Task debuts with a higher viewer count than Mare of Easttown, details revealed

HBO’s new drama Task, created by Brad Ingelsby, was a huge success. Within just three days of airing on HBO and HBO Max, approximately 3.1 million U.S. citizens have viewed the first episode. That is approximately 26 percent more viewers compared to what Ingelsby’s previous successful series, Mare of Easttown, had managed to gather at the time of its premiere.

This grand debut made Task one of HBO’s most successful new premieres and hastened it to the top of the streaming charts. Fans and critics are already discussing how the show's dark tone and the Pennsylvania setting remind them of Mare of Easttown, and some are even questioning whether the two stories could share a fictional universe.

Task’s debut viewer count exceeds that of Mare of Easttown

The new show on HBO Task, already attracted 3.1 million viewers in the first three days, including regular HBO broadcasts and HBO Max streaming. Those figures are based on Nielsen’s live-plus-three ratings and also on the data provided by Warner Bros. Discovery itself.

A huge fanbase at such an early stage is a pretty big deal. It demonstrates two things: people were eager to watch it immediately due to the star appeal of Mark Ruffalo, writer Brad Ingelsby, and the strong crime-drama feel; and second, the marketing and launch strategy of HBO was effective in getting viewers on board within this short span of time.

In comparison, Mare of Easttown, the former hit show by Ingelsby, had slightly less number of viewers when it hit the screens. Task has a relatively higher debut estimated at 26 percent, which is significant since Mare turned out to be a cultural phenomenon. That jump start makes Task seem more than another prestige mystery.

Industry reports also add that Task is currently among one of the best series premieres on HBO, and that it is in the same league as the most successful launches in the history of the network. The series is not only popular in the U.S., streaming records indicate that Task is topping weekly Top 10 lists and garnering strong attention across the globe.

To be ranked in the Top 10 is actually beneficial in locating the show. The platform algorithm provides it with additional promotion and attracts the attention of editors, creating buzz on social media, which attracts even more viewers.

Storyline and its connection to Mare of Easttown

Fans and critics are quick to draw parallels between Task and Mare of Easttown not only due to their common creator/writer, Brad Ingelsby, but because they feel similar. Both series address themes of small-town grief, complex characters, and crimes that are real and messy.

Ingelsby frequently locates his stories in Delaware County, which is why it is no surprise that the two series share a similar mood. Other interviews and articles even suggest that the shows could be set in the same creative universe, which would be a delight to the viewers who love crossovers.

Still, Task is a story of its own. Rather than trailing a single detective as is the case in Mare of Easttown, Task's plot revolves around an FBI task force that investigates a series of ruthless robberies and also sheds light on those fathers and agents that get caught up in the crossfire. The interconnection between the shows exists because Ingelsby is fascinated by the way ordinary people cope with immediate violence. It is his obsession that leads to both Task and Mare of Easttown to seem related to each other and Task to stand on its own at the same time.

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