The Artful Dodger Season 2 officially landed on Hulu in the United States and Disney+ internationally on February 10, 2026. All eight episodes dropped at once, giving viewers the chance to binge the entire sophomore run of the Australian period drama in one sitting.
With the first season earning a loyal following for its clever spin on Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, the new season arrives with higher stakes, a love triangle, and Jack Dawkins fighting to escape the hangman’s noose. But does it deliver a satisfying heist or does it try to pick too many pockets at once?
Here is a detailed breakdown of the The Artful Dodger Season 2 release information, critical reception, new characters, and whether you should stream it or skip it.
The Artful Dodger Season 2 Release Date and Streaming Details for Global Audiences
All eight episodes of The Artful Dodger Season 2 premiered on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 .
Unlike many streaming series that stagger episodes weekly, the entire season is available immediately. This full-season drop matches the release strategy of Season 1, allowing viewers to move through Jack’s troubles with the noose and Fagin’s schemes without waiting .
Streaming platforms by region:
- United States: Available exclusively on Hulu
- United Kingdom: Streaming on Disney+
- Canada: Available on Disney+
- Australia: Streaming on Disney+
- India: Available on Disney+ Hotstar
- Global: Available on Disney+ in all other territories where the service operates
For viewers in the United States, Hulu offers multiple subscription tiers. The ad-supported plan costs $10.99 per month, while the ad-free plan is $18.99 per month. New subscribers can take advantage of a 30-day free trial .
For viewers looking to bundle services, the Disney+ Bundle includes Hulu and starts at $12.99 per month for the ad-supported version. A premium bundle including Disney+, Hulu, and Max ad-free is available for $32.99 per month .
Australian viewers can access Disney+ Standard for $15.99 per month or $159.99 per year, while Disney+ Premium costs $20.99 per month or $209.99 per year .
What Is The Artful Dodger Season 2 About? Plot Overview
The Artful Dodger Season 2 picks up exactly where the first season ended. Jack Dawkins (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) sits in a jail cell awaiting execution. He was falsely convicted of killing Captain Gaines and has spent six months separated from Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell), unaware that she has been desperately searching for evidence to clear his name .
The situation turns more dangerous when Fagin (David Thewlis) secretly arranges for Jack’s execution to be moved up. But Fagin’s motives are never simple. He helps Jack escape the gallows, not out of fatherly love, but because he needs Jack’s skills for a new heist involving stolen land deeds and Uncle Dickie (Jeremy Sims), the governor’s shady brother .
New Inspector Henry Boxer (Luke Bracey) arrives in Port Victory as the new lawman. He immediately suspects Jack is responsible for a string of deaths in the colony. Boxer also carries a torch for Belle, creating a clear romantic rivalry .
Lady Jane Fox (Susie Porter) strikes a brutal deal with Jack. She will spare him from the gallows and allow him to continue working as a surgeon at the hospital. But the conditions are cruel. Jack cannot see or speak to Belle for two years. If he breaks this rule, he will hang. Belle faces her own ultimatum. Her mother agrees to support her dream of becoming Australia’s first female doctor, but only if she stays away from Jack for the same period .
With a killer loose in Port Victory, Fagin dragging him into dangerous schemes, and Boxer lurking at every corner, Jack must survive without the woman he loves while trying to stay out of prison .
The Artful Dodger Season 2 Cast: Returning Favorites and New Faces
The core trio remains the heart of the series. Thomas Brodie-Sangster returns as Jack Dawkins, the former pickpocket whose fast fingers now perform delicate surgeries. David Thewlis is back as the manipulative yet oddly charming Fagin. Maia Mitchell reprises her role as Lady Belle Fox, balancing her medical ambitions with her longing for Jack .
Returning cast members include:
- Susie Porter as Lady Jane Fox, Belle’s stern mother
- Damien Garvey as Governor Edmund Fox
- Tim Minchin as Darius Cracksworth
- Lucy-Rose Leonard as Lady Fanny Fox, Belle’s sister who gets drawn into Fagin’s schemes
- Nicholas Burton as Dr. Rainsford Sneed
- Kim Gyngell as The Prof
- Luke Carroll as Tim Billiberllary
New cast additions for Season 2:
- Luke Bracey as Inspector Henry Boxer, Jack’s romantic rival and chief accuser
- Jeremy Sims as Uncle Dickie, the governor’s brother with questionable business dealings
- Zac Burgess as Phineas Golden
The writing team also expanded. James McNamara returns as lead writer and co-creator. He is joined by Dan Knight, Kate Mulvany, and Miranda Tapsell, who also appeared in Season 1 as an actor .
The Artful Dodger Season 2 Episode Count and Runtime
The Artful Dodger Season 2 contains eight episodes .
This matches the episode count of the first season. All episodes were released simultaneously on February 10, 2026. Individual episode runtimes vary, but most fall between 45 and 55 minutes .
Critical Reception: The Artful Dodger Season 2 Reviews and Rotten Tomatoes Score
The Artful Dodger Season 2 currently holds a 100 percent Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on early critic reviews. This perfect score reflects unanimous approval from the first wave of reviewers .
Peter Gray from The AU Review rated the season 4 out of 5 stars. He praised how the series balances romance, suspense, comedy, and drama while expanding the world and deepening character arcs .
Martin Carr at CBR awarded the season 9 out of 10. Carr noted the story cartwheels through convention but never outpaces its audience. He called the season thought-provoking and highly entertaining .
Maggie Lovitt from Collider also gave it 9 out of 10. Lovitt believes The Artful Dodger Season 2 will be remembered as one of the decade’s best historical series .
Sarah Ward at ScreenHub described the season as a charming return. She highlighted how the show perfectly picks up where the first batch of episodes left off and praised the chemistry between Brodie-Sangster, Thewlis, and Mitchell as one of television’s most watchable trios .
Gissane Sophia from Lady Geeks Media wrote that Season 2 is grittier, messier, and more thought-provoking while still delivering deliciously intoxicating romance .
Not all reviews are completely glowing. Sarah Dempster at The Guardian gave the season 3 out of 5 stars. While acknowledging the show’s pace and energy, she criticized it for being a louder re-tread of the first series rather than something truly new .
Joel Keller at Decider recommended viewers Stream It but expressed caution. He noted the show must jump through story hoops to keep Jack and Belle apart. He warned this device can feel contrived if not handled carefully .
The season does not yet have an audience score on Rotten Tomatoes due to an insufficient number of user ratings .
Should You Watch or Skip The Artful Dodger Season 2? A Viewer’s Guide
Watch The Artful Dodger Season 2 if you enjoyed Season 1. The sophomore run delivers exactly what made the first season work. Quick-witted dialogue, creative surgery scenes, and the push-pull between Jack’s criminal instincts and his desire for a legitimate life remain front and center .
Watch for David Thewlis. Critics universally agree Thewlis as Fagin is the standout performer. He clearly enjoys playing the schemer who always has three plans running simultaneously. His nicknames, including calling Belle “Cheekbones,” add levity to even the tensest heist scenes .
Watch if you like historical fiction with modern energy. The show continues using contemporary music during chase sequences. Blur’s Song 2 appears in early episodes. The dialogue remains snappy and anachronistic in the best way .
Skip if you hate forced separation storylines. The central conflict of Season 2 hinges entirely on Jack and Belle being ordered to stay away from each other. Every close call, every near-miss meeting, and every stolen glance exists because the plot demands it. Some viewers find this frustrating rather than romantic .
Skip if you expected major reinvention. While the season expands the Dickens universe by pulling characters from other novels, the core formula remains unchanged. Jack operates on patients. Fagin schemes. Belle fights for respect. Inspector Boxer adds new tension, but the rhythm feels familiar .
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The Verdict: The Artful Dodger Season 2 Keeps Its Pickpocketing Skills Sharp
The Artful Dodger Season 2 succeeds as a follow-up to the 2023 debut. It gives audiences more of what worked. More surgeries. More cons. More longing looks between Jack and Belle. More Fagin being Fagin .
The production values remain high. Filmed at Callan Park in Sydney with support from Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund, the show looks expensive. The costumes and sets pull viewers deeper into 1850s Port Victory .
The new characters serve their purpose. Luke Bracey plays Inspector Boxer with stiff-backed authority. He is a credible romantic rival and legitimate threat. Jeremy Sims brings slippery charm to Uncle Dickie .
The season does not revolutionize period drama. It does not try to. Instead, it offers eight episodes of entertaining, fast-moving television built around three actors who genuinely enjoy working together .
For viewers wondering if The Artful Dodger Season 2 is worth their time, the answer is yes. Stream it. Enjoy the chase scenes. Appreciate the surgical details. Laugh at Fagin’s insults. Just do not expect Jack and Belle to reunite without a lot of pain first.
All eight episodes of The Artful Dodger Season 2 are now streaming on Hulu in the US and Disney+ worldwide.
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