HBO’s Task is doing exceptionally well on streaming, and it’s a sign that this series will continue an intriguing but divisive trend. The seven-episode TV show comes from creator Brad Ingelsby, who recently hit it big with HBO’s Mare of Easttown. Task is perhaps even more successful, as it was recently labeled the third-fastest-growing series on HBO Max.
Task stars Mark Ruffalo as Tom Brandis, an FBI Agent heading a task force meant to investigate a string of home invasions. The criminal responsible is Tom Pelphrey’s Robbie Prendergrast, a morally complicated single father out to get revenge for his brother’s death. Through these characters, Task has turned the crime thriller genre on its head, and, despite its status as a limited series, it could yet gain a second season.
Things Are Looking Good For HBO’s Task Getting A Second Season
Like Mare of Easttown, Task is billed as a limited series, so there weren’t any initial plans to expand the story into a sophomore season. However, Ingelsby noted after the show’s release that he would be happy to extend the show into another installment if it performed well. While there is still no confirmation from HBO that this will happen, things certainly look promising.
Task holds an impressive 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, and, according to Warner Bros. Discovery, brought in approximately four million U.S. viewers within three days of the finale’s release. Since then, Task viewership has climbed up to 11.2 million, solidifying it as one of HBO’s fastest-growing series.
Given all of this, it seems likely that we will see Task transform from a limited series into a multi-season show. This isn’t entirely unheard of. In fact, such transformations have recently turned into a controversial trend.
Limited Series Turning Into Multi-Season Shows Is Becoming An Intriguing Trend
A handful of popular, ongoing shows were initially billed as limited series. The Handmaid‘s Tale is a prime example, since its first season followed the original rise and fall of the book it’s based on. The show’s success led to an extension, with original work from the show’s writers (rather than any source material). A similar example is Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why, which also carried on past its book story after season 1.
Other TV shows that started out as miniseries are The White Lotus and Beef. After a successful first season, The White Lotus transformed itself into an anthology series, with a new story set up and resolved in each season. Beef is all set up to do the same. Netflix announced that a second season about a new feuding duo is in the works.
These and other extended limited series set a divisive precedent. Part of the appeal of a miniseries is that viewers know there will be a complete story across only a few episodes. The lack of a long-term commitment is part of the appeal. Typically, the decision to add more installments comes down to financial gain, which many feel is a soulless money grab rather than organic, artful storytelling.
Still, the idea that any limited series could be extended if things go well is intriguing. Regardless of how the show performs, viewers can rest assured that there is no risk of being left hanging due to cancellation. Additionally, the whole idea takes pressure off screenwriters and production companies. This should make creativity flow all the more freely. Whether that’s how things work out for Task is something only time can tell.
- Release Date
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2025 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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HBO
- Directors
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Jeremiah Zagar
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
