HBO’s latest crime drama Task has arrived, and it’s already drawing comparisons to Mare of Easttown. Created by Brad Ingelsby, the series is steeped in the culture of Delaware County (Delco), Pennsylvania, where Ingelsby grew up. Premiering on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at 9 PM ET on HBO and HBO Max, Task promises a mix of tense robberies, gritty family drama, and the unmistakable suburban flavor of Philly’s neighboring communities.
Release Date and Episode Guide
Task launched with its first episode, “Crossings,” on September 7. New episodes will air weekly every Sunday at 9 PM ET through October 19, making for a seven-episode season. Here’s the full release schedule:
- Episode 1 “Crossings” — September 7
- Episode 2 “Family Statements” — September 14
- Episode 3 “Nobody’s Stronger Than Forgiveness” — September 21
- Episode 4 “All Roads” — September 27
- Episode 5 “Vagrants” — October 5
- Episode 6 “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a river” — October 12
- Episode 7 “A Still Small Voice” — October 19
Fans can watch live on HBO or stream on HBO Max. Subscription options range from $9.99/month with ads to $20.99/month for the ultimate ad-free plan, with discounted annual bundles available.
Mark Ruffalo plays FBI agent Tom Brandis in ‘Task,’ which premieres on HBO on Sept. 7.
Warner Bros. Discovery
Cast and Characters
The show features an ensemble cast anchored by Mark Ruffalo as FBI agent Tom Brandis and Tom Pelphrey as Robbie Prendergrast, a trash collector leading a ring of masked thieves. Robbie’s crew targets gang-owned drug houses, escalating tensions with a biker gang known as the Dark Hearts. Ruffalo, who also serves as executive producer, portrays a widowed ex-priest drawn into this volatile world as he leads the task force chasing Robbie’s crew.
Supporting roles include:
- Emilia Jones as Maeve Prendergrast
- Raúl Castillo as Cliff Broward
- Jamie McShane as Perry Dorazo
- Sam Keeley as Jayson Wilkes
- Thuso Mbedu as Aleah Clinton
- Fabien Frankel as Anthony Grasso
- Alison Oliver as Lizzie Stover
- Silvia Dionicio as Emily Brandis
- Phoebe Fox as Sara Brandis
- Martha Plimpton as Kathleen McGinty
Delco Roots and Authenticity
Ingelsby emphasizes that Task is not a Philadelphia story but a Delco story. While Philly staples like Wawa coffee and Rita’s Italian Ice appear on screen, the focus is on the suburban landscapes of Delaware and Montgomery Counties. The attention to authenticity extends to the accent: Tom Pelphrey and Raúl Castillo worked with dialect coach Susanne Sulby, who famously guided Kate Winslet through the “Delco accent” in Mare of Easttown. Production designer Keith Cunningham and costume designer Meghan Kasperlik, both veterans of Mare, return to capture the same regional aesthetic.
Director Jeremiah Zagar, a South Philly native, helms four episodes. He notes that his goal was to create a truthful representation of the region: “The joy of putting it on screen, for me, is making it authentic, making it feel true.”
‘Task’ Review: Mark Ruffalo Stars in Relentlessly Glum HBO Crime Drama
byu/Longjumping-Elk-7840 intelevision
Why It Matters
For fans of Mare of Easttown, Task offers another layered story blending crime drama with intimate portrayals of family and community. Ingelsby hopes audiences will connect not just with the authentic setting but also with the suspense: “I just want people to get wrapped up in the story and really be like, ‘I want to see what’s going to happen next.’”
With Mark Ruffalo leading the cast and Ingelsby’s proven talent for crime-driven suburban tales, Task HBO looks set to be one of the fall’s most talked-about dramas.
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