The Artful Dodger

Looking for a medical drama with lots of romance and crime set in the 1850s? Well then you should try The Artful Dodger. Starring Thomas Brodie-Sangster (from Maze Runner) and David Thewlis (from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) this fast paced drama series is a great watch for a few reasons. 

First, with its great storyline, The Artful Dodger is a spinoff of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. But you don’t need to know that story to watch this one. The story follows Jack Dawkins or “Dodger” as he’s known, who turns away from his life of crime in London and becomes a surgeon in Port Victory, Australia. But his life is turned upside down when his old mentor Fagin turns up in Port Victory and suggests he turns back to a life of crime, all while he’s pursuing a romance with the Governor’s daughter Lady Belle. There’s always so much going on in every episode it will leave you guessing what happens next. 

Secondly, is the fantastic production quality. Not only is the acting impeccable but the costumes, sets, and the look and feel are all great. I love the acting. The chemistry between Belle and Jack is so great and I think the actors really capture their characters. The side characters also provide such an interesting contrast. One minute Jack and Belle are debating some serious medical issue then suddenly it cuts to Fagin and his gang of criminals coming up with the most ridiculous heists. 

Thirdly, I love the costumes. The ladies dresses are definitely my favourite but there are such a variety of costumes and it really makes you feel like you’re in a 19th century town. The sets are also great and it really captures the time period that they were going for.

Finally this show while being set in the 19th century still has a modern feel. The show uses a lot of modern music especially in the second season, and the use of modern cinematography styles gives the show a more modern-feely-vibe. Overall this show has everything you could want: romance, drama, crime and high stakes. What more could you ask for?