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HBO’s Task Draws Strong Early Reviews Ahead of September Debut

Critics highlight a morally complex, character-first take on crime from Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby.

Overview

  • Early reviews from Time and WAtoday praise the seven-episode limited series for emotional depth and narrative restraint, with one five-star verdict.
  • The drama follows dual leads Tom Brandis, an FBI agent played by Mark Ruffalo, and Robbie Prendergrast, a suburban father turned criminal portrayed by Tom Pelphrey.
  • Robberies targeting drug-dealer trap houses escalate into murder and trigger a multi-agency task force, with a biker gang called the Dark Hearts in the mix.
  • Set in rural Pennsylvania, the show foregrounds themes of guilt, revenge, forgiveness and the strains of fatherhood over standard procedural beats.
  • Performances by Ruffalo, Pelphrey and Emilia Jones draw particular acclaim, while rotating directors Jeremiah Zagar and Salli Richardson-Whitfield are credited with a vivid visual scope.