When HBO’s Task premiered in September 2025, many wondered whether the network could recapture the magic of its earlier prestige crime dramas. With acclaimed writer Brad Ingelsby—who penned Mare of Easttown—at the helm, and Oscar-winner Mark Ruffalo leading the cast, the show quickly became one of the year’s most talked-about series. Over seven gripping episodes, Task delivered a blend of suspense, emotional depth, and moral ambiguity that has left audiences and critics clamoring for more.
Set in the gritty, working-class neighborhoods of suburban Philadelphia, Task centers on Tom Brandis, an FBI agent with a haunted past. Brandis, played with remarkable nuance by Ruffalo, is a former priest who returns to fieldwork after a personal tragedy. The series wastes no time plunging viewers into a world of violent stash house robberies, orchestrated by Robbie Prendergrast (Tom Pelphrey)—a seemingly unremarkable garbage collector whose family ties make him both sympathetic and menacing.
As Ingelsby explained to Deadline, the show’s tension comes from the audience’s conflicted loyalties: “The tension of the story is that you care about both of these guys. You want Robbie to get away, and you want Tom to get a win. But you know that can’t happen.” This collision course between lawman and criminal drives the narrative, turning each episode into a masterclass in suspense and character-driven drama.
Ruffalo’s performance as Brandis is a standout, balancing empathy, intellect, and a quiet gravitas that anchors the show. According to Deadline, Ruffalo initially hesitated to take on another dark drama after his Emmy-winning turn in I Know This Much Is True, but Ingelsby’s script was simply too compelling to pass up. “I read it, and I was like this is really good,” Ruffalo recalled. The actor threw himself into the role, consulting with retired FBI agent Scott Duffy, who served as the series’ technical advisor. “Scott Duffy was our TA from the FBI, and he was just fantastic. He was with us all the time, so I found myself spending a lot of time going to him...the FBI was so present with [Brandis], and so that became where I was getting most of that information,” Ruffalo shared.
The show’s ensemble cast adds further dimension, with Thuso Mbedu as the no-nonsense detective Aleah Clinton, Emilia Jones as Robbie’s fiercely protective niece Maeve, and Fabien Frankel as the morally conflicted cop Anthony Grasso. Jones, in particular, earned rave reviews for her portrayal of Maeve, skillfully blending toughness and vulnerability as she shields Robbie’s young children from the fallout of his criminal life. Ingelsby was deliberate in giving each character a meaningful arc, telling Deadline, “We wanted everyone to earn a seat at the table and have an arc in the show.”
One of the show’s most intriguing dynamics is the limited but charged interaction between Ruffalo’s Brandis and Pelphrey’s Robbie. Pelphrey intentionally kept his distance from Ruffalo off-screen to heighten the tension in their few shared scenes. “Tom wanted to stay away,” Ingelsby revealed. “He stayed away from me. I’d see him and be like, hey … and he would just keep going,” Ruffalo added. This approach paid off, especially in their climactic confrontation, which was shot under sweltering conditions that only added to the discomfort and intensity of the moment. “We’re two actors in that car, sweating our asses off, you know, suffering, and we’re developing a relationship that way, and by the end of the time, we’re loving each other, you know? Then we stop the car, and he sends him off on his way,” Ruffalo said.
The series finale, which aired before October 20, 2025, delivered a powerful conclusion to the season’s storylines. The deaths of Robbie and Lizzie (Alison Oliver) left Brandis and the remaining task force members grappling with betrayal, loss, and the heavy weight of moral ambiguity. In a poignant turn, Tom chooses to let Sam Nance (Ben Doherty), the orphaned child in his temporary care, go to another foster family—freeing himself to heal and prepare for the return of his adopted son, Ethan (Andrew Russel), from prison. Ingelsby and Ruffalo both described the finale as a culmination of character arcs rather than a simple plot resolution. “The cumulative effect of all the people in his life — Lizzie dying, Robbie sacrificing himself, Maeve defending her family — it gives him hope in the end,” Ingelsby said.
Critics have praised Task for transcending the conventions of the crime genre. As Deadline noted, the series “blends police procedural elements with family drama and focuses on character-driven storytelling.” Ruffalo himself emphasized the show’s emotional core: “It’s really a family drama. I mean, it has the policework, and it has all that, but that’s where all the tough work was.” This focus on the human cost of crime and the possibility of redemption has resonated deeply with viewers, making Task a standout in a crowded field of television dramas.
Behind the scenes, Ingelsby’s personal connection to Delaware County (Delco), Pennsylvania, infuses the series with authenticity. Having set several of his previous projects in the area, Ingelsby told Deadline that he draws inspiration from the people he grew up with: “I just have a lot of respect for those people, and I feel inspired to write those stories. I really do love where I live … so, always trying to make it as authentic and honest and as layered as I can.”
With the finale’s emotional resonance and the show’s strong critical reception, speculation about a second season is swirling. As of October 20, 2025, HBO has not announced a renewal, but Ingelsby has expressed interest in continuing the story—possibly with new characters or even a crossover with Mare of Easttown. “If people respond to Task and keep responding to Task, I’d love to tell more stories about this place,” he said. Ruffalo’s busy schedule, including upcoming Marvel projects, may complicate his return, but both he and Ingelsby have voiced enthusiasm for further collaboration. “We had such a good time. [Mark] is the best to have on set and I love working with this guy. I would work with him as much as I … and I think we have … you know, there’s a lot of stories,” Ingelsby shared.
All seven episodes of Task are currently streaming on HBO Max, and whether or not the story continues, the series has already carved out a place in the television landscape with its thrilling action, psychological depth, and unforgettable performances. Audiences may be left wanting more, but for now, Task stands as a testament to the power of character-driven storytelling in modern television.
