Task (TV Series): Episodes, Season 2, Cast & Reviews

There’s something quietly unsettling about a crime drama that opens with a former priest watching birds instead of chasing suspects. Task, the HBO limited series from creator Brad Ingelsby, does exactly that — and then pulls you into a world where moral weight lands harder than any punch.

Episodes: 7 (season 1) ·
Network: HBO ·
Creator: Brad Ingelsby ·
Lead Actor: Mark Ruffalo ·
Premiere Date: 2025 ·
Genre: Crime drama

Seven key facts about Task, one takeaway: the show’s moral architecture is as layered as its plot.

How many episodes of Task show are there?

Task season 1 episode count

• Task season 1 runs exactly 7 episodes, each approximately 55–60 minutes, aired weekly on HBO in 2025 (America Magazine (Catholic media outlet)).
• The episode count is fixed for the first season; the show was not conceived as a limited series despite its contained arc (The Ringer (pop culture analysis)).

Task episode list and runtime

• Each episode clocks in around an hour, consistent with HBO’s drama format.
• The 7-episode structure allows for a tight narrative without filler — a deliberate choice by creator Brad Ingelsby, who told U.S. Catholic (faith publication) the show’s arc was designed around a moral journey, not episodic cliffhangers.

The episode count reflects Ingelsby’s focus on tight storytelling.

Is there a season 2 of Task?

Task season 2 renewal status

• HBO officially renewed Task for a second season after the first season’s strong reception (The Ringer (pop culture analysis)).
• The renewal confirms the show is an ongoing series, not a limited miniseries.

Mark Ruffalo confirmed for Task season 2

• Mark Ruffalo will return as Tom Brandis for season 2 (U.S. Catholic (faith publication)).
• No official release date has been announced; industry speculation points to a 2026 or later premiere based on typical HBO production cycles.

The implication: HBO sees enough audience engagement to justify a second season, which is a strong signal for a show that could have easily been a one-off. For subscribers, the wait may be a year or more — but the commitment from the lead actor suggests the creative team has a longer arc in mind.

Is Task worth watching?

Task reviews and critics ratings

• Reviews praise the performances, particularly Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey, with America Magazine calling it “tense, exciting, dark—and the most Catholic TV show” on air.
• The Ringer’s analysis described the show as “tense, exciting, dark—and the most Catholic TV show.”
• Some critics note the formulaic elements — procedural crime drama with familiar beats — but agree it’s well-executed (Lion Lamb Blog (personal review)).

Pros and cons of watching Task

Who should watch Task

• Fans of character-driven crime dramas like True Detective or The Wire will find familiar ground.
• Viewers interested in shows with moral and religious depth — think Midnight Mass meets procedural crime.
• Mark Ruffalo fans looking for a leading role that lets him show range beyond Marvel’s Hulk.

The pattern: Task isn’t reinventing the crime wheel, but it’s adding a moral spoke that most procedurals ignore. The trade-off is that formula-phobic viewers might find the structure familiar, while those craving substance in their crime shows will find plenty.

Is Task a Catholic show?

Catholic themes in Task

• The protagonist is a former priest turned FBI agent — a premise that immediately signals religious terrain (U.S. Catholic (faith publication)).
• Creator Brad Ingelsby grew up Catholic, attending Archbishop John Carroll High School and Villanova University (U.S. Catholic (faith publication)).
• The show explores forgiveness, guilt, confession, and redemption in ways that align with Catholic sacramental theology (America Magazine (Catholic media outlet)).

What makes Task a Catholic TV show

• America Magazine called Task the “most Catholic TV show” currently airing, noting its “sacramental worldview” amid profane crime drama elements.
• Characters from both sides of the law are drawn “with compassion and capacity for goodness,” reflecting a Catholic understanding of human dignity.
• Detective Anthony Grasso (played by Tom Pelphrey) was raised Catholic, attended Mass weekly, and expresses Catholic guilt throughout the series (Lion Lamb Blog (personal reflection)).
• The show rejects easy moral binaries — even the antagonist Robbie is portrayed with humanity, and a critical scene involves a burglar sparing a victim’s son, explicitly rejecting “life for a life” (U.S. Catholic (faith publication)).

The show’s religious themes are integral to its identity.

Did Maeve keep the money in Task?

Maeve’s arc in Task season 1

• Maeve (Emilia Jones) is a key character whose moral arc mirrors the show’s central theme of forgiveness (U.S. Catholic (faith publication)).
• Her decision about the money is a major plot point in the season 1 finale.

Task episode 7 ending explained

• The finale leaves Maeve’s choice ambiguous — she takes the money but the audience is left uncertain whether she keeps it or returns it.
• This ambiguity is intentional, reflecting the show’s broader theme: moral choices are rarely clean (America Magazine (Catholic media outlet)).
• Critics at Lion Lamb Blog note that the ending invites viewers to sit with discomfort rather than get a neat resolution.

The catch: If you’re looking for a definitive answer on whether Maeve kept the money, you won’t find one — and that’s the point. The show trusts its audience to wrestle with the moral ambiguity, which is exactly what makes it more interesting than a typical crime drama.

Where can I watch Task TV series?

Stream Task on HBO and Max

• Task is an HBO original, meaning it streams exclusively on Max in the United States (America Magazine (Catholic media outlet)).
• In the UK, the series is available on Sky (The Ringer (pop culture analysis)).

Is Task on Netflix or other platforms?

• Task is not available on Netflix as of early 2025.
• No distribution deals with other streaming platforms have been announced beyond HBO/Max and Sky.

Why this matters: If you’re not a Max subscriber, you’ll need to either subscribe or wait for potential future licensing deals. For UK viewers, Sky is the only option. The exclusivity means the show’s audience is limited to pay-TV subscribers — a factor that may affect its cultural penetration.

Key cast and characters in Task

• Tom Brandis – Mark Ruffalo plays the former priest turned FBI agent struggling with faith after his wife’s murder (U.S. Catholic (faith publication)).
• Detective Anthony Grasso – Tom Pelphrey plays a Catholic detective wrestling with guilt and his past (Lion Lamb Blog).
• Maeve – Emilia Jones plays a young woman caught in a moral crisis involving stolen money (U.S. Catholic).
• Thuso Mbedu – Plays a major role in the task force, bringing a professional perspective against Brandis’s moral approach.

Task timeline

• 2025: Task season 1 premieres on HBO (America Magazine)
• 2025: HBO renews Task for season 2 with Mark Ruffalo (The Ringer)
• 2026 (expected): Task season 2 release (unconfirmed)

Confirmed facts vs what’s unclear

Blockquotes from critics and cast

Task is tense, exciting, dark—and the most Catholic TV show on air right now.

Critic from America Magazine

The complicated nature of forgiveness, especially within families, is the soul of this show.

Brad Ingelsby, creator, as told to U.S. Catholic

Tom Brandis finds solace in watching birds, a motif that runs through all seven episodes — a man searching for something he can’t name, watching creatures that don’t need to.

Personal blogger at Lion Lamb Blog

Task is not a show that tells you what to think. It presents a world where a former priest can’t forgive his adopted son for killing his wife, where a burglar spares a life out of something that looks like grace, and where the audience is left to decide what justice actually means. For viewers who want their crime dramas to ask hard questions, Task delivers. For those who prefer neat endings, season 1 may frustrate — but season 2 is already on the way, and the questions aren’t going away. Mark Ruffalo’s portrayal of Tom Brandis ensures the show’s questions will linger.

For a comprehensive breakdown of the cast and episode guide, readers can explore the Task TV show cast and episodes page.

Frequently asked questions

For readers of Cast Of The Agency who appreciated the FBI procedural elements, Task offers a similar structure with added philosophical depth. And for fans of Cast Of Cross (American TV Series), Task’s character-driven crime drama approach will feel like a natural next watch.