Task Episode 3 Premieres on HBO at 9 p.m. as Sunday Run Continues

HBO’s Philly-set crime drama Task returns with Episode 3, Nobody’s Stronger Than Forgiveness, premiering at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max. The episode kicks off the third installment of a seven-episode first season, with new installments airing on Sunday nights through October 19.

Task follows Robbie Prendergrast, a working-class single father and garbage man who has been quietly robbing drug dens under the cover of night. When a robbery goes wrong, four people die and a child is kidnapped, pulling him into a high-stakes confrontation with a powerful crime operation and a federal investigation. An FBI task force led by former priest Tom Brandis, portrayed by Mark Ruffalo, closes in as the Dark Hearts—Robbie’s violent counterparts—üps the danger. The series is the latest Philadelphia-set production from Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby, drawing on local textures—from DelCo accents to Wawa coffee culture—to frame a tense, character-driven crime story.

The cast features Tom Pelphrey as Robbie Prendergrast, Emilia Jones as Maeve Prendergrast, and Martha Plimpton among others, with Jamie McShane, Sam Keeley, Thuso Mbedu, Fabien Frankel, Alison Oliver, Raúl Castillo, and more rounding out the ensemble. The show situates a tense chase within a community backdrop, mixing intimate family stakes with the broader violence surrounding a criminal underworld that is quick to react when threatened.

Fans should note that Episode 3 continues the pattern established in the first two installments, deepening the cat-and-mouse dynamic between the investigators and the men who navigate a crime world that refuses to stay contained. The episode builds on the dynamic between Brandis’s team and Robbie’s precarious balance between fatherhood and risk, with the Dark Hearts pressing the envelope as the FBI tightens its grip.

For viewers navigating the HBO ecosystem, Task remains an HBO original, available on HBO or HBO Max. Pricing for HBO Max in the current landscape includes options for ad-supported and ad-free access, with promotions and bundles varying by region and time. Current general pricing offers ad-free access at a higher monthly rate and ad-supported access at a lower monthly rate, with premium tiers and bundles available for those who want to pair HBO Max with other services. Viewers should check their local availability and any current promotions when subscribing, as bundles with other services can influence monthly costs.

Episode 3 is the latest installment in a seven-episode arc. Here’s the episode pacing as outlined for the run: Episode 1, Crossings, aired on Sunday, September 7; Episode 2, Family Statements, followed on September 14; Episode 3 on September 21; Episode 4, All Roads, on September 27; Episode 5, Vagrants, on October 5; Episode 6, Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a river, on October 12; and Episode 7, A Still Small Voice, on October 19. This cadence cements Task as a season-long Sunday night appointment for viewers who have followed the show’s Philadelphia flavor and character-driven tension.

Viewers seeking to watch can access Task on HBO or HBO Max, the service’s primary distribution channel. The platform’s current pricing structure includes multiple options, including ad-supported and ad-free tiers, with annual promotions sometimes available that can provide extended access. HBO Max also offers bundles that integrate with other streaming services, which can influence monthly costs for those who subscribe under a family or multi-service plan. Those evaluating options should consider whether they prefer ad-free viewing, download capabilities, and potential bundle savings when deciding on a plan that fits their viewing habits.

As Task unfolds through its seven-episode arc, the interplay between Robbie, Brandis, and the Dark Hearts continues to be the driving force, with the Philadelphia setting lending a grounded, regional texture to the crime narrative. The collaboration of Ruffalo’s poised investigator and Pelphrey’s haunted antihero under Ingelsby’s direction of the story promises to maintain a tight, character-focused tempo as the season progresses.

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