The Artful Dodger Season 1 Episodes 7-8 Review: The Greatest Surgeon

All season long, The Artful Dodger has been working toward its climax, and what a glorious one it is. With two different stories converging into one major operation (double meaning intended), this season goes out in the most exciting way possible.

Between Oliver Twist making an appearance, Fagin pulling off his biggest heist ever, and Dawkins finally understanding what is ailing Belle, there are many high stakes to go around.

In fact, from the start of The Artful Dodger Season 1 Episode 7, “Wet Lettuce,” to the end of the momentous finale, viewers could scarcely take a breath.

While this series has been strong all season long, the penultimate and finale episodes really seal the deal and make the whole series a masterful adventure. The character arcs continue beautifully, giving room for a bit of redemption for the one Dr. Sneed.

Dawkins Learns What Love Means

This whole season, Belle and Jack have been toying with the idea of being more to each other than simple colleagues. In fact, Belle’s resourcefulness and confidence have kept Dawkins on his toes every step of the way, inspiring him to stretch his skills even further.

What is especially beautiful about their dynamic is that it’s never from a place of disrespect. Out of all the people in Belle’s life, Jack Dawkins is the one person who sees her for who she is and respects her enough to give her a chance at the career she really wants.

When it becomes apparent that Jack cares about her beyond the confines of mentor and student, he doesn’t know how to put those feelings into words. But, in his own unique way, “unnerving” is very similar to love, if not exactly the same.

It isn’t until Jack has the opportunity to leave Australia for good that he realizes nothing he does or gains is worth having if Belle isn’t by his side. It’s a romanticism that we don’t expect from the hardened former criminal — and he doesn’t expect it in himself either.

The biggest shame is that he realizes his deeper feelings for her just as her condition becomes unavoidable, making it almost tragic. For the first time, we see Dawkins’ medical confidence falter to the point he almost falls apart.

The Artful Dodger Season 1 Episode 8, “Untapped Potential,” gives us all the heartbreak we expect from a doomed romance with all the hope of love against all odds. 

Sneed Missteps And Then Recovers

From the moment Belle starts insisting more urgently that she is suffering from an aortic aneurysm, Dr. Sneed sides with her mother and insists that her diagnosis can’t possibly be correct. His arrogance even goes so far as to snidely remind Dr. Dawkins of his place.

Despite confidently stating that Dawkins’ assessment of Belle’s health is invalid due to having been fired, viewers can see the doubt in his eyes. After all, his cockiness has always been a front for his insecurity about how much more skilled the amateur Dawkins is without formal training.

The biggest kicker, though, isn’t his stance during “Wet Lettuce” instead, it’s what he says to Belle’s mother and father during “Untapped Potential” when faced with Dawkins’ unsanctioned operation. When faced with the perfect opportunity to bluster and throw his weight around he defers to Dawkins’ skills.

Telling her mother that she is dead if Dawkins doesn’t operate is a move we never expected to see from Sneed, which makes the moment that much more powerful. Fortunately, The Artful Dodger Season 1 Episode 8, “Untapped Potential,” gives Sneed another moment to further defend Dawkins’ behavior, cementing him as a doctor of sound mind and repute.

It’s one thing to stand by Dawkins as his number two during an intense operation and defend his right to perform the surgery. It’s another thing entirely to look an angry governor’s wife in the eye and tell her she might have just sent the best surgeon he’s ever seen to his death.

While there isn’t any talk yet of a Season 2, it would be interesting to see if another season would allow these two warring doctors to come together in mutual respect.

Oliver Twist Puts a Twist in Fagin’s Plans

One of the most unexpected yet entirely hoped-for appearances comes in the form of Oliver Twist, who is now a member of the Bank of London. He’s been mentioned consistently throughout the season, so it really isn’t that surprising when he shows up, but his conniving nature certainly is.

Sure, he has a history with Fagin’s gang of thieves, but in the end, he walked away from that and lived a nice life of status. So, for him to double-cross Fagin at his own game in order to take all the gold is a nice twist on the story.

It allows Fagin to take out both Darius and Gaines once and for all. Adding Twist to the story for these final two episodes doesn’t add a tremendous amount to the plot, but it does give things a fun detour. 

In the end, Fagin gets the documents about Dawkins’ criminal history in London from Twist, completely absolving the young man from being discovered. He gains the pardon he always wanted for his documented crimes, allowing him to finally leave Australia and move on to bigger and better things.

Ultimately, Fagin’s big operation was never about actually possessing the gold. It was about clearing both his and Dawkins’ name. Proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he cares deeply for Dawkins despite always insisting he only cares about himself.

Stray Thoughts

• I really hoped we’d get a bit more of a payout with Belle and Jack in the end, but at least we know he saved her life and he admitted to loving her
• Hetty deserves all the recognition for being not only very educated for a nurse but also willing to put her job on the line for Jack and Belle.

What did you think of this episode of The Artful Dodger? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Artful Dodger is streaming on Hulu.

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