Task season 2: There will be a crossover with Mare of Easttown
Julianne Nicholson returns in the new episodes of the acclaimed HBO series
The second season of "Task" will also be exciting for fans of "Mare of Easttown." The reason: There will be a crossover between the two acclaimed HBO series. In the new episodes of "Task," Julianne Nicholson returns as Lori Ross – the Emmy-winning role she previously portrayed in "Mare of Easttown," as reported by Variety.
In "Mare of Easttown," Kate Winslet plays the protagonist Marianne "Mare" Sheehan, a police officer investigating a murder case while struggling with personal issues. Lori Ross is the investigator's best friend. It is not yet known how Julianne Nicholson's character will be integrated into the story of "Task." "Task" centers on Tom Brandis, played by Mark Ruffalo, who is also an investigator – though, unlike Mare Sheehan, he works as an FBI agent. While grappling with personal trauma, he must assemble a task force to get to the bottom of a series of unusual robberies. Not much is known yet about the plot of Season 2. However, Brandis is set to take charge of a new task force – and the further his investigation progresses, the harder it becomes to identify who the real target is.
Why is there a crossover between Task and Mare of Easttown?
Until now, the storylines of "Task" and "Mare of Easttown" have run independently of one another. So why is there a crossover now? One reason is that both series were created by Brad Ingelsby. The creator and screenwriter set both the plot of "Task" and that of "Mare of Easttown" in working-class suburbs of Philadelphia. Additionally, the series air on the same network: HBO. Consequently, a crossover seems like a natural fit, especially since both series center on troubled investigators. Many fans would surely be thrilled if, at some point, Mare Sheehan and Tom Brandis – and thus the A-list Hollywood stars Kate Winslet and Mark Ruffalo – were to cross paths. And who knows: Perhaps Julianne Nicholson's appearance in the second season of "Task" is just the beginning of a larger crossover that will be expanded upon in potential future seasons.
Interestingly, it wasn't originally planned for either series to continue. Like "Mare of Easttown," "Task" was conceived as a miniseries telling a self-contained story. However, due to its success, a second season of "Task" was greenlit. And as for "Mare of Easttown," there are discussions at HBO about a possible sequel. So we can look forward to seeing what the future holds.
Task was overlooked in the top category at the Emmys
In addition to Mark Ruffalo and Julianne Nicholson, other cast members have been confirmed for the second season of "Task." It was reported several months ago that Mahershala Ali would be joining the cast. The two-time Oscar winner is set to play Eddie Barnes, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent whose team clashes with Tom Brandis's unit. In addition, Harry Melling, Adam Nagaitis, Aminah Nieves, and Edgar Ramirez are set to join the cast for the new episodes.
The first season of "Task" has been a hit with critics, who have praised, among other things, the performances of Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey. However, the series recently suffered a minor setback with the announcement of this year's Emmy nominations. While the highly acclaimed stars Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey were nominated for Best Lead Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively, "Task" was not considered in the top category of "Best Drama Series." This comes as quite a surprise, given the quality of the series. Disappointed fans can at least take comfort in the fact that there will be a second season – and with it, another chance to compete for Best Drama Series.
