Warning! Spoilers for Task episode 4 ahead!

Task has achieved a major Rotten Tomatoes milestone, allowing it to officially rival its HBO crime-thriller predecessor. From creator Brand Ingelsby, Task stars Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey in a cat-and-mouse howcatchem, which, from its first episode, established itself as an intriguing slow-burn. Now, after episode 4, Task has officially marked a significant achievement.

There are still two more episodes to go before Task comes to a close, but episode 4 served as a turning point in the miniseries’ plot. Both the FBI and the Dark Hearts are closing in on Pelphrey’s Robbie, and significant foreshadowing in this episode suggests that this character may not receive a particularly happy ending. Task‘s slow-burn formula is paying off, and things are getting pretty tense.

As the tension is ramped up in Task episode 4, critics have become even more pleased with this series. Reviews have rolled in following this most recent installment, and Ingelsby’s HBO show has achieved an impressive 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This officially places Task in the same league as HBO’s Mare of Easttown, which currently holds the same critic score.

Task Now Has The Same Rotten Tomatoes Score As Mare Of Easttown

Mare of Easttown is another HBO miniseries created by Ingelsby, released back in 2021. The crime thriller starring Kate Winslet was a massive hit, and with 132 critic reviews, Rotten Tomatoes has deemed the series “Certified Fresh” with a 95% score. This approval rating was pretty consistent throughout Mare of Easttown‘s run. The show had a great start and a phenomenal end.

Leading up to Task‘s premiere, Ingelsby revealed that the new series would exist in the same universe as Mare of Easttown, so we’ve naturally been curious how these two projects would compare. Now, after only four episodes, critical reception has provided an answer. Task officially has the same 95% critic score as Mare of Easttown—they’re set up right within the same league.

Of course, there are other notable factors to consider. Task isn’t yet complete, and Rotten Tomatoes currently reflects a total of 75 critic reviews. The show’s score may rise or fall as this number climbs. As a result, Task could end up with an even higher approval rate (or, of course, a lower one). Additionally, it’s important to note that Task‘s audience score is significantly lower than Mare of Easttown‘s.

Why Don’t Audiences Agree With Critics About Task Being As Good As Mare Of Easttown?

Image via HBO

Part of Rotten Tomatoes’ value is in its presentation of both critic and general audience reviews. We get a look at the professional perspective, and can compare it to what the average Joe has to say about a series. In the case of Mare of Easttown, critics and audiences are on the same page. This miniseries was reviewed favorably by 94% of general audiences, just as 95% of critics approved.

General viewers are somewhat less certain about Task. While 95% of critics approved, Ingelsby’s newest HBO series holds a relatively low audience score of 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, with over 250 ratings. This essentially means that viewers are split down the middle. A bit more than half have enjoyed Task so far, while 40% have already determined that critics got it wrong with their positive reviews.

Looking at audience ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, a common complaint seems to be the tone and pacing of Task. There are criticisms that Ruffalo’s character, Tom, is too depressed to be interesting. Similarly, Pelphrey’s Robbie appears to be trapped by indecisiveness for several episodes. The result of this is what several reviewers have considered multiple episodes of inactivity.

Interestingly, those who are praising Inglesby’s new series have listed the same qualities as assets. This is a sign that more positive reviews could begin sliding in as Task fully pays off its gradual build of tension. This is an ongoing series, so the final verdict has yet to come.

Task’s Rotten Tomatoes Increase Proves The Series’ Success Lies In Its Slow Burn Story

It won’t be until the release of Task episode 7 that we will be able to comprehensively analyze the show’s reception. However, the fact that this series has achieved the same critical score on Rotten Tomatoes as Mare of Easttown after only four episodes is certainly saying something. It’s a sign that Ingelsby’s slow-burn formular is working. Episode 4 carefully began to release the built-up tension, and the response to this has been positive.

Mare of Easttown was a slow-burn in some regard, as whodunits tend to be. However, it worked a bit harder to grip audiences from the very beginning. Ingelsby is trying something different this time around, and, so far, it’s clearly paying off. Although Task‘s Rotten Tomatoes score could rise or fall going forward, the current trajectory and the slow-burn formula lead me to believe we should see some positive progress.

Up to Task episode 4, Pelphrey’s Robbie was confident that he could sell the fentanyl he stole and flee the country. However, that has now changed. The pressure is at its highest here, and, going into Task‘s final two episodes, Robbie has no choice but to take drastic action. The slow-burn is turning into an inferno, and this exciting shift is all but guaranteed to reflect in both critics’ and audiences’ reviews going forward.