After an exceptional first season, HBO’s Task has officially been renewed for a second installment, which is great news for fans of the show. However, while many viewers will naturally be over the moon about seeing more of this epic thriller, it does seem like a bad omen for an equally popular crime drama.
Despite offering a satisfying conclusion, Task‘s season 1 ending meant another outing was possible, making season 2 almost inevitable after the stellar reviews. Although it was originally meant to be a one-off miniseries, the strong reception and captivating characters had audiences far too invested to leave this show behind after just seven episodes.
Unsurprisingly, this led to HBO confirming Task season 2 just a month after the supposed finale, and it could be the start of a much longer series. With both HBO and the show’s creator, Brad Ingelsby, seemingly all-in on the project, the future looks bright, but it does leave questions about Ingelsby’s other hit drama, Mare of Easttown.
Task Season 2’s Renewal Hurts Mare Of Easttown’s Chances Of Returning
With Task‘s renewal suggesting Brad Ingelsby will be putting most of his focus on this upcoming season, it makes it even less likely that Mare of Easttown will ever return. Like Task, Mare of Easttown was advertised as a miniseries consisting of seven episodes, but the Kate Winslet and Evan Peters drama has actually stayed true to its word.
Having wrapped up in 2021, the show hasn’t been greenlit for another outing despite receiving even better scores than Task in most instances. Given their similar nature alongside being set in the same universe, Task and Mare of Easttown comparisons have been unavoidable, making it all the more curious that one is being renewed while the other sits idle.
Sadly, the swift manner in which Task has been picked up for a second season indicates that Mare of Easttown‘s story may be done for good, as a new outing surely would have happened by now if there were plans for more, especially with how big Ingelsby’s previous show was.
As a result, it may be time to make peace with the fact that the critically acclaimed series is unlikely to come back, which makes Task season 2’s confirmation a bittersweet announcement.
Why Task Makes More Sense For A Season 2 Renewal Instead Of Mare Of Easttown
Neither Mare of Easttown nor Task directly set the stage for a follow-up, but it does make more sense for the latter to get a second season. Although a new Mare of Easttown entry could continue following the protagonist and her work as a detective, the story felt largely personal and doesn’t really need to be continued.
The conflict was extremely complex and emotionally taxing, and trying to top this just to keep the popular show going could fall flat. In contrast, Task‘s Tom Brandis isn’t a typical hero, as his seemingly incompetent exterior masks just how efficient an FBI agent he really is.
While some people may have been turned off by this unorthodox crime thriller lead, he is the perfect candidate to focus another story around. Whereas Mare’s journey felt rather intimate at times, Tom’s is much more professional, despite there still being plenty of hardships and human elements involved.
Therefore, it would feel more natural seeing him take on a new case compared to Mare, and there is still plenty of scope for his character to grow, suggesting Task season 2 is a more logical choice than a Mare of Easttown revival, especially since Mark Ruffalo’s series had the higher viewership.
