Is Mark Ruffalo's new crime drama Task "too similar to Mare of Easttown"? Here's our take on what some fans are saying

HBO’s new crime drama Task has just premiered, and fans are already debating whether it feels too similar to Brad Ingelsby’s earlier hit Mare of Easttown. The comparison was nearly inevitable. Both shows are from the same creator, set around Philadelphia, and center on a troubled investigator pulled into a violent crime that disrupts an already fragile community.

In Mare of Easttown, Kate Winslet led the story as a small-town detective navigating family trauma while chasing a killer. That format made the show an instant hit when it aired in 2021. On Reddit’s r/television, some viewers noted that the new show has the same mood, pacing, and setup as Ingelsby’s 2021 hit. One user wrote that the premiere was,

“too much like *Mare of Easttown so far, but well done,”

While others argued it wasn’t a bad thing, since many still hold Winslet’s series in high regard.

Now, Task stars Mark Ruffalo as Tom Brandis, an FBI agent who was once a priest and is still coping with the loss of his wife while trying to raise his two adopted children. On the other side of the story is Tom Pelphrey’s Robbie Prendergast, a garbage collector who also leads a robbery crew.

Unlike Mare of Easttown, the audience already knows Robbie is guilty. Still, early reactions suggest some viewers feel the tone, setting, and character focus make it seem like a familiar extension of Ingelsby’s first series. Others argue the differences become clear as the story unfolds.

Fans Debate Whether Task Feels Too Similar to Mare of Easttown

The premiere of Task has sparked a lot of discussion among fans, many of whom immediately compared it to Mare of Easttown.

Their reaction captures the balance some fans are noticing, a show that feels familiar in its setting and style, yet still holds their attention. Others jumped in to debate whether this was a bad thing. One commenter asked if the similarity should even be viewed negatively, while another insisted they didn’t see the likeness at all and thought the episode didn’t work.

A significant part of the fan comparison comes from Ingelsby’s use of the Philadelphia area. The show emphasizes details that viewers recognize from Mare. Mark Ruffalo’s character drinks from a Phillies cup, water ice stands appear as casual backgrounds, and the dialogue features the same Delco accent that was a talking point in 2021. For many, these details instantly remind them of Mare. Fans familiar with both shows said it makes Task feel like it’s set in the same world, even though the storylines are different.

Another reason the comparison is surfacing is the tone of the pilot. Fans observed that both shows begin with heavy family drama before delving into the crime element. Ruffalo’s Tom Brandis is shown navigating grief and emotional distance from his children, while Tom Pelphrey’s Robbie Prendergast feels burdened by the responsibility of raising his kids and depending on his niece Maeve. On Reddit, some viewers commented that this reflected how Mare spent time building family conflict before sharpening its mystery.

A few fans pointed out that both shows may seem similar early on because they share the same creator and region, but Task is clearly designed as a different kind of story. Since Robbie’s guilt is revealed from the beginning, some argued that the comparison will probably fade as the cat-and-mouse chase intensifies.

For now, though, the reaction shows that many fans can’t help but compare the new series to Mare, mainly because that earlier show left a strong impression on people.

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