TASK: Episodes 1.1

Name: TASK: Episodes 1.1
Item: TASK: Episodes 1.1
Author: Review

"A Task Too Immoral to Handle"

Family Content: -3 Excessive sex, violence, immorality, and/or worldview problems. (Sometimes excessive content such as violence is in otherwise redemptive movies.)

Entertainment Quality:

	None	Light	Moderate	Heavy
Language
Violence
Sex
Nudity

Credits →

What You Need To Know:

TASK is an original crime mini-series streaming on HBO Max. In the suburbs of Philadelphia, veteran FBI agent Tom Brandis (Mark Ruffalo) launches a manhunt for a gang of burglars. In episode one, "Crossings", sanitary engineer Robbie Prendergrast (Tom Pelphrey) is desperate to support his impoverished family. He launches one last high-stakes robbery. Similar to other HBO drama series, TASK excels in the production department. The cinematography, color grading, and general shot composition are phenomenal. The show incorporates real-life landscapes, worn-down houses, and handheld camera work to instill a "gritty and realistic" presentation.

The opening episode of TASK is well written and produced but morally compromised. It has a mixed worldview that favors fatherhood and a man grieving the loss of his wife. However, there are violent shootouts, foul language, and a protagonist who's shown to be a heavy drinker. Furthermore, the narrative paints its antagonist as a "sympathetic uncle" despite his numerous robberies. MOVIEGUIDE® recommends extreme caution for teenagers and young adults.

Content:

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Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:

A strong pagan worldview with slight Christian elements, the two leading men strive to be good father figures to their families, an FBI agent vows to uphold the law and bring justice to his city, the protagonist meets up with a Catholic priest to process the loss of his wife, a robber struggles to reconnect with his rebellious adult niece, the show paints a sympathetic angle towards the antagonist’s illegal actions, the protagonist leads a crew of dysfunctional FBI agents, the two leading men have a strong connection with their broken families, and the antagonist tries to minimize casualties during his robberies;

Foul Language:

Fifteen profanities used in Episode One with “f--k” (used 10 times) and “damn” (5);

Violence:

Strong violence throughout with blood, cops and robbers engage in an intense shootout, a gang of robbers break into people’s houses and use threats of violence against them, a police officer is shot and bleeds to death, a man’s corpse is found in a basement, and the robbers hold two drug users hostage at their house;

Sex:

Two adults in their early twenties passionately kiss in a room (but their act is interrupted by the antagonist;

Nudity:

A woman strips down to her bra and pants and a man removes his shirt, but no nudity is shown;

Alcohol Use:

An FBI agent drinks a full bottle of wine and passes out drunk, and a robber drinks wine in his home;

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:

The antagonist rummages through garbage bags for illegal drugs, the lead characters smoke cigars, the robbers steal drugs from unsuspecting homes, and the antagonists sell illegal substances on the black market;

Miscellaneous Immorality:

Three men squat at an abandoned house at the woods, a woman dates a man without her uncle’s permission, a female FBI agent screams into her phone during the job, and the robbers take a young boy hostage from a crime scene.

More Detail:

Similar to other HBO drama series, TASK excels in the production department. The cinematography, color grading, and general shot composition are phenomenal. The show incorporates real-life landscapes, worn-down houses, and handheld camera work to instill a “gritty and realistic” presentation. The acting, especially with both protagonists, feels grounded and compelling. The only caveat is the show’s deficit of Christian virtue.

The opening episode of TASK is well written and produced but morally compromised. It has a mixed worldview that favors fatherhood and a man grieving the loss of his wife. However, there are violent shootouts, foul language, and a protagonist who’s shown to be a heavy drinker. Furthermore, the narrative paints its antagonist as a “sympathetic uncle” despite his numerous robberies. MOVIEGUIDE® recommends extreme caution for teenagers and young adults.

The show focuses on two men on opposite sides of the law. In episode one, “Crossings,” Tom Brandis, a middle-aged veteran FBI Agent, is tasked with investigating a series of drug burglaries across Philadelphia. As he assembles his task force, Brandis copes with the tragic loss of his wife. Meanwhile, garbageman Robbie Prenderghest struggles to keep his tenuous household afloat. Following the death of his brother, Robbie is tasked with keeping his feisty niece Maeve (Emilia Jones) in check. Robbie and his associates launch a big-time burglary, but the FBI gets a secret tip. Can Robbie escape with his life?

Under a microscope, the first episode of season one of TASK is contaminated with graphic violence, foul language and immoral acts. The episode favors Robbie’s point of view as a “misunderstood” criminal. As daytime garbage men, Robbie and his best friends steal illegal drugs and other valuables from random houses. The show paints Robbie’s actions in a sympathetic light as a “struggling father figure,” despite his morally reprehensible actions. Robbie suffers heavily from arguing with his niece and losing his best friend. But viewers should be wary of this show’s “sympathy” towards the main antagonist.