HBO’s “Task”: Ruffalo, Pelfrey, and Jones in a Story of Moral Dilemmas (+ Actor Interviews)

The events of The Task unfold in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – a world where the line between good and evil is nearly erased, and the characters are forced to choose not between “right” and “wrong,” but between “bad” and “worse.”

At the center of the story are two men. Tom Brandis (Mark Ruffalo) is a former priest turned FBI agent investigating a string of brutal robberies. Broken by personal tragedy, he still struggles to hold on to his faith in people. Robbie Prendergast (Tom Pelphrey) is a paramedic and family man who becomes entangled in the robberies in a desperate attempt to provide for his loved ones.

Their paths cross in a story where every choice comes at a cost, and love for family can be both salvation and downfall. “This isn’t a story about who’s to blame – it’s a story about what we do with pain and how it changes us,” explains showrunner Brad Ingelsby.

Brad once again takes viewers back to Pennsylvania, the place where he grew up. As in Mare of Easttown, the focus is less on headline-making crimes and more on the people who live alongside them. The series is directed by Jeremiah Zagar (We the Animals, Fast Color) and Salli Richardson-Whitfield, known for her work on several HBO projects.

At a press conference, Ingelsby noted: “With a series, you’re involved in everything – writing, filming, editing. It’s a mix of freedom and responsibility. The best idea always won out, no matter if it came from an actor or a crew member on set.”

We ask the actors how the characters influenced them

For the actors, working on The Task proved to be an emotional challenge. At the series’ launch press conference, we had the chance to ask several cast members about how portraying their characters affected them, and whether their characters’ perspectives aligned with or diverged from their own.

• Tom Pelphrey admitted that becoming a parent himself helped him connect with his character: “I immediately felt a deep connection with Robbie on a level that’s probably the most important for him – and now for me too – because I recently became a father. Wow, it’s strange; the emotions hit you right away. But having just become a parent, I understood something I had only imagined before: I would do anything for my child. Absolutely anything. So, playing Robbie, where every action he takes is for his children, I didn’t have to pause or analyze it. I didn’t need to research, ask anyone, or think long about it – I just know it, feel it in my bones, and it’s true. That really helped. I’ve never felt that Robbie was distant from me – in the best sense of the word.”

• Emilia Jones drew parallels with her previous role in CODA: “Yes, I definitely felt a connection with Maeve in the sense that I’m very close to my own family and would do anything for them. She has a strong sense of family and love, and I understand that very well. I’ve been asked a few times whether Maeve is similar to Ruby from CODA, since both are young people carrying a lot of adult responsibility. That made me reflect – maybe that’s why I feel connected to Maeve, because I’ve played a somewhat similar role before. But I still think Maeve carries the weight of loss, while Ruby carried the weight of love. It’s a small but important difference. At the same time, they share a lot in common – family means everything to both of them.”

• Mark Ruffalo, known for his ability to convey both empathy and inner conflict, shared his thoughts outside the press conference (he was not present at the one our team attended): “I’ve played people in crisis before, but Tom Brandis made me see forgiveness in a new way. It was a journey that affected me personally as well.”

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Freedom of creativity and music as a character

Music receives particular attention in The Task. When our team asked about its role, Brad gave a detailed response: “Music is hugely important. Credit to HBO, I had very specific ideas about it, partly drawn from my own experiences. For example: ‘Would this song actually play in a bar?’ I grew up here, spent time in those bars, and I know some tracks just wouldn’t fit the atmosphere.”

Given the presence of bikers and antagonists in the series, he also noted: “I wanted to do something unexpected with the bikers. I love these songs and that album [referring to Richard and Linda Thompson]. The obvious choice would have been standard rock or metal, but I wanted something different – something that felt real but also surprising. That’s why we settled on the selected folk-rock tracks.”

For showrunners, creative freedom is crucial, even though any chosen genre comes with inherent limitations. Brad commented on this perspective: “Yes, freedom is another important aspect. In film, as a writer, you hand over the script and then it depends on the process – sometimes you’re involved, sometimes not. In a series, it’s different: you write, you’re on set with the actors every day, you’re in the editing room every day. It’s an incredible level of freedom. But it also comes with weight: I often think, ‘God, I hope the series succeeds, because all these decisions are mine, and I really want them to be right.’ Yet I can say without doubt: both with Mare of Easttown and with The Task, I feel these are the series closest to me as a person. I can wake up in the morning and honestly tell myself: yes, this is the show I wanted to make. I said that about Mare, and I can say the same about The Assignment. It’s the show I wanted to create – and I’m very proud of that.”

Composer Dan Deacon created distinct musical themes for the main characters, highlighting their emotional arcs. This approach gives the series a layer beyond standard drama, turning it into a more immersive audiovisual experience.

Expectations and initial feedback

Critics are already positioning The Task as HBO’s next major adult drama. At the time of publication, it holds an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 78/100 on Metacritic. Praise has focused on Ruffalo’s performance, the chemistry between Pelphrey and Jones, and Ingelsby’s writing.

The Daily Beast called the series “the new Mare of Easttown,” while Time noted: “This show isn’t about the crime – it’s about the people living with its aftermath.”

The Task tells a story of pain, love, and forgiveness through the lens of HBO-style high drama. It’s a series that not only maintains tension but also raises questions each viewer must answer for themselves. A fair summary might be: “Watch The Task and be prepared for challenging questions about faith, family, and the choices we make.”

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