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Task’ Splits Early Critics as Mark Ruffalo Anchors HBO Max’s Gritty Pennsylvania Crime Drama

Created by Brad Ingelsby, the series uses a fentanyl investigation to explore grief, guilt and fractured families in suburban Philadelphia.

Overview

  • Three episodes have rolled out in a weekly release on HBO Max, with a seven-episode season slated.
  • Ruffalo portrays Tom, a beleaguered FBI agent tracking 12 tons of stolen fentanyl linked to a biker-run drug operation.
  • A concurrent storyline follows Robbie and Cliff as they rob narcotraffickers and pursue a family vendetta against the Dark Hearts.
  • Ensemble subplots delve into loss and responsibility as federal agents move to prevent a wider drug conflict.
  • Early reception diverges between praise for the show’s patient character focus and criticism that it echoes Mare of Easttown without comparable impact.