HBO’s Task comes from the creator of Mare of Easttown, and though these two series are similar, Task completely changes its predecessor’s formula. Mare of Easttown, released on HBO in 2021, became an instant hit. With a star like Kate Winslet leading the way, this is no surprise. Now, creator Brad Ingelsby has a new crime drama series, this time led by Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey.
Task premiered on HBO on September 7, 2025, and introduced Ruffalo’s Tom, an FBI agent and single father with a traumatic past. This first episode also introduced Pelphrey’s character, Robbie, another single father. This second lead character differs from the first, however, since he is technically a violent criminal. It’s up to Tom to lead a task force to track down Robbie, the perpetrator of a string of house invasions.
There are some natural similarities between Ingelsby’s two crime dramas. Both Task and Mare of Easttown follow a deeply troubled detective character, who must discover who is responsible for a violent crime. Task, however, has significantly departed from Mare of Easttown‘s formula, and this has really turned up the suspense in a unique way.
Task’s Cat-And-Mouse Formula Departs From Mare Of Easttown’s Whodunit Story
Winslet’s character in Mare of Easttown was at the center of a whodunit story, in which she had to piece together a mystery and ultimately identify the killer. We know this formula inside and out, but the 2021 series still managed to make it feel fresh and new. Of course, with Task introducing its own troubled protagonist, it risked being repetitive. Luckily, the 2025 series completely departs from the whodunit formula.
Even just from the synopsis of Task, we know exactly who is responsible for the show’s central crime. Pelphrey’s Robbie is the criminal, while Ruffalo’s Tom is the agent who must track him down. It’s more of a cops and robbers story—a classic game of cat-and-mouse. Of course, this is another familiar formula, but Task uses it to its advantage to drive up the suspense.
How Task’s Formula Changes The Suspense From Mare Of Easttown
The suspense in a whodunit story comes directly from that ever-intriguing question—who did it? As an audience, we know that the killer is hiding among the various characters, and this naturally sets us on edge. Mare of Easttown used its tone, setting, and characters to drive this suspense forward, ultimately paying off in a powerful, tragic, and satisfying reveal.
Task wants its audience to cheer for both the cat and the mouse.
Task depends on an entirely different sort of suspense. We already know that Robbie is the criminal. However, we also recognize that he is a loving father, not a bad person. Task wants its audience to cheer for both the cat and the mouse. The suspense comes from the contradictory emotions of asking “how will he catch him,” and “how will he get away?” It’s not Mare of Easttown, but it’s pretty damn thrilling.
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