Love Under Sentence of Death

Read Time:5 Minute, 20 Second

TV SERIES REVIEW
The Artful Dodger: Season 2
TV-14 –

Genre: Drama, Crime, Historical
Year Released: 2026
Runtime: 8 x ~50m episodes
Creator(s): James McNamara, David Maher, David Taylor
Writer(s): James McNamara, Dan Knight, Kate Mulvany, Miranda Tapsell
Cast: Thomas Brodie-Sangster, David Thewlis, Maia Mitchell, Luke Bracey, Tim Minchin
Where to Watch: season 2 premieres February 10, 2026

RAVING REVIEW: What does redemption cost when the world stops giving second chances? THE ARTFUL DODGER: SEASON 2 opens with that question already answered in practice, if not yet in words. Jack Dawkins isn’t flirting with consequence anymore; he’s staring straight down the barrel of it. Where the first season was about possibility and transformation, this is about debt, the kind that doesn’t disappear just because you’ve learned new skills or adopted better manners.

Season two wastes no time tightening its grip. Jack begins the season facing execution, hunted by the newly arrived Inspector Boxer, and forced to confront the reality that his two lives can no longer coexist. The series reframes its central vision, shifting away from whether Jack can become someone new and toward whether that change has come too late. It’s a darker, sharper premise, and the show leans into it with confidence.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster continues to be the series’s central connection. His performance has matured alongside the character, shedding much of the boyish charm that defined earlier episodes in favor of something more brittle. This version of Jack is exhausted, aware of his own contradictions, and increasingly unable to justify them. Brodie-Sangster plays that reckoning without grand gestures, allowing it to surface through hesitation, restraint, and moments of calculation.

Maia Mitchell’s Lady Belle emerges as the season’s true force of nature. Her ambition to practice medicine is no longer framed as a romantic aspiration or symbolic rebellion, but as a genuine professional and moral pursuit. Season two gives her more agency, more conflict, and more difficult choices, and Mitchell rises to the occasion. Belle isn’t waiting to be chosen anymore. She’s choosing herself, even when that choice puts her directly in danger.

David Thewlis remains a captivating presence as Fagin, though the character’s role shifts in important ways. Where season one allowed him to operate as a charming destabilizer, this season reveals the cost of that charm. Fagin’s influence feels more corrosive now, his manipulations less playful and more predatory. Thewlis subtly adjusts his performance to reflect that shift, making Fagin feel less like a romantic relic of Jack’s past and more like a living threat to his future.

The introduction of Inspector Boxer adds a necessary counterweight. Rather than functioning as a simple antagonist, Boxer represents a different kind of order, one rooted in obsession and control rather than chaos. His rivalry with Jack extends beyond the law and into matters of ego, masculinity, and desire, particularly where Belle is concerned. That triangulation gives the season much of its dramatic impetus, grounding its action in emotion rather than procedural mechanics.

One of the season’s strongest qualities is its willingness to let romance become dangerous. The relationship between Jack and Belle is no longer idealized or protected by circumstance. Every interaction carries risk, not just socially, but legally and physically. The show understands that love, in this context, isn’t a refuge. It’s a liability. That shift gives their connection a sharper edge and prevents it from slipping into melodrama.

The medical elements continue to be a standout, though they’re used more strategically this time around. Surgery isn’t just spectacle; it becomes a moral testing ground. The choices made in operating rooms mirror the choices made outside them, forcing characters to confront the consequences of hesitation, arrogance, and compromise. The series maintains its unflinching approach to these scenes, trusting the audience to sit with discomfort rather than sanitizing it.

If there’s a critique to be made, it’s that the season occasionally juggles too many different angles at once. The expansion of locations and subplots adds texture, but not every storyline receives equal weight. A few narrative moments feel rushed, particularly as the season barrels toward its end. Still, those moments feel more like the byproduct of ambition than confusion.

What ultimately makes THE ARTFUL DODGER: SEASON 2 work is its refusal to reset its characters. Growth isn’t erased, mistakes aren’t forgiven out of convenience, and survival doesn’t come without loss. The series understands that reinvention is only meaningful if it’s tested, and this season tests Jack Dawkins harder than ever before. This feels like a genuine continuation, not just a new season.

By embracing consequence, deepening its emotion, and allowing romance to bruise rather than soothe, THE ARTFUL DODGER proves it isn’t content to coast on charm alone. Season two doesn’t just expand the show's world; it obscures it, transforming a clever reimagining into something sturdier and more poignant. If the first season asked whether people can change, this one asks whether change is enough.

Please visit https://linktr.ee/overlyhonestr for more reviews.

You can follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. My social media accounts can also be found on most platforms by searching for 'Overly Honest Reviews'.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please don't hesitate to say hello or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of HULU, DISNEY+, CURIO PICTURES, SONY PICTURES TELEVISION]

DISCLAIMER:
At Overly Honest Movie Reviews, we value honesty and transparency. Occasionally, we receive complimentary items for review, including DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, Vinyl Records, Books, and more. We assure you that these arrangements do not influence our reviews, as we are committed to providing unbiased and sincere evaluations. We aim to help you make informed entertainment choices regardless of our relationship with distributors or producers.

Amazon Affiliate Links:
Additionally, this site contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may receive a commission. This affiliate arrangement does not affect our commitment to honest reviews and helps support our site. We appreciate your trust and support as you navigate these links.