The Story⚡
Thuso Mbedu shines as Sergeant Aleah Clinton in Task, a gritty HBO crime drama that’s gripping audiences, cementing her rise as a global star.
Tell Me More
Task, an American crime drama miniseries created by Brad Ingelsby, premiered on September 7, 2025, on HBO, earning widespread praise as one of 2025’s best series with a 90% score from 48 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus describes it as “a culturally-specific crime story that’s unrelentingly bleak but equally riveting.”
Set in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia, the seven-episode series follows FBI agent Tom Brandis (Mark Ruffalo), a former priest haunted by personal tragedy, as he leads a task force to stop a string of violent robberies orchestrated by an unassuming family man, Robbie Prendergast (Tom Pelphrey). South African star Thuso Mbedu shines as Sergeant Aleah Clinton, a no-nonsense Chester detective sergeant who joins Brandis’s team, bringing sharp intensity to the investigation.
Mbedu’s performance has drawn significant attention, further solidifying her star power. Her portrayal of Aleah, a determined and complex detective, adds depth to the series’ exploration of moral ambiguity, community ties, and crime.
The ensemble cast, including Emilia Jones, Raúl Castillo, Jamie McShane, Fabien Frankel, and Alison Oliver, delivers raw performances, but Mbedu’s standout role reflects her commanding presence. Directed by Jeremiah Zagar and Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Task blends slow-burn tension with emotional weight, filmed across Philadelphia and its suburbs in Delaware and Montgomery counties.
The series’ critical success—lauded for its storytelling and cultural specificity—marks another career win for Mbedu, whose résumé now boasts back-to-back critically acclaimed projects. Task streams weekly on HBO and HBO Max (with episodes available the day after airing), and in South Africa, it’s set to captivate audiences on Showmax later in 2025.
In Summary
Task premiered on HBO on September 7, 2025, and is streaming weekly on HBO Max, with a Showmax release in South Africa slated for later this year.
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