Brad Ingelsby, creator of Mare of Easttown, has launched his new HBO series Task with a gripping first episode that immediately establishes high stakes. The premiere ends with the brutal death of Owen Teague’s character, Peaches, a small-time criminal and comic relief, during a botched home invasion. Ingelsby explains that killing a beloved character so early signals to the audience that “everything is on the table,” heightening tension for the series.
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The episode follows Peaches as he joins his friends Robbie (Tom Pelphrey) and Cliff (Raúl Castillo) in a heist against the Dark Hearts motorcycle gang. What begins as a simple burglary quickly spirals into chaos when a third gang member arrives, leading to multiple deaths, including Peaches and a couple whose house they invade. This sequence establishes the life-or-death stakes and demonstrates the dangers Robbie’s actions have unleashed.
Despite the violence, the episode ends on a gentler note. Robbie spares the young son of the murdered couple, Sam, taking him to a hidden home in the Pennsylvania woods. Ingelsby notes that while Cliff considers killing the boy to eliminate a witness, Robbie’s moral code and humanity prevent him from doing so. This moment underscores Robbie’s character depth, portraying him as a man willing to commit crimes but incapable of harming a child.
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Ingelsby adds that he wants viewers to feel the pressure closing in on the characters. Robbie, in particular, is trying to manage the fallout of his actions while maintaining a moral boundary. Ingelsby likens Robbie’s code to classic cinematic antiheroes, emphasising that even in extreme circumstances, the character’s line — not harming a child — speaks to his humanity and integrity. The series continues Sundays on HBO, promising more tension, moral dilemmas, and gripping drama.
