On Sunday night, HBO unveiled its latest prestige drama, Task, plunging viewers once again into the gritty, emotionally fraught suburbs of Philadelphia. Created by Brad Inglesby, the mind behind the acclaimed Mare of Easttown, Task premiered on September 7, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET, simultaneously on HBO and the HBO Max streaming service. With seven episodes scheduled to air weekly through October 19, the miniseries has already stoked anticipation and drawn comparisons to its predecessor, while carving out a distinct, somber identity all its own.
Task wastes no time in introducing its dual protagonists: Tom Brandis, a weary FBI agent played by Mark Ruffalo, and Robbie Prendergrast, a blue-collar trash man and small-time criminal portrayed by Tom Pelphrey. Both men are struggling fathers, each haunted by personal failures and broken dreams—an echo of the themes that made Mare of Easttown so resonant. According to PhillyVoice, Inglesby, a native of Brewyn, Chester County, once again grounds his story in the region’s unique landscape and culture, complete with nods to local institutions like Wissahickon Valley Park and Ralph’s.
The premiere episode, aptly titled “Crossings,” quickly sets up the collision course between Tom and Robbie. Tom, introduced in a scene filled with regional flavor—offering his daughter scrambled eggs and scrapple, referencing Acme and Rita’s water ice—seems adrift at home. His teenage daughter, Emily, keeps her distance, and his son Ethan is in jail awaiting sentencing for an as-yet-unknown crime. The absence of Tom’s wife is palpable, adding to the household’s somber mood. Even Tom’s attempts at normalcy, like manning the FBI table at a career fair, feel tinged with melancholy.
Robbie’s world, meanwhile, is equally fraught. He rides garbage trucks with his friend Cliff (Raúl Castillo), scoping out potential targets for their next heist. Their crew, occasionally joined by Peaches (Owen Teague), has been robbing stash houses in Montgomery and Delaware counties—many belonging to members of the biker gang known as the Dark Hearts. Robbie’s home life is no less complicated: his wife has left, his adult niece Maeve (Emilia Jones) is raising his kids, and they all share space in Maeve’s late father’s house. The show, as PhillyVoice notes, doesn’t shy away from the bleakness of these circumstances, but also finds moments of levity and humanity.
The plot’s inciting incident comes when a robbery goes horribly awry. During the botched job, three people are killed—including Peaches—and Robbie finds a young boy asleep in the house. With both parents dead and the child now a witness, Robbie makes a fateful decision: he takes the boy home with him. As Tom Pelphrey explained to TVLine, “I think that was the best choice in a bunch of horrible choices. It’s kind of an impossible decision. Robbie loves his own children so much, he’s not gonna hurt the kid. But at the same time, if he just left him there, the kid’s seen him and Cliff, so the story’s gonna be over before it starts if he does that. So he’s gotta take him.”
Series creator Brad Inglesby elaborated on Robbie’s motivations, telling TVLine, “There’s a practical side to Robbie taking the kid… ‘If the cops come and get him, he’s going to be able to point us out.’ I also think there’s a code that Robbie has. He has his own personal code. He’ll do certain things, but not others.” Inglesby added, “There’s a tenderness about Robbie that we know he’s not going to hurt the kid… I think Robbie is a guy with a kind heart, ultimately.”
The series has been praised for its authenticity, both in setting and character. Ruffalo, who plays Tom as a former priest turned FBI agent, prepared for the role with the help of technical advisor Scott Duffy, a real-life FBI agent who trains others in the bureau. As Ruffalo told The Hollywood Reporter, “So much of it was what [Tom’s] dealing with personally. But I also had just the most incredible technical advisor, Scott Duffy, who is an FBI agent, but also trains FBI agents, and he was with us every single day… How do we make it this character’s version of being an FBI agent? How do we make it interesting to people?”
Inglesby, meanwhile, was effusive in his praise for Ruffalo and Pelphrey. “I think Mark Ruffalo, as a person, has many of the admirable qualities of Tom as a character, and those are compassion, empathy, always looking to find the good in people and incredibly humble,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “And Pelphrey, he auditioned for us, as soon as I heard him laugh, I thought, ‘What an infectious, incredible laugh. He has the physicality to play Robbie.’ He also has the humanity to be a father, to care for his kids and he’s really sensational.”
Fans of Mare of Easttown have been quick to speculate about a possible crossover between the two series, especially given their shared setting in Delaware County and thematic overlap. Inglesby has stoked these rumors, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “They exist in the same world, so it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Mare (played by Kate Winslet) walked into a Wawa that Tom (played by Ruffalo) was in. I don’t have a story in mind that’s a crossover, but I love the idea of their worlds intersecting.” Pelphrey, for his part, joked, “Welcome to the new MCU… That would be amazing. I was a huge fan of Mare of Easttown. And obviously, I’m a big fan of Task. So, if there’s a version where those things crossover, I think that would make a lot of people very happy.”
The supporting cast is equally impressive, featuring Emilia Jones as Maeve, Thuso Mbedu as Aleah, Raúl Castillo as Cliff, Jamie McShane as Perry, Sam Keeley as Jayson, Fabien Frankel as Anthony, and Alison Oliver as Lizzie. The show also spotlights Philadelphia’s distinctive character, from its sports legends—Allen Iverson and Ryan Howard get shout-outs—to its beloved local foods and landmarks.
Task’s release schedule is straightforward: new episodes air every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET, with titles like “Family Statements,” “Nobody’s Stronger Than Forgiveness,” and “A Still Small Voice” promising further emotional and narrative depth. HBO Max offers subscription options at $9.99 per month with ads or $16.99 ad-free, both with a seven-day free trial. For those looking to bundle, Disney+ offers packages including Hulu and HBO Max at competitive rates.
Early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with critics hailing Task as HBO’s most thrilling drama of the year. The show’s blend of character-driven storytelling, authentic regional detail, and high-stakes crime drama seems poised to keep viewers hooked through its limited run. As the line between cop and criminal blurs, and as the characters’ personal demons come to the fore, Task promises a tense, emotionally charged ride through the heart of Pennsylvania’s suburbs—one that, if the premiere is any indication, will leave a lasting mark on the genre.
With its raw performances, layered storytelling, and unflinching look at the complexities of family, morality, and redemption, Task stands ready to claim its place among HBO’s most memorable dramas.
