Task (HBO) Series Review: Bleak But Tense

HBO’s new miniseries Task is a meticulous exploration of trauma and grief that crescendos into an explosive drama riddled with tension and consequences.

Once again, Ingelsby has successfully created a powerful exploration of current hot topics trauma and grief that crescendos into an explosive drama riddled with tension and consequences, ensuring that Task will claim its rightful place next to the success of Mare of Easttown.

Mark Ruffalo, of Mickey 17, and Tom Pelphrey, of Outer Range, star in Task as former priest-turned-FBI-agent Tom Brandis and family man-turned-thief Robbie Prendergrast, respectively. Set in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia, the miniseries follows Brandis as he leads a Task Force to put an end to a string of violent robberies led by an unsuspecting family man.  

That’s not all Brandis is dealing with, though. He’s pulled back into the field after taking time off to deal with a horrific tragedy that obliterated his family and left him to put the remaining pieces back together. That subplot unfolds slowly over the course of the first six episodes and is honestly the one part of the story I wanted more of, because it’s the one part of the story driving Ruffalo’s character, and ultimately his decisions.

On the other hand, we have unsuspecting family man-turned-criminal Robbie Prendergrast, who is also dealing with putting his life, and the lives of his children and niece, back together after the mother of his kids abandoned them, and after his brother is brutally murdered by his own brothers of The Dark Hearts Motorcycle Club. Yep, this crime drama involves a biker gang. Now full of grief and the need for vengeance, Robbie does his best to care for them all, even if some of the means by which he does so are illegal.

When he and his crew—dubbed The Halloween Crew because of the masks they wear—rob the house of a Dark Hearts member to steal drug money, things go sideways, erupting in gunfire and resulting in multiple deaths. When the crew leave the scene, they come face-to-face with not one, but two huge problems that drastically alter the course of their subsequent actions and change everything.

So, right off the bat, we are rooted in grief stemming from extreme trauma. Both Ruffalo and Pelphrey give outstanding performances—Ruffalo as a grieving, confused, numb father, and Pelphrey as the same, only he carries a hidden need for vengeance fueled by pain and anger.

In fact, Pelphrey gives a stand-out performance, especially in episodes four through seven. His range of emotional depth and portrayal of internal agony coupled with fragility and sensitivity are award-worthy. There will be times you’ll struggle to swallow because of the lump in your throat, and you will have a moment where you shiver with chills. His performance is captivating.

Also starring in Task is Martha Plimpton, of Sovereign, who brings a little bit of much-needed levity to this story as Brandis’s boss. She’s a fantastic addition here: Not only are we dealing with heavy subject matter and subplots, but we’re also dealing with the emotional and energetic weight our characters carry, from Tom and Robbie on to their families. This is enhanced by the slow pace and bleak atmosphere of each episode.

I have to say, Task does a great job of mixing twists in with all of this, which help add layers of tension to the story, and they’re layers we become most attached to, as both Ruffalo and Pelphrey’s characters do. These twists are connections to missing parts of their lives, and that’s also, perhaps, what connects them on an inherent level.

While Task is a slow-moving, slow-burn of a crime drama, once it gets going, it really gets going, so don’t let the pace of the first episode deter you from finishing the series. Ingelsby is versed in shadow and understands the pain stemming from grief and trauma in a way that allows viewers to connect with his emotional, character-driven arcs focused on working-class people. He successfully presents us with a look at fractured relationships and the different ways in which they can be repaired, even if those ways aren’t what’s expected.

Everyone in our story is at a crossroads, bogged down by so much metaphorical weight, it’s hard to breathe. Ingelsby makes sure we feel that by using specific techniques, like the way a character is lit and from which angle he or she appears, as well as using authentic dialogue so his characters feel real and unpredictable. Also, the setting of a small, close-knit, working-class town reflects character values, struggles, and resilience.

Task is less about what’s happening action-wise and more about what’s unfurling within our characters—specifically how they are dealing with that and handling those reactions. It’s a beautiful but heartbreaking meditation on the different levels of loss that are spawned by grief and trauma, and the different ways in which we maneuver through and, eventually—hopefully, get out of it. Walking through our main characters’ trauma and learning their stories equips us with an understanding and appreciation of the importance of vulnerability, and that’s where this story leaves you: embracing vulnerability.

Overall, Task is worth the watch just to see Pelphrey’s performance and experience the excitement, tension, action, and twists that kick off with episode four and amp up all the way through episode six. Allow this foundation to be laid out, then walk the path and experience this unsuspected outcome full of far-reaching consequences that’ll leave you feeling vindicated once it’s over.

The series premiere of Task will be available to stream on HBO Max on September 7, 2025. New episodes will be released weekly, with the finale airing on October 19.