When HBO released Mare of Easttown in 2021, audiences were mesmerized by Kate Winslet’s gritty performance as Detective Mare Sheehan. The limited series, set in a working-class suburb outside Philadelphia, became a cultural phenomenon and earned multiple Emmy Awards. Now, four years later, creator Brad Ingelsby returns with a new HBO drama, Task, and it may be the bleakest — yet most compelling — show on television in 2025.

Task doesn’t follow Mare’s story, but it carries the same DNA: murky moral choices, a drab Pennsylvanian landscape, and characters who can never fully escape their past. This time, the star is Mark Ruffalo, and the result is a darkly gripping cops-and-robbers saga that digs into systemic failures, personal tragedy, and the human cost of desperation.

A broken agent leading a broken team

Ruffalo plays Tom Brandis, a disgraced FBI agent and former priest haunted by a family tragedy. Shunted off to recruitment booths and forgotten by his colleagues, he’s unexpectedly called back to lead a ragtag task force when a biker gang’s stash houses are robbed in Delaware County.

His team is as flawed as he is:

• Alison Oliver as Lizzie, an unstable state trooper.
• Thuso Mbedu as Aleah, a domestic violence survivor trying to rebuild her life.
• Fabien Frankel as Anthony, a cocky detective recently seen in House of the Dragon.

Together, they are less a polished law enforcement unit than a ticking time bomb, stumbling into one of the region’s most dangerous criminal underworlds.

The robber with a conscience

On the other side of the story is Robbie, portrayed by Tom Pelphrey, a garbage man turned reluctant criminal. Robbie isn’t your typical villain — he’s a father seeking money to support his children and perhaps mend the scars of his past. Yet his “solution” involves orchestrating home invasions targeting drug dens, pulling him deeper into peril with every score.

Robbie’s situation is made more desperate by his niece Maeve, played by Emilia Jones of CODA fame. Forced into the role of caretaker for Robbie’s kids, Maeve sacrifices her own dreams in the hope that he will finally straighten out his life. Their relationship provides the emotional anchor of Task, one that audiences can’t help but root for even as the moral lines blur.

Shades of gray everywhere

Ingelsby’s writing makes it clear: there are no heroes in Task. Tom Brandis is both compassionate and ruthless, a man of faith who has also betrayed it. Robbie is both a loving father and a criminal endangering his community. Every character is caught in cycles of trauma, poverty, and systemic neglect.

Fans of Mare of Easttown will immediately notice the shared DNA:

• The muted gray-brown cinematography capturing the rust-belt vibe of Delaware County.
• Thick DelCo accents, lovingly recreated — Emilia Jones reportedly nails hers.
• An ensemble cast where even the side characters carry full-fledged backstories.

The comparison most critics are drawing is with The Wire — a relentlessly grim, morally complex drama that showed how broken systems destroy both cops and criminals alike.

Performances that shine through the darkness

Ruffalo delivers a powerhouse performance, embodying Tom as a man constantly walking the tightrope between duty and despair. But it’s Pelphrey who emerges as the breakout star. With his grizzled beard and soulful eyes, his Robbie is as magnetic as he is tragic, destined to cement Pelphrey’s reputation beyond his supporting roles.

Jones, too, stands out with raw vulnerability, while Mbedu and Oliver bring much-needed depth to characters who could have been reduced to tropes in less careful hands.

Why Task might be HBO’s boldest gamble yet

Television audiences often complain about shows being “too dark,” but Task manages to walk that dangerous line with urgency and purpose. Every episode keeps the tension alive: Will Tom find Robbie before the biker gang does? Will Robbie escape poverty, or simply fall into a deeper trap? Will Maeve ever get the freedom she craves?

For viewers weary of formulaic police procedurals, Task offers something richer: a morally complex thriller that respects the intelligence of its audience. Much like Mare of Easttown, it’s less about the crime itself and more about the people crushed in its wake.

And perhaps that’s Ingelsby’s greatest strength — reminding us that in communities like Easttown, crime isn’t just an event, it’s a cycle.

Final verdict

With Task, HBO proves once again why it dominates the crime-drama genre. Grim yet compelling, emotionally crushing yet narratively addictive, it is a series that refuses to let you look away. Fans of Ruffalo, Ingelsby, and complex human storytelling will find themselves glued to their screens — even if they need a stiff drink afterward.

For anyone seeking TV that challenges as much as it entertains, Task might just be the darkest, most essential watch of 2025.

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Harris Yulin, the veteran actor whose unforgettable roles in films like Scarface and Ghostbusters II earned him a revered place in Hollywood history, has died at the age of 87. His passing was confirmed by his family, with a heartfelt message shared by colleagues calling him “a rare talent and a generous soul.”

A towering presence in both mainstream and character roles, Yulin’s career spanned over six decades, with appearances in some of the most iconic films and television shows of the 20th and 21st centuries. Fans will remember his chilling turn as corrupt police officer Mel Bernstein in Scarface (1983), and his later performance as Judge Stephen Wexler in Ghostbusters II (1989). But those were just the tip of the iceberg in a career defined by range, nuance, and intensity.

Hollywood insiders and longtime collaborators have flooded social media with tributes. “We were blessed by our experience with him,” one former co-star wrote. “His performances were always thoughtful, always layered — you couldn’t take your eyes off him.”

Yulin was also celebrated for his work on television, with appearances in series like 24, Frasier, Law & Order, Ozark, and The West Wing, where his grounded, often stern roles brought gravitas to every scene. On stage, he was equally revered, frequently performing Shakespeare and classical theater in both New York and regional productions.

Born in Los Angeles in 1937, Yulin began his acting journey on stage before transitioning to film in the late 1960s. He became a go-to actor for directors looking for intellectual intensity or morally complex authority figures, often commanding attention even in smaller supporting roles.

Though never a household name in the conventional sense, Yulin was what many in the industry refer to as an “actor’s actor” — respected, versatile, and deeply committed to his craft. Colleagues say he brought depth and humanity to every performance, no matter how big or small.

He is survived by his family, who have asked for privacy during this time and expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of love from fans and friends alike.

As film lovers mourn the passing of this quiet powerhouse, Harris Yulin’s work continues to live on — in scenes that still captivate, challenge, and inspire.

The wait is finally over, and it comes with a stunning surprise — the official trailer for Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty has dropped, and it’s left fans reeling. At the center of the drama? Lola Tung’s Belly Conklin seemingly preparing to walk down the aisle, adding a jaw-dropping new layer to the show’s iconic love triangle.

Based on Jenny Han’s bestselling novels, the Prime Video series has become a cultural phenomenon, thanks to its blend of coming-of-age heartache, family tension, and sun-drenched romance. But the Season 3 trailer flips everything on its head, suggesting that Belly may finally be choosing between brothers Conrad and Jeremiah — or possibly choosing someone entirely new.

In the emotional preview, we see flashes of wedding dresses, teary confrontations, and passionate reunions, set to a melancholic indie-pop track that perfectly captures the series’ signature bittersweet tone. Fans were quick to point out that Conrad looks devastated in several scenes, while Jeremiah seems unusually distant — stoking speculation that Belly’s marriage may not be to either of the Fisher boys.

Lola Tung, who has earned critical praise for her grounded portrayal of Belly, appears more mature and emotionally complex in this new chapter. The trailer hints at themes of adulthood, loyalty, and self-discovery, as Belly navigates love, loss, and possibly saying “I do” far earlier than fans ever expected.

Social media exploded within minutes of the trailer’s release. “#BellyWedding” and “#TeamConrad” began trending on X (formerly Twitter), with viewers debating theories and dissecting every frame. Some are convinced the wedding scene is a dream sequence, while others believe it marks a pivotal turning point that breaks from the books.

Jenny Han, who serves as executive producer and co-showrunner, has promised that Season 3 will be “more emotional, more grown-up, and full of surprises.” If the trailer is anything to go by, she’s certainly delivered on that promise.

With its release date set for late summer, The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 is gearing up to be the most intense and talked-about installment yet. Whether you’re Team Conrad, Team Jeremiah, or Team Just Let Belly Be Happy, one thing is clear — this summer is going to change everything.