Created by Brad Ingelsby of Mare of Easttown, the show follows a simple crime thriller, but only on the surface. The way the characters in the seven part series are explored is the real story within the plot. Task is about an FBI agent in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia trailing a string of violent robberies. Before the gangs in the area start taking credit and the cops have a turf war on their hands, Special Agent Tom Brandis (Mark Ruffalo) is sent out on the scene to bring things under control.
Stars: 4/5
Task begins with a grieving family man, Robbie, played by Tom Pelphrey. Raising two kids without their mother, Robbie wants a better life for his family and knows he won’t be able to do it if things stay the way they are. The only one by his side is his work friend, Cliff and his niece, Maeve. She is the one usually taking care of the kids and is unhappy with how unreliable Robbie is as a father. But Robbie has plans of his own to make sure his kids are taken care of, no matter the cost.
On the other hand, Tom Brandis, another grieving father raising his kids on his own, is forced back into the field after a string of robberies begin to leave dead bodies in its wake. While Tom is a good father, a former priest and a foster parent, he isn’t the best to be around at home after the death of his wife. At work, he is the reliable agent, with a completely new team to head. A department with no funding and little backup, Tom has to find the gang of thieves before anything worse happens.
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The first episode of the show feels slow and long, as the makers take their time uncovering the layers of the story and each character. The development of the plot goes on till episode five of the season, but none of their runtime overstays their welcome. On the surface, it is a story of a robbery gone wrong as the cops try to chase the criminals but Brad Ingelsby has taken a very raw and real approach to the typical cat-and-mouse chase in a thriller.
With themes like biker gangs and FBI agents in the promos, the show does set up different expectations, but for fans of Mare of Easttown, this is a good follow-up. Task offers something unique in each episode for each character with great visuals, performances and dialogues. The mere appearances of the show’s title adds more depth to each character different based on when it appears. Task here isn’t just about the Task force, or the task of being a parent, but a lot more. The way it is uncovered with nuances of the region, its people and the performances is one of the best things about the show.
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Mark Ruffalo as Tom Brandis looks the complete opposite of what an FBI agent is expected to be and that makes his performance even more interesting. The character is written well and with each episode a new layer of his grief and his actions is uncovered. It makes the ending even more rewarding for him and the audience. Tom Pelphrey as Robbie comes off as the guy you would never root for but his performance in those silent moments is what pulls you in.
Emilia Jones as Maeve gives a stellar performance, while Fabien Frankel as Anthony leaves you questioning yourself as the aftermath of his brilliant performance in another HBO show House of The Dragon.
Overall, Task is one of the best original drama series out this year from HBO and some of the best performances by Mark, Tom, Emilia and Alison Oliver. It makes you stop in your tracks, think, empathies leaving you filled with silence and gratitude.
Cover Image: Instagram
