Task Season 2 needs to give this important change to Mark Ruffalo’s character

Task made us fall in love with Mark Ruffalo’s Tom Brandis as soon as the series landed on HBO. Brandis is an ex-priest turned into an FBI agent with much grief, disbelief in religion, and the urge to save people. Task Season 1 had a good finish as it combined emotional scenes with tense drama. However, with the confirmation of Task Season 2, the show now has a massive opportunity to further explore the story of Tom.

Rather than following the same crime-of-the-week format, Task Season 2 might delve more into what makes Tom interesting to watch: his kindness, his spiritual nature, and the struggles he has with himself.

What could be Tom Brandis’ character arc in Task Season 2

In Season 1, Task presented a man called Tom Brandis, whose favorite thing was to remain in charge. He is a retired priest who finds a way back to the field following a devastating loss in his life. He commands the audience with his composure and steely manner, but we rarely get a chance to peep into his soul and see what he is feeling.

Task Season 2 could do the show a great favor by revealing more of Brandis' vulnerable side, rather than concealing it behind his tough and professional persona. The emotional heart of the crime story can be a much stronger one after exploring Tom’s grief, his guilt, and his moral perplexity. It would be more nuanced to demonstrate how his trauma is influencing all of his decisions, even when he attempts to do the right thing.

The writers ought to make his authority complex rather than portraying him as an ideal leader. We want to watch him in more moral and ethical dilemmas: when to take charge, when to recede, and when to acknowledge that he is suffering. In the event that Task Season 2 gives Brandis an opportunity to not only issue orders but also to demand forgiveness, he may evolve as an efficient agent and become a powerful and genuine human protagonist.

Reconfiguring moral alignment

One of the most interesting characters in Task Season 1 is Tom Brandis, since he is neither entirely good nor entirely bad. As an ex-priest and now an FBI agent, it is obvious that he is a man who tries to atone for something in his past. Season 1 is, however, more about action crime, robberies, and investigation, and his inner conflicts are just scattered in the background.

Task Season 2 needs to take the focus towards his own life. Rather than just pursuing the criminals, Brandis must confront his own guilt, his uncertainties, and the contradiction between his former and his present profession. This may occur via new relationships, such as rejoining a spiritual guide or developing a most unlikely connection with a person on the wrong side of the law.

The show will be able to give the story a heart by delving into his need to forgive and grow. It would also suit the passion of creator Brad Ingelsby for deep and character-driven drama.

Expanding the shared universe

The other major opportunity that Task Season 2 has is the ability to tie the story of Tom Brandis to the world of Mare of Easttown. The two programs are set in the same place (Delaware County, Pennsylvania), and this fact already establishes a natural connection. According to entertainment outlets, rather than just recreating the crime-of-the-week formula, Task Season 2 can leverage this association to introduce unexpected crossovers or minor thematic links.

For the character portrayed by Mark Ruffalo, this would not be a mere Easter egg; it could be the sole element that drives his plot. Suppose Brandis visits Mare or other characters in that world not as a cameo but as part of his emotional experience. Their existence would be a challenge to him, to question his areas of moral blindness, and to compel him to develop in ways that Season 1 had not touched upon. Such a crossover would render Ruffalo's return to have a purpose in Task Season 2, as well as remain faithful to the approach of human-centered storytelling that both shows have been identified with.

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