theft and deception. His budding romance with Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell) adds an extra layer of tension to his already precarious situation. However, just as it seems like Dawkins has finally found a sense of stability, Inspector Boxer (Luke Bracey) appears on the scene, determined to bring him to justice.
The pace of this series is undoubtedly frenetic, with chase sequences and violent confrontations becoming increasingly common. While this may appeal to fans of action-packed dramas, it comes at the cost of emotional depth. The relationships between Dawkins and Fagin are reduced to shallow banter and the nuanced character development that made them so compelling in the first series is now all but forgotten.
Ultimately, 'The Artful Dodger' feels like a rehashing of the same plot points from its predecessor. While it has its moments, particularly when the focus is on Dawkins's relationships with Fagin and Belle, the overall effect is one of tiredness and desperation. With so much emphasis placed on high-octane action sequences, it's hard to muster up any enthusiasm for what promises to be a season filled with more of the same.
It would have been better if the writers had taken a step back and re-evaluated the core themes of 'Oliver Twist', particularly the complex relationships between the characters. Instead, they seem content to rely on familiar tropes and shallow character development. As Fagin himself laments at one point, it's clear that Dawkins and his companions are in for a world of hurt – but not necessarily in a good way.
Despite its flaws, 'The Artful Dodger' remains a compelling watch for fans of Dickensian drama and those who enjoy a good heist. However, those hoping for something more substantial may find themselves left feeling disappointed and frustrated.
. I mean, I'm all for some high-octane action sequences, but come on, can't they explore some deeper themes like social commentary or character development? It feels like they're just churning out the same old formula and calling it a new installment 
. And don't even get me started on how rushed the whole thing feels - it's like they're trying to cram in as much excitement as possible without stopping to breathe 
. I'd have loved to see some more nuance and complexity in the characters, especially Dawkins' relationships with Fagin and Belle 
. But hey, if you're into mindless action flicks, then 'The Artful Dodger' is probably your thing 
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. I mean, 'The Artful Dodger' is like a rehashing of the same plot points from its predecessor - what's the point? It's like they took all the excitement and energy from the first series and replaced it with shallow banter and a bunch of action-packed sequences that barely scratch the surface of the characters. I get it, some fans might be stoked for more heist stuff, but come on, can't we get something more substantial? 
. I mean, what happened to the depth and complexity that made this story great in the first place? The characters feel like caricatures of themselves at this point – shallow banter and not much more 
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. I mean, I still enjoy a good heist drama, but this one feels like it's phoning it in 
. Maybe they'll step up their game next season, but for now, it's just another Disney+ series that's more hype than substance 
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. The Artful Dodger is all about high-octane action and chase scenes, but for me, that comes at the expense of real character development 
. It feels like we're just seeing the same old tricks from Jack Dawkins again, instead of actually learning anything new about him 
. The romance between Dawkins and Belle is nice, but it gets lost in all the chaos 
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I mean, can't they just focus on character development for once? 
don't get me wrong, tom brodie-sangster is still pretty cool as oliver twist 
but the rest of the cast feels kinda one-dimensional to me 
especially with oliver twist, i get why they wanna make it more thrilling but can't we just have a deeper look at the relationships between the characters too? 