I have a confession to make: I don't often rave about Australian TV. It's a flaw, I know, but I usually find myself gravitating towards the glossy exports of the US or the gritty dramas of the UK.

Until now.

It turns out all I needed to capture my attention was a charming convict-turned-surgeon with a penchant for thievery and a governor's daughter with a scalpel and a dream.

The Artful Dodger isn't just "good for an Australian show", it's world-class television — and I'll shout it from the rooftops to anyone who'll listen.

It's a sequel to Oliver Twist, based on the Artful Dodger himself, but not as you know him.

Conceived by James McNamara, David Maher and David Taylor, the show follows Jack Dawkins (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) 15 years after the events of the novel. Dawkins and his former surrogate father Fagin (David Thewlis), are now living in the 1850s NSW penal colony of Port Victory.

Dawkins has made a name for himself as a trusted surgeon, putting his life of crime well behind him… or so he thought until Fagin comes knocking again. Once Dawson has a taste for the dodgy life again, trouble seems to find him at every turn.

Make no mistake, this isn't just a period crime drama. It's a love story — and one for the ages at that.

The chemistry between Brodie-Sangster and Maia Mitchell, who plays Lady Belle Fox, is the show's electric pulse. Belle is determined to become the first female doctor, and she wants Jack to get her there.

They're from two different worlds, but the pining is undeniable. It's a chemistry so electric it set the internet on fire between seasons. Maia herself admitted she's "chronically online" and saw the countless TikTok fan-edits of Belle and Jack's romance.

The yearning! The ache! The star-crossed loversness of it all!

Now, we're back for Season 2 and the stakes are even higher. It opens on literal life and death: Dawkins being dragged to the gallows, set to have a noose around his neck, while Belle desperately fights the clock to stop the drop. It's chaotic and breathless — and that's just the first five minutes.

But the real obstacle this season isn't just the law — it's Lady Jane, Belle's mother.

Susie Porter brings a maternal intensity to the role; she isn't a villain in the traditional sense, but a mother convinced that 'stability' is a higher currency than love. It creates this fascinating, high-stakes tug-of-war where both women think they are saving Belle's future.

Jane is tired of seeing her daughter throwing her life away for a lowly doctor without a penny to his name. So, she gives both Jack and Belle an ultimatum: stay away from each other for two years or it's back to the noose for Jack.

Jack and Belle are magnetic. Image: Disney.

But even with the threat of a noose hanging over Jack's head, his connection with Belle is magnetic. It's the kind of "against all odds" romance that had fans campaigning relentlessly for this second season.

Maia told Mamamia that while the stakes are life or death, the core of the story is one many of us know all too well.

"It's a really relatable story about mothers and daughters and that struggle when you're trying to fight for your independence," she said. "It certainly does reflect that messy push-pull, butt-headsy time when you're at odds."

But don't write Lady Jane off just yet.

"Hang in there with Jane because we love her," Maia said.

"For her to vouch for Belle and say, 'I will support you becoming a doctor' is so progressive. She's quite a modern woman; she's running the colony."

Susie added that Jane's fear came from the brutal reality of the time.

"If you deviated from the social norms of that day, you could be an outcast," she said. "It can completely destroy people's lives. The stakes are massive."

There's also a new murderous plot in the background — a serial killer is on the loose, and Dawkins is the prime suspect.

Jack finds himself in all sorts of trouble. Image: Disney.

While the show tries to go "bigger," this subplot can occasionally feel like a distraction. Truthfully, I found myself caring less about the "whodunnit" and wishing for more of the original focus on the scrappy crimes and medical breakthroughs. At times, the "stay away or he dies" ultimatum feels a little like ground we've already trodden.

But even when the plot stutters, the connection between Belle and Jack remains magnetic.

Maia believes their fire comes from being two halves of the same coin.

"I think it's because they share the same kind of impulsive fire," she said.

"They're both really ambitious and really strong-headed and stubborn... and I just think they've got the hots for each other, too."

This season introduces a rival for Belle's heart in Inspector Henry Boxer (Luke Bracey), a choice Jane would certainly prefer.

"He's a reasonable choice — calm, sweet, and responsible," Maia said. But even Susie can't help but be a Jack and Belle 'shipper' at heart.

"From an audience point of view, I would be 'Team Jack' because that's where her heart is," Susie admitted. "You so want them to be together and live happily ever after."

"Which will never happen in this show," Maia joked.

Boxer is the new suitor on the scene. Image: Disney.

Ultimately, The Artful Dodger manages to be two things at once: a bloody, gritty medical procedural and a sweeping, romantic epic. And it has proved one thing for certain: the show no longer relies on its Dickensian ties; it has truly taken on a life of its own.

If you haven't started your Port Victory journey yet, consider this your sign. Just be prepared for the yearning — it's addictive.

The Artful Dodger is now streaming on Disney+.

Feature image: Disney.