Though there’s no shortage of gritty crime dramas, HBO Max’s new series Task has quickly risen above the rest — so much so that it’s now the #1 show on global streaming charts. From creator Brad Ingelsby, the mind behind Mare of Easttown, Task trades in the opioid-ravaged suburbs of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, for another corner of the same community. That specificity in location gives it a natural, grounded feel, much like Ozark did with its setting, while also offering a spiritual continuation for audiences craving more of that bleak but addictive storytelling.
Adding to the comparisons, Task stars Tom Pelphrey, whose breakout turn in Ozark Season 3 as Wendy Byrde’s doomed brother Ben earned him Emmy buzz. Here, he plays Robbie, a garbage collector by day who moonlights with his friend Cliff (Raúl Castillo) as a small-time thief. The duo use their routes to case local trap houses, targeting a motorcycle club called the Dark Hearts. Naturally, things go sideways — one robbery leaves multiple dead, with a young boy named Sam as the only witness. Robbie makes the desperate decision to kidnap him, triggering both a police manhunt and the wrath of the Dark Hearts.
For Ozark fans, Pelphrey’s casting is more than just smart — it’s poignant. His portrayal of Ben Byrde remains one of the most devastating character arcs in the show, as Ben’s bipolar disorder and vulnerability ultimately lead him into conflict with the Byrdes’ cartel business. His doomed romance with Ruth (Julia Garner) only heightened the tragedy, culminating in Wendy (Laura Linney) ordering her own brother’s death.
Is ‘Task’ Worth Watching?
Mark Ruffalo wearing an FBI jacket and looking to his side in Task, Episode 5.Image via HBO
Collider’s Carly Lane reviewed the series, and described it as a “gritty, unrelenting crime thriller” and hailed the performances:
“However, the series’ penultimate episode, written by Ingelsby and directed by Salli Richardson-Whitfield, is a masterclass in tension, as multiple parties converge on a remote area and the resulting showdown is deadly to a nigh-cataclysmic degree — the sort of hour that no one will ever be the same after witnessing. That same sentiment carries through the overall experience of watching Task itself, a crime thriller engulfed in a grittiness much more similar to Sons of Anarchy (and not just because of its antagonistic motorcycle club) than the HBO series that preceded it. Yet for all its high-intensity action, it’s in the show’s quieter moments where Ruffalo, Pelphrey, and the rest of the talented ensemble cast leave a lasting impression, emotional ripples that reverberate long after the initial impact has faded.”
Task is available to stream on HBO Max.
Release Date
2025 – 2025-00-00
Network
HBO
Directors
Jeremiah Zagar
