Screenwriter Brad Ingelsby, a native of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and a current resident of nearby Chester County, has truly brought the spirit of the ‘Delco’ region to television. He humorously noted, “If I threw a tennis ball across the street, it would land in Delco.” His local accent, noticeable in words like “daughter” and “water,” has become a signature element of his acclaimed hyperlocal crime dramas. After the success of his 2021 series ‘Mare of Easttown,’ Ingelsby recently concluded his latest HBO hit, ‘Task,’ on Sunday.
‘Mare of Easttown’ captivated audiences with Kate Winslet’s portrayal of a fatigued Delco police officer grappling with a young girl’s murder and her own personal grief. In contrast, ‘Task’ — starring Mark Ruffalo as a sorrowful ex-priest now an FBI agent, and Tom Pelphrey as a small-time thief caught in a much larger mess — reveals its culprits early on. Instead, its narrative delves into profound philosophical questions: How do we find absolution? What does it truly mean to heal from tragedy? And how should justice be defined?
Mark Ruffalo, pictured with Thuso Mbedu, played a former priest who becomes an F.B.I. agent in ‘Task.’
This philosophical depth is precisely why ‘Task’ extended to a seventh episode, even after the intense, anticipated showdown between Ruffalo’s character, Tom, and Pelphrey’s Robbie in the fifth episode, which concluded with Robbie’s death in the sixth. While the series had a few remaining plot points to resolve – such as uncovering the mole in Tom’s task force, distributing Robbie’s hidden money, neutralizing an outlaw biker gang, and Tom’s complex decisions regarding his foster sons – the ultimate suspense of the finale stemmed from moral dilemmas. At its heart, ‘Task’ is a story about the intricate, time-consuming process of forgiveness.
“Forgiveness has to be earned,” Ingelsby emphasized.
From his home, Ingelsby shared insights into family, the concept of forgiveness, and the elusive nature of happiness in the Delco region. Despite the often somber tone of his work, and his own dark attire during our chat, Ingelsby remained remarkably upbeat and reflective throughout the conversation. The following are edited excerpts from our discussion.
The main crime plot in ‘Task’ concludes by the sixth episode. Why did you choose to continue the story? What was the intended purpose of the finale?
“Many viewers might argue that the series should have ended with the sixth episode, as it marked the peak of the action,” Ingelsby acknowledged. “Indeed, there were still some plot threads to resolve. However, for me, the show’s core wasn’t just about the crime. It was fundamentally about Tom’s arduous journey to forgive his son, a process that demanded more narrative space to develop fully. We deliberately allowed that emotional storyline room to breathe. Tom couldn’t simply walk away from a violent confrontation and immediately achieve self-forgiveness; he needed to earn it through time and reflection.”
Ingelsby remarked, “I enjoy working within the crime genre because it naturally elevates the stakes.”
Do residents of the Delco region ever experience genuine happiness in your stories?
“They are definitely striving for some form of happiness,” Ingelsby explained. “While they often find themselves in difficult circumstances, their struggle to find light is a noble one. Some people perceive my stories as depressing, but I’ve always viewed the ending of ‘Mare’ as profoundly hopeful. For characters who have endured tragedies like Mare or Tom, I question what true happiness even looks like. Their capacity for joy is naturally limited by their past experiences.”
Your characters rarely seem to have an easy day.
“I’m aware that my narratives are often weighty,” Ingelsby conceded. “From an overhead perspective, ‘Mare’ and ‘Task’ are indeed filled with intense drama. I try to balance that intensity with moments of humor. But yes, it’s a challenging journey for them. I often consider why we enter these characters’ lives at such critical junctures. If everyone were simply enjoying themselves, there would be no conflict, no suspense. Audiences aren’t tuning in to watch characters have a pleasant time; they’re looking for crisis. But crucially, they also want to witness how people navigate these crises, how they overcome adversity, and who supports them along the way.”
Following the critical success of ‘Mare,’ how did you approach your next project?
“We discussed the possibility of extending ‘Mare,’” Ingelsby recounted. “However, that series revolved around a detective investigating a murder intricately linked to her lifelong community. It raised the question of how many more crimes could realistically occur in such a small town involving her close circle. So, we decided to put that idea aside. I’m drawn to the crime genre because it inherently brings high stakes. I knew, though, that I couldn’t simply create another whodunit, as that was the essence of ‘Mare.’ Instead, I envisioned a story focusing on a ‘collision course,’ similar to films like ‘Heat.’ My process always begins with character. I don’t consider myself a master of intricate plots; rather, I become fascinated by a character and then develop a narrative to explore their unique journey.”
Kate Winslet in ‘Mare of Easttown,’ portraying a Delco police officer investigating a murder.
Although ‘Task’ is distinct from ‘Mare,’ both are set in the same region and feature similar types of characters. Do you consider ‘Task’ a spiritual sequel?
“I made it clear to everyone on set that we weren’t shying away from comparisons to ‘Mare,’” Ingelsby stated. “We even brought back the same production designer and costume designer. My intention was for the audience to step into ‘Task’ and instantly recognize the world and connect with its inhabitants. I strive to portray these characters with authenticity, as I feel working-class narratives are often underrepresented or lack the depth given to other types of stories.”
What are the trade-offs when a story moves beyond the ‘whodunit’ format? What does it sacrifice, and what does it gain?
“When you move away from a traditional whodunit, you might lose the audience’s immediate drive to uncover a specific answer,” Ingelsby mused. “However, what you gain is potentially a far richer understanding of the characters themselves. For me, it was thrilling to discover how to build suspense outside of the ‘whodunit’ framework. ‘Task’ endeavors to explore both sides of the law with nuance. I’ve never viewed Robbie as inherently evil, nor Tom as purely good. In fact, I don’t even consider the biker gang to be entirely villainous.”
Even the bikers?
“They operate by their own code,” he explained. “They are, in their own way, upholding a system of beliefs they hold dear.”
Tom and Robbie appear vastly different on the surface. What are their underlying similarities?
“Tom, at his core, is a compassionate humanist, and I believe Robbie shares that trait, despite his actions like pistol-whipping someone,” Ingelsby revealed. “Both characters possess a profound love for their families. They’ve each experienced the loss of their wives and are striving to navigate life as best they can. While ‘Mare’ was essentially a story about mothers, the women who held their families together, ‘Task’ inadvertently became a father’s version of that narrative, a tribute to the men in similar roles.”
What was the experience of filming the series like?
“The shoot was truly incredible, despite being grueling,” Ingelsby shared. “Filming some of the outdoor scenes in the woods in the middle of July was far from ideal. Yet, the crew bonded exceptionally well. It’s amusing because we had such a fantastic time on set. Mark Ruffalo is quite a prankster, and we were constantly laughing. Even though the subject matter is heavy, we genuinely enjoyed the process.”
When did you become aware that ‘Dope Thief,’ another Pennsylvania-set show centered on a small-time criminal striking it big, would be airing concurrently?
“Both shows were filming simultaneously, with about half of our schedules overlapping,” Ingelsby recalled. “Our scripts were already finalized, as were theirs. Neither production could realistically alter its course mid-stream. We simply had to trust that our story and characters would hold their own, despite ‘Task’ also featuring a drug house rip-off in its opening episode. I remember local casting directors sometimes mentioning, ‘These actors are also in ‘Dope Thief’.’ For my own peace of mind, I opted not to watch it.”
Is a return to Delco for future projects something you would consider?
“If there’s an audience demand for more ‘Task,’ I would absolutely revisit the area,” Ingelsby affirmed. “My aim is always to create a love letter to the region, not to exploit it. Since I live here, it’s important to me that I can walk around without people throwing things or accusing me of misrepresenting our community.”