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Victorian grit meets playful chaos once more as The Artful Dodger returns for its second season, and stars David Thewlis and Thomas Brodie-Sangster sit down with Kyle Meredith to unpack what’s changed, what’s sharper, and what’s gotten delightfully weirder. Picking up years after Dickens’ Oliver Twist, the Hulu series continues to mash together medical drama, romance, comedy, and crime with a confidence that feels looser, faster, and more dangerous this time around. Both actors talk about leaning into that evolution, with new power dynamics, unexpected morality, and a pace that barely lets you catch your breath. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.
Thewlis, whose Fagin now finds himself wealthier, bolder, and edging toward instability, suggests the real shake-up comes not from villainy but from its absence. “We don’t have a very definite bad guy in this season,” he explains, noting how the introduction of Inspector Boxer complicates the moral center of the show. “Boxer should be replacing the villain, but actually he’s rather a wonderful person… educated, ethical, and a plausible suitor for Belle.” That gray area adds tension without sacrificing the show’s playful swagger, giving Season 2 a tonal complexity that sneaks up on you while you’re having too much fun to notice.
For Brodie-Sangster, the freedom comes from abandoning the source material entirely and trusting what the show has already built. “Our source material becomes Season One,” he says. Noting he still requires a few takes to rediscover Dodger’s rhythm after time away, he champions the physicality of the role — especially the constant sprinting. “I actually wanted more running,” he laughs. “Dodger should be bumping into people, jumping over stuff… like a little dog running around.” Meanwhile, Thewlis confesses he’s perfectly happy doing less running — ideally none at all — as long as he gets to keep shaving his head and maintaining what he affectionately calls a “beard diary.”
Listen to David Thewlis and Thomas Brodie-Sangster talk about The Artful Dodger Season 2, and more in the new episode above or by watching the video below. Keep up on all the latest episodes by following Kyle Meredith With… on your favorite podcast platform; plus, check out all the series on the Consequence Podcast Network.
The Artful Dodger Season 2 debuts February 2nd on Hulu. Sign up for a 30-day free trial here, or check out bundle offers with Disney+, HBO Max, and ESPN here.
English (US) · 