The creator of Mare of Easttown is back with a crime drama that almost seems to have been biologically engineered to appeal to fans of the Kate Winslet-led hit.
In Task, the Hollywood A-lister who’s stripped back all the glam and flattened their vowels for the Philadelphia setting is Mark Ruffalo, as a priest-turned-FBI field agent.
The crime is being committed by a stick-up gang on a tear of tip-off robberies targeting a nefarious biker gang called the Dark Hearts.
But unlike Mare of Easttown before it, we know exactly who is causing the trouble here and follow them just as closely, turning this into a ‘howcatchem’-style crime drama, as opposed to a whodunnit.
The criminals in question are a couple of garbage disposal workers by day (in a possible nod to Tony Soprano’s infamous cover), led by the mostly well-intentioned Robbie (Tom Pelphrey).
However, their plans for easy money with their nighttime raids go awry once the biker gang get wind of what’s going on and up their security, resulting in four dead bodies.
This puts the FBI on the case and, specifically, Ruffallo’s trouble-forward agent Tom Brandis, who’s struggling in the wake of a personal tragedy and is coping by getting hammered every night via a novelty Philly commemorative cup.
But Brandis is who heads up the task force (get it) into the stick-up gang, and he’s given a repossessed drug house as a base for the unit. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given that the FBI has no budget, the place looks like a before house in Homes under the Hammer.
After a cleaning montage, Brandis welcomes his new team of recruits: Lizzie (Alison Oliver), Anthony (Fabien Frankel), and Aleah (Thuso Mbedu), who set to work finding out who is committing the crimes.
The new seven-part drama launched on Sky on Monday (August 8) and has been met with a rapturous response from critics and fans alike. The show currently boasts a 90% score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
Metro’s thoughts on Task
Senior TV Reporter Rebecca Cook shares her take…
Between Task and Mare of Easttown, it’s clear that creator Brad Ingelsby has a feel for this rural, depressed Philly setting in his bones.
As for the story, Michael Mann’s 1995 Los Angeles masterpiece Heat is a clear reference point. The show’s poster even teases how thief-with-a-heart-of-gold Robbie and ‘I’m going through something’ Tom are on a collision course, which, presumably, they can’t both survive.
So, yes, while this doesn’t have the tense, mystery chase of its predecessor, Task is well worth your time as a character piece alone.
Besides, who hasn’t missed having week-to-week appointment watch TV?
Meanwhile, viewers on X, @rangerjayfilm described the episodes as ‘one of the best HBO pilots in recent memory’, given that’s where it airs in the US.
@jonghyunsvevos added: ‘The first episode of Task was too good omfg. Will be seated for the next seven episodes.’
‘The new show #Task on #HBOMax is a must-see TV,’ echoed @VERSTHEWRLD.
On the Google reviews of the new crime drama, Nick Walsh said the episode had ‘beamed them in’, adding: ‘Interested to see the built character bonds and chemistry unfold throughout the storyline. Very excited to see the next episode! Ruffalo did a swell job so far.’
Trevor Farmer wrote: ‘Ruffalo captivating as usual so giving it my all.’
The first episode of Task is available to watch on Sky.
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