In 2021, Brad Ingelsby’s limited series on HBO, *Mare of Easttown*, emerged as must-see television: a grim crime drama featuring a prominent cast that explored intricate family relationships. Now, Ingelsby is poised to achieve similar acclaim with his latest series, *Task*.

Aside from Ingelsby’s participation, *Task* naturally invites comparisons to *Mare of Easttown*. Like its predecessor, it takes place in Pennsylvania, ensuring the distinctive accents are present. The cast is equally stellar, with Mark Ruffalo taking the place of Kate Winslet as Ingelsby’s latest flawed investigator dealing with a troubled family. And, naturally, it is even more despairing.

Nevertheless, Ingelsby is not simply rehashing *Mare of Easttown* because *Task* does not follow a murder mystery format. Instead, it presents a cat-and-mouse dynamic where we observe both the investigator and the criminal: Ruffalo’s priest-turned-FBI agent Tom Brandis represents the former, whereas Tom Pelphrey’s family man Robbie Prendergast embodies the latter.

Ingelsby places significant emphasis on the familial ties of both Tom and Robbie. Ultimately, the contrasts and similarities between the two families, along with Tom and Robbie themselves, are what truly drive *Task*.

What is *Task* about?

*Task* introduces its cat-and-mouse pair well ahead of their actual game. In a heavily intercut montage — the first of many in *Task* — we witness Tom and Robbie gearing up for their workdays in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Tom rises as though burdened by immense weight, slowly easing himself out of bed before kneeling in prayer. He subsequently plunges his head into an ice bath and swallows several Advil on his way to his role as an FBI recruiter. Clearly, he is numbing something, though *Task* is not yet prepared to reveal what.

While Tom’s morning rituals are characterized by solitude and detachment, Robbie’s are family-centric. He wakes next to his young son Wyatt (Oliver Eisenson) and tenderly takes him into his daughter Harper’s (Kennedy Moyer) room so that they won’t be alone while he works his garbage route.

It’s a heartwarming opening, but it isn’t long before *Task* discloses that Tom and his colleague Cliff (Raúl Castillo) are utilizing their garbage route to identify drug houses for home invasion targets. Shortly thereafter, the FBI summons a hesitant Tom back to the field to lead a task force — composed of Thuso Mbedu, Fabien Frankel, and Alison Oliver — focused on investigating Robbie’s criminal activities.

*Task* is a captivating crime narrative due to its familial themes.

As Tom and his team draw closer to Robbie, Ingelsby heightens the tension by highlighting just how deeply Robbie’s choices have affected his children and niece Maeve (Emilia Jones), the daughter of his deceased brother Billy. Initially, he had hoped the money from the heists would provide them a better life, but after a heist gone awry, he may have inadvertently involved Maeve in his scheme — jeopardizing the entire family unit.

The Prendergast family dynamic crystallizes swiftly during a dinner scene in episode 1, where overlapping moments of teasing and unease feel instantly genuine. Notably poignant is the bond between Robbie and Maeve, who has been forced to mature far too quickly following her father’s passing. Their mutual grief permeates their discussions, often leading to explosive confrontations.

In contrast, the Brandis family has endured a similarly tragic loss that has led to Tom’s adopted son Ethan (Andrew Russel) ending up in jail. Raucous dinners are absent for Tom and his adopted daughter Emily (Silvia Dionicio). Instead, their sorrow expresses itself through quiet, lonely nights apart, during which Tom drinks heavily from a Phillies collectible cup, mistakenly thinking Emily hasn’t noticed. She has.

It’s details like Emily’s attention to Tom’s Phillies cup that lend authenticity to *Task*’s families. This, in turn, amplifies the stress of the investigation. Yes, the series undoubtedly qualifies as a police procedural, showcasing its fair share of heart-pounding shootouts and stakeouts. But it primarily revolves around family. If anything were to happen to Tom or Robbie, their families would be thrown into chaos. Having spent just a few moments with these damaged characters, you’ll find yourself wanting to do everything in your power to prevent such outcomes.

*Task* debuts on Sept. 7 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max, with a new episode airing every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.