Lizzie and Grasso's potential romance in Task might mirror this key Mare of Easttown story

Created and written by Brad Ingelsby, Task is a crime drama show featuring Mark Ruffalo, Tom Pelphrey, Alison Oliver, Fabien Frankel, and others. Fans of Mare of Easttown can rejoice as Ingelsby created the Kate Winslet-starrer acclaimed hit, and is also responsible for bringing Task Alive.

Further, Ingelsby has stated that both shows are within the same universe according to Screen Rant; therefore, viewers of Mare of Easttown are sure to see some parallels between the two shows. The task is about an FBI agent and a former Catholic Priest, Tom (Ruffalo), who must lead an elite task force that is tasked with solving a series of robberies that are being committed by an unassuming garbage collector with a hidden agenda (Pelphrey).

The show premiered on HBO on September 7, 2025, and has already begun to provide parallels with Mare of Easttown. In the third episode of the show, there is a scene where two members of Tom’s task force, Anthony Grasso (Frankel) and Lizzie Stover (Oliver), share drinks and engage in lighthearted flirtation, which will immediately bring to mind the blossoming romance between Mare and Zabel in Mare of Easttown.

Details about the parallels between Task and Mare of Easttown

According to Screen Rant, the potential spark between Lizzie and Grasso in Task is similar to how things develop between Mare and Zabel in Mare of Easttown. If viewers recall, in the Kate Winslet-starrer, Winslet’s character (Mare) and Evan Peters’ character (Zabel) are also two officers working together to solve a crime.

Zabel is smitten by Mare and is guarded around her, as Mare is hesitant to open up in front of him and remains serious for the first few episodes. Similarly, Lizzie does not open up much in front of Grasso in the first few episodes, and therefore, Grasso also remains hesitant in front of her.

However, Lizzie begins to warm up to Grasso after she becomes nervous on the field, and Grasso helps her. In Episode 3 of the show, the duo head out for a drink, and Grasso treats Lizzie with respect and gives a speech where he hints at the fact that he is protective of Lizzie.

In Mare of Easttown, Mare and Zabel also begin on the same note, where Mare takes time to warm up to Zabel and eventually begins to understand him after the two go out for drinks and Zabel gives a memorable drunken speech and talks about his former lover.

However, things might take a tragic turn as they did in the case of Mare and Zabel. In Mare of Easttown, Zabel is tragically killed, and the blossoming romance between the two is cut short, reminding viewers that the show is essentially a crime drama. Therefore, according to Screen Rant, the relationship between Grasso and Lizzie could also become tragic in the near future.

Towards the end of Episode 3, Grasso has to leave Lizzie to meet someone, and it is also revealed that there is an informant in Tom’s task force. Therefore, Grasso’s need to hurriedly leave Lizzie makes him suspicious, and Task could also go the same route with Grasso and Lizzie, like they did with Mare and Zabel, though Zabel was not a traitor.

However, fans of both the shows can enjoy, as there could be many more parallels and similarities between the two Ingelsby shows that might crop up in future episodes of the show.

Details about Task Episode 3

In the third episode of the show, viewers get to know that the thief Robbie has committed all the burglaries to avenge his brother Billy’s death and also get revenge from a particular member of the Dark Hearts motorcycle gang, namely Jayson, who even comes to the memorial service of Billy and shakes Robbie’s hand.

However, Robbie decides to steal twelve kilos of fentanyl and siphon the money so that he can get revenge for his brother’s death. On the other hand, the team members at Task are busy at work as Lizzie gets an estimate on the fentanyl from the Nancy house and Grasso finds the rival gang of Dark Hearts, the Vipers. Aleah and Lizzie also try to find Sammy when news arrives that there is a traitor in the gang.

On the other hand, Jayson and Perry try to get the Puerto Ricans, and it is revealed that Maeve’s mother is alive and has married Jayson. She is also the one who tips off Robbie. Tom and his force also head to Cliff’s house after a tip from Danny and Lizzie, and Grasso chases Ray and eventually catches him at a park.

Finally, Grasso and Lizzie head out for a drink, and amid the awkwardness of the two, Grasso comments that all cops are corrupt. Meanwhile, Tom uses alcohol to soothe his wounds and has a hallucination about his wife, Susan. Tom also admits to Sara that he does not want Ethan out of prison. There is a flashback towards the end where Susan and Tom have adopted the siblings and are welcoming them. Also, Joe tells Tom that there is a leak in his task force as well.

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