The Artful Dodger has made its debut on Disney+, but is this TV show really appropriate for younger viewers? Here’s a quick guide for parents!
Premiering on Hulu in 2023, The Artful Dodger is an Australian television series that serves as a sequel to Charles Dickens's classic novel Oliver Twist. That novel ended with the Dodger, a young pickpocket/thief, being arrested and sentenced to imprisonment in Australia.
The series picks up 15 years later as the Dodger (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) escapes prison and later becomes a Navy surgeon. Now using the name Jack Dawkins, he’s become an established surgeon known for his daring style. Dawkins is also a gambler who often gets into scrapes with the local criminals.
Just as Dawkins has gotten things together, his old thief mentor, Fagin (David Thewlis), comes to town, fresh off his own prison sentence and already plotting a new criminal scheme. While trying to keep his secret past quiet, Dawkins navigates his life with Fagin, his relationship with Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell), the governor’s daughter who dreams of being a surgeon, and his own personal desires.
The show dropped its full eight-episode first season on Hulu in November 2023 and in January 2024, it moved to Disney+ for international markets. It’s earned good reviews and the hopes of a second season but is it right for kids?
What is the age rating for The Artful Dodger?
It may be a Hulu show, but The Artful Dodger isn’t too much for older kids. The series is rated TV-14. The language isn’t too coarse, with a few curses but nothing too extreme that you wouldn’t see in a network drama. There are some sex scenes, but nothing graphic, and much of it is off-screen.
There are many scenes involving folks drinking, as in a few cases, alcohol is used to help someone through a surgery. Off that, the surgical scenes can be more graphic than expected, pretty bloody and uncomfortable. To top it off, there’s a lot of violence, bar brawls, sword fights, hangings, and other scary scenes.
The show is compelling with its great cast and characters and a few surprise story twists (no pun intended) happening in later episodes. It could be too much for younger viewers although high school age would handle it well. It may help to have read the book first but the show can work if you haven’t already.
Thus, while The Artful Dodger isn’t for younger viewers, teens can take it in and even enjoy this unique sequel to a classic novel.
The Artful Dodger is streaming on Hulu and Disney+.