‘Task’ actor Mark Ruffalo and writer Brad Ingelsby discuss first season: ‘This was a story about fathers’

After the screening of the penultimate episode of season one in New York on Thursday, Mark Ruffalo, the star of Task, along with creator Brad Ingelsby, and cast members including Tom Pelphrey, Emilia Jones, Fabien Frankel, Thuso Mbedu, Alison Oliver, and Martha Plimpton, participated in a panel discussion. They were joined by executive producers and directors Salli Richardson-Whitfield and Mark Roybal to reflect on what drew them to the show and how Ingelsby's exceptional writing shaped a season that delved into themes of faith, family, fatherhood, and forgiveness.

"I was really intrigued by the idea of a character who loses his faith," Ingelsby shared with the audience at the DGA Theater. "My uncle was a priest who left the priesthood, and weve had many deep conversations about how his perception of God has changed over time. This exploration of a man who has lost his faith truly fascinated me," he explained. "On the other hand, theres a character who holds a different kind of belieffaith in himself to overcome his circumstances. While Mare of Easttown was about mothers, this show is fundamentally a story about fathers."

Ingelsby emphasized that unlike Mare of Easttown, which involved a "whodunit," he didn't want to follow the same formula. "I wanted to explore the tension between two men whose paths inevitably converge. Each episode brings them closer, and as the audience, we feel both fear and hope. We root for both of them in different ways, wishing for Robby to escape, while also wanting Tom to catch him. Its a scenario where these desires can't coexist," he explained.

Pelphrey recalled his emotional reaction to reading the script for the first time during a family Thanksgiving in Florida. "It was 2:30 in the morning, and I was in tears. Its like reading a tragedy you know will happen, but you hope against all odds that it wont. It's like revisiting Romeo and Juliet, where you think, 'This time, it will be different,'" Pelphrey shared.

Ruffalo praised the emotional depth of the story, saying, "Its a show that pulses with emotion. It has the intrigue, the investigation, and the action, but then it surprises you with empathy. The show takes a closer look at the human beings within the system of law, which is what makes it so compelling. Its a 'cops and robbers' story, but its also deeply rooted in understanding."

For actress Thuso Mbedu, who portrays Aleah Clinton, Ingelsby's character-driven storytelling was a key factor in her decision to join the project. "When I first read the script, I was immediately hooked. It was so well-written and the story was beautiful. Even if I didnt get the role, I would have wanted to be part of this show," she said.

Ingelsby also reflected on how Task is a personal exploration of his own experiences with fatherhood. "Writing is a way for me to confront my own fears and insecurities. I wanted to be different from my dad, but I realize Ive ended up making many of the same mistakes. I always told myself, 'Ill do things differently,' but Im still learning," he shared. "A major part of the story was giving the kids a voice. It's not just about the parents' perspective but about how the parents affect the children. We wanted the kids to have a real presence in the show, not just be secondary characters in the background."

Author: Aiden Foster