The Artful Dodger’s first season brought its storyline to a compelling and satisfying conclusion by the eighth episode, tying together several secrets and revealing key truths.
The Hulu series, structured across eight episodes, managed to breathe new energy into Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist characters, especially with the reunion of Norbert Fagin and Jack Dawkins with Oliver himself in the finale.
By situating the story in Australia, the show built upon Jack Dawkins’ canonical end in Oliver Twist—being exiled to a penal colony—and reimagined well-known characters while keeping their ties to crime intact, something that remained evident in how the final episode played out.
Old crimes and new cures collide as Jack embraces every side of himself (Photo: The Artful Dodger/Beach Road Pictures in collaboration with Sony Pictures Television’s Curio Pictures)Jack’s inner turmoil between his past identity and current aspirations came to a head in the final episode as he carried out a groundbreaking surgical procedure and joined Fagin’s scheme targeting the Crown. His resolution was found in accepting every part of himself—the part that helped him survive and the part that earned him admiration.
This internal balance Jack achieved was tightly connected to the numerous theft plots spread throughout the season. Episode 8 shed light on how each character’s actions were interconnected, bringing longstanding conspiracies to the surface and putting an end to many of them.
Gaines No Wan Gree Leave Jack Alone
From the first episode, Captain Gaines had his sights on Jack Dawkins, convinced that he was involved in every wrongdoing regardless of whether there was solid proof. Gaines’ belief never wavered, and Jack’s eventual cooperation with Fagin and his decision to stay and operate on Belle—rather than escape—only made his arrest seem more likely.
Despite ending up in custody, Jack’s situation had certainly shifted from where he was at the season’s beginning. His decision to stay behind rather than flee showed his growth and concern for Belle, though it sealed his fate temporarily.
Through their shared obstacles in the last two episodes, Jack came to understand that Fagin was someone he could rely on. Their partnership deepened as Jack successfully performed a difficult operation to save Belle’s life, an act that earned him admiration from colleagues, including Dr. Sneed, who openly acknowledged Jack’s skill.
Even though he landed in jail by the season’s end, the acknowledgment of his surgical prowess across the hospital suggested that he wouldn’t remain behind bars for long. His medical abilities were now seen as indispensable.
Oliver and Darius Shock Everybody
The mystery around the stolen gold took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that Oliver Twist and Darius were behind it, despite their seeming trustworthiness. Darius owed much to Fagin, while Oliver had appeared to have left his criminal days behind.
But considering Oliver’s criminal roots and Darius’ knowledge of port activities as a customs officer, their actions began to make more sense. Oliver’s confession that he wanted to relive his days of theft to boost his pride helped explain the deceit. From the moment he arrived at Port Victory, his false niceties hinted at a hidden agenda.
Rather than presenting Oliver as the noble figure from Dickens’ original ending, the show gave a fresh perspective by focusing on Fagin and Jack’s lives and painting Oliver as someone who reverted to crime. This choice reframed familiar characters and added a new dimension to Oliver’s motivations, giving the audience a different look at what becomes of people given second chances.
Belle’s survival was only possible because of a joint effort between her and Jack, as the show constantly reinforced her condition’s seriousness. Belle’s role in the surgeries throughout the season wasn’t just symbolic—she helped Jack refine his technique.
Though Jack’s hands and quick thinking saved her, the many hours they worked together built his confidence. Without Belle’s extensive academic knowledge and support, he may never have attempted such a dangerous operation.
Belle’s life hangs in the balance as Jack bets everything on one operation (Photo: The Artful Dodger/Beach Road Pictures in collaboration with Sony Pictures Television’s Curio Pictures)Gaines, so focused on pinning crimes on Jack, missed the real threat posed by Fagin and others. His stubbornness about Jack’s guilt blinded him to Fagin’s activities with Red and his quiet investigation into Oliver and Darius.
Gaines placed so much faith in Fagin’s supposed selfishness that he couldn’t see how Fagin was playing him. That miscalculation cost him everything, especially once Red turned against him, ending his story fatally.
Even though Jack distrusted Fagin due to their complicated past in London, both men had always leaned towards helping the town’s people instead of supporting those in power. Red, who often clashed with Fagin by beating him to the goods he sought, was someone he still respected.
Fagin, when faced with the opportunity to trade Jack or Red for his safety, stood by them instead. Gaines had mistreated many, but his cruelty towards Red—especially his desire to execute her while pregnant—made Fagin’s final plan feel like justice being served.
From being Fagin’s assigned servant in episode 1 to sharing a jail cell with him in episode 8, Jack’s relationship with Fagin underwent a major transformation.
While it appeared both were now in the same condition, Fagin had a trick up his sleeve: a pardon granted by Gaines, whom he fooled into thinking he’d betray Jack. Fagin’s move to get arrested was just another calculated step, knowing Jack wouldn’t leave until Belle’s fate was clear.
Fagin may have landed in jail, but his position was far better than Jack’s, given his official pardon and the likelihood of his quick release. Meanwhile, Jack’s chance at freedom rested on someone influential convincing the court that his place was in the hospital.
Ironically, Jack had now become the one trapped, much like Fagin had been earlier in the season. Still, the knowledge that Belle survived and that Fagin didn’t double-cross him gave Jack a sense of peace, even if it meant serving as Fagin’s assistant once again, as the older man teased.
Jack’s internal conflict defined much of his journey throughout the show, especially his reluctance to embrace his less desirable traits. But by the time season one closed, he had embraced every part of himself, recognising that his so-called darker traits also gave him insight and helped him do good—especially under Belle’s influence.
His growth as both a doctor and a person came with consequences, yet he stood firm in his decisions. Jack might have ended the season behind bars, but his actions reflected strength, compassion, and determination.
