Philadelphia’s love affair with football and gritty storytelling collided in spectacular fashion this weekend, as stars of HBO’s new miniseries Task flocked to Lincoln Financial Field to cheer on the Eagles—and brought the city’s dark drama to living rooms across the country just hours later. On Sunday, September 21, 2025, the Eagles clinched their third straight victory with a seven-point win over the Los Angeles Rams, but it wasn’t just the on-field action that had fans buzzing. Actors Mark Ruffalo, Tom Pelphrey, and Hannah Einbinder were spotted in the stands, decked out in Eagles green, and their presence was a fitting tribute to a show that’s become a love letter—albeit a dark and complicated one—to Philadelphia and its suburbs.
Task, a seven-part HBO miniseries, is the latest creation from Brad Ingelsby, the Berwyn native who previously brought viewers the critically acclaimed Mare of Easttown. Like its predecessor, Task unapologetically showcases the unique flavor of Delaware County (Delco), with its thick accents, working-class grit, and local landmarks—from Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard in Collingdale to the former Philadelphia Police Department headquarters and Neumann University. Ingelsby’s personal ties to the region shine through in every frame, making the show a true product of Philly’s heart and heartbreak.
But if the city’s football team was riding high on Sunday, the characters in Task were anything but. Episode 3, which aired that night, plunged viewers deeper into the show’s relentless darkness. Mark Ruffalo stars as Tom Brandis, an overworked and grieving detective (and, fittingly, an Eagles supporter onscreen and off). Ruffalo’s Tom is tasked with leading a special force investigating a string of violent robberies and the disappearance of a local boy. Meanwhile, Tom Pelphrey—who hails from Howell, New Jersey, and reportedly had to master the Delco accent for his role—plays Robbie, a man caught in a web of vengeance and regret.
The latest episode wastes no time ratcheting up the tension. Last week’s cliffhanger saw Maeve (Emilia Jones) discovering that Sam (Ben Doherty) is the very boy the police are desperately searching for. Her attempt to turn him in anonymously backfires, forcing her to sneak him back home—a decision fraught with moral peril. The emotional stakes only escalate from there.
Robbie’s motivations come into sharp focus as he confesses to Maeve the true reason behind his crime: revenge against the Dark Hearts gang, who murdered his brother. “They murdered my brother,” Robbie tells his niece with raw anguish. “Then, they had the nerve to show up at the memorial service, hug you, and shake my hand. Jason shook my hand with the same hand he used to beat your father’s brains out, and I had to stand there and fucking nod my head and say, ‘Thank you for coming.’ So, yeah. I’m gonna take their money so we can have a better life.”
The scene is a gut punch, characteristic of Ingelsby’s writing. Maeve, for her part, doesn’t let Robbie off the hook. “Even if you did do it for the kids, they’re now gonna spend the rest of their lives without their father,” she yells back. “Hearing stories about how he’s a murderer, a thief, and a kidnapper. That’s your legacy.” It’s a brutal exchange, and Pelphrey’s performance has already drawn early Emmy buzz from critics.
Meanwhile, the criminal underworld of Delco is in flux. The Dark Hearts try to broker a deal with local drug kingpin Freddy Frias (Elvis Nolasco), offering him a 25 percent cut in exchange for information. Freddy, unimpressed, demands a hefty 50 percent, citing his own history of being targeted by racist bikers as justification for the surcharge. Negotiations are tense, alliances are fragile, and the stakes are lethal.
Robbie and his partner Cliff (Raul Castillo) have their own inside source: Jayson’s wife, Eryn (Margarita Levieva), who is revealed as the mole within the Dark Hearts. Her motivation? Revenge for her late brother, who was killed by her husband, Jayson. Eryn warns Robbie not to move the stolen fentanyl until the Dark Hearts take out Jayson, but Cliff is wary. “She got what she wanted,” he tells Robbie. “We’re on our own. We gotta look out for ourselves now.” The sense of impending doom is palpable.
Back on the home front, Tom Brandis is dealing with more than just work stress. His adopted son, Ethan (Andrew Russel), is awaiting sentencing after a psychotic break led him to kill Tom’s wife. The family is fractured, and Tom’s struggle to forgive is palpable. Ethan, wracked with guilt, tells his sister Emily (Silvia Dionicio), “Whatever the judge says, I just have to deal with. It’s all my fault.” It’s a moment of raw vulnerability that adds yet another layer to Tom’s already heavy burden.
The episode also delivers a harrowing subplot involving domestic abuse, as Aleah (Thuso Mbedu) shares her own traumatic history with Shelley, the wife of Cliff’s old cellmate. “I wrote my social security number on the bottom of every pair of shoes I owned just so my mother would be able to identify my body when he killed me,” Aleah confides. The story is haunting, and it ultimately leads Shelley to cooperate with the investigation, revealing that she and her husband tried to rob Cliff for the drugs but know nothing about the missing boy.
As the task force closes in on Cliff, Tom suffers a concussion after tumbling down a flight of stairs—a deeply personal echo of his wife’s tragic death. Yet, he presses on, determined to see the case through. The final twist? Tom learns there may be a mole within his own team, leaking information to the Dark Hearts. “Suspect everyone,” his old investigator friend warns. The paranoia ratchets up as the episode ends, leaving viewers eager for more.
While the fictional world of Task spirals into chaos, the real-life cast found a moment of joy at the Eagles game. Ruffalo and Pelphrey joined Hannah Einbinder, who made headlines at this year’s Emmys for her passionate “Go Birds” acceptance speech. Einbinder, though raised in Los Angeles, credits her Eagles fandom to her father’s Doylestown roots. The trio’s presence at Lincoln Financial Field was a celebration of both Philly pride and the show’s deep local ties.
With the Eagles now 3-0 on the season and Task capturing national attention, Philadelphia finds itself at the center of both sports and storytelling. As the city’s drama unfolds on screen and on the field, fans can only wonder—what twists await next Sunday?
