HBO’s new detective series, Task, is a far better follow-up to hit Mare of Easttown than a second season would have been.
As soon as Brad Ingelsby’s Mare of Easttown came to a close on HBO Max, viewers began requesting a second installment. Of course, the detective show was billed as a limited series, intended to stand as its own complete story. Regardless, it’s not unheard of for a miniseries to be expanded, so there was hope for Mare of Easttown season 2. However, Ingelsby’s newest show is a better option.
Task Is Already A Worthy Mare Of Easttown Follow-Up After Just 2 Episodes
Task is only a couple of episodes in, but it has already proven that it is the perfect follow-up to Mare of Easttown. The new detective series, which stars Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey, has a very similar tone and themes to Mare of Easttown, following a member of law enforcement as he investigates a crime while dealing with his own personal tragedy.
While Ruffalo’s Task character shares a lot in common with Kate Winslet’s Mare, and the new show has that same intriguing mystery factor, Ingelsby’s follow-up introduces a fresh dynamic that raises the bar just a bit higher. Task is a cat-and-mouse series, following both the cop and the criminal equally. Mare of Easttown, on the other hand, was more of a whodunit.
Though not technically a second installment, Task is still an organic continuation.
Although many were hopeful for Mare of Easttown season 2, Ingelsby’s new approach to a winning formula makes Task a far better alternative. To make matters even better, this screenwriter has revealed that Task is set in the same universe as Mare of Easttown. So, though not technically a second installment, Task is still an organic continuation.
Mare Of Easttown’s Universe Expanding With New Miniseries Is Better Than Season 2
Mare of Easttown was a powerful watch, and it was hard not to want more after that impactful finale. However, it would have been a challenge to continue Mare’s story. Winslet’s character, as well as all the rest in the series, had complete character arcs that fit smoothly within the overarching story. Sure, Mare will go on to solve more mysteries, but without that personal, emotional factor, it wouldn’t be the same.
It’s far better that Ingelsby decided to zoom out on the fictional version of the world that Mare lives in. Task‘s Tom has allowed Ingelsby to continue to explore what it means for people who have experienced trauma to work in traumatic fields, without dragging Mare back through the trenches. It may not be Mare of Easttown season 2, but, said and done, Task is a better way to keep the ball rolling.
