If you’re an HBO subscriber, you may have already seen plenty of advertisements for Task. The brand new series, which premiered on the premium network on Sept. 7, offers a self-contained adventure loaded with high-stakes crime drama and deep exploration of philosophy and morals. Critics are already comparing the mini-series to hit crime shows, such as True Detective, Better Call Saul, and The Wire, leaving many fans to wonder if the show will have additional seasons.
Despite being billed as a mini-series and delivering a somewhat conclusive ending, many have taken to online discussion boards to argue that the series can continue as an anthology. Other watchers keep tugging at the few loose ends that remain after the initial batch of episodes. If you’re a fan of Task and you’re curious about the show’s future, be sure to read ahead as we outline what’s next for Tom Brandis and the gang.
What is ‘Task’ all about?
Task centers on Mark Ruffalo‘s Tom Brandis, an FBI agent on leave after a personal tragedy. Brandis is shocked when his superior assigns him to lead a local task force. While he insists that he’s not ready to return to the field, his bosses feel that he’s the best man for the job, as a recent string of home invasions have gotten completely out of hand. Brandis quickly learns that the home invasions have been carried out by a gang known as the Dark Hearts. They are targeting known drug houses in order to steal tens of thousands in ill begotten drug money. Brandis assembles his team, which consists of a series of local detectives and State Troopers. He then begins planning an elaborate takedown of the local gangs.
Across town, we meet Tom Pelphrey’s Robbie Prendergrast, a city garbage worker facing his own personal and financial difficulties. At the start of the show, Robbie’s wife has walked out on him, abandoning their children. Robbie is also mourning the death of his brother, a former high-ranking member of the Dark Hearts, who was killed in a dispute with the gang’s leader. His only respite from the difficulties of single fatherhood comes from his niece, Maeve, who agrees to watch his children while he works.
In the first episode of Task, Robbie plans to rob several drug houses, having determined when they’ll have cash on hand based on the contents of their trash. As you can imagine, this string of robberies conflicts with those carried out by the Dark Hearts gang, putting Robbie at odds with a variety of unsavory characters.
Did Maeve keep the money?
As Task comes to its climax, Robbie gets caught by Brandis and the task force, effectively undoing everything that he’s worked for. Robbie pleads with Brandis to let Maeve keep the money that he’s stolen. He confesses his whole story to the bereft agent while hoping for some form of clemency. Though Brandis was previously unimpeachable from a moral perspective, he shocks Robbie by closing up the bag of cash. He allows Maeve to hold onto it. Both men recognize that the money will provide a new start for Maeve and Robbie’s two children, who will now be left without any proper parents to guide them. Brandis agrees to look the other way because he surmises that Maeve is simply a bystander caught up in a criminal underworld, which she wants no part of, not dissimilar to his own family.
Unfortunately, this act of kindness is not enough to save Robbie from his own active role in the criminal underworld. In the penultimate episode of the series, Robbie is stabbed to death by Jayson, a high-ranking member of the Dark Hearts. Jayson continues searching for the money after killing Robbie, leading him right to Maeve. Luckily, Detective Anthony Grasso manages to get the drop on Jayson, killing him just in time to set Maeve loose. In the end, Maeve successfully manages to escape town with her money, ensuring that she and her cousins can have a better life.
What happens to Grasso?
Grasso is revealed to be an informant during the early episodes of Task. He’s playing both sides against each other for his own personal gain. He uses his authority as a cop to incarcerate rival gang members and steal cash from their operations, while also tipping off gang members to investigation business throughout the show. As Task carries on, Grasso sees the impact that he and the other criminals have on their community. He also sees how his actions are destructive to innocent bystanders. When he eventually makes the choice to go straight and save Maeve, it’s an act of selflessness that lets the audience know he’s genuine in his desire to repent.
Before Grasso manages to kill Jayson, he gets shot, leaving him hospitalized in the final episode. While in the hospital, he confesses his sins to Brandis, searching for absolution. Rather than absolve him, Brandis simply explains that he needs to answer for his actions himself. In the end, it’s left unclear whether or not Grasso is on the right path. His gunshot injury could be the tipping point that sends him on a righteous path or a momentary footnote in an otherwise salacious career. Unless we see him again in a future installment of the show, we’ll never know for sure.
Will there be a season two of ‘Task’?
As of this writing, HBO has not officially announced a second season of Task. The studio has not officially cancelled the show, so the option to produce new episodes is still wide open. Series creator and executive producer Brad Ingelsby has made his stance widely known, explaining he’d love to continue the series. During a discussion with the New York Times, Ingelsby expressed interest in filming in Delaware County, stating “if viewers have an appetite for more Task, I would absolutely come back. I want to do it as a love letter to the [Delaware County] area, not exploiting it in any way… I want to be able to walk around and not have people throw stuff at me or say, ‘You really did us dirty.’”
Ingelsby also considered the crossover potential of Task with his other HBO project, Mare Of Easttown, which released as a single season mini-series in 2021. Both shows are set in the same area, according to Ingelsby, meaning the opportunity to continue both stories is very much on the table.
“I think there were still more stories to be told about people in Delaware County… it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Mare walked into a Wawa that Tom was in,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “I don’t have a story in mind that’s a crossover, but I love the idea of their worlds intersecting.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes are in HBO’s Task?
Task runs for a total of seven episodes, each spanning roughly an hour in length. This means that you can binge the entire series in just seven hours, or spread the viewing experience out over days or weeks. As of now, there are no concrete plans to produce more episodes, though fans have already begun clamoring for more online.
Is Task worth watching?
The question of whether the show is worth watching is completely subjective, and the answer will vary based on the individual viewer. Still, the show has made major waves with critics and audiences alike, and has amassed a certified fresh critic score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. If you’re a fan of complex crime dramas, emotional storytelling, and compelling deep dives into complex moral tales, be sure to give it a spin. You’ll likely know if the show is for you or not by the end of the first episode.
Where can I watch Task?
All episodes of Task are currently streaming on HBO Max.
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