Podcast Summary: Martha Plimpton Investigates a String of Robberies In 'Task'

Podcast: All Of It (WNYC)
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Martha Plimpton
Date: October 17, 2025
Episode Focus: Behind the scenes of HBO’s Task – crime, character, and craft with star Martha Plimpton

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the HBO series Task, a gripping crime drama involving an FBI investigation into a series of robberies gone wrong near Philadelphia. Host Alison Stewart interviews Martha Plimpton, who plays FBI investigator Kathleen McGinty. The conversation explores character development, on-set experiences, Plimpton’s recent ADHD diagnosis, and the unique quality of slow-burn TV drama.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The World and Premise of Task

• Task combines a classic FBI procedural with a nuanced look at personal trauma and familial responsibilities.
• The central crimes are committed by a group of garbage men; a failed robbery escalates to murder and kidnapping (00:20).
• Plimpton plays McGinty, the no-nonsense task force boss, with Mark Ruffalo as Tom, a skilled but wounded FBI agent.

Character Deep Dive: Kathleen McGinty

How Plimpton Describes McGinty:

• "She's a woman who's had to work her way through the ranks to reach the position she's in. And like most women who are in positions of authority, after a lot of hard work, she's got very little tolerance for nonsense... She's direct." (01:26)

How McGinty Sees Herself:

• "I guess she'd say tired. Tired? Yeah. I mean, well, she would call herself dedicated. I'd say she's dedicated to her job, and she loves her job, even though the people she works with give her a hard time." (02:03)

Notable Quality:

• McGinty is authentic, far removed from the overly polished, suit-wearing authority figures typical in dramas. Her look and attitude reflect the realities of an underpaid, overworked law enforcement officer (08:31).
• "She's not slick. She's not calculating." (08:31)

Relationship Dynamics: Kathleen & Tom

Tomato Scene:

• Tom brings McGinty tomatoes from his garden; Stewart asks what this indicates about their bond.
  • "I think it tells us that, you know, that they're Friends, you know, that they're colleagues, you know... She's probably been to Tom's house for barbecues." (02:59)
• McGinty is aware of Tom's deep trauma and wants to help him re-engage with meaningful work.

Brad Inglesby’s Writing Style (Showrunner/Writer)

Plimpton on Inglesby’s Scripts:

• "He doesn't write a lot of exposition. There's not a lot of people talking about their feelings... it's through their behavior and through their interactions with each other, how they respond to one another, that reveals who they are." (05:14)
• This naturalistic approach gives actors room to interpret, keeping the storytelling fresh and authentic.

Staging the Action: On Filming a Big Shootout

Behind the Scenes:

• Plimpton describes shootout scenes as "incredibly complicated," citing the need for weapons and tactical training (07:18).
• "I'd never done anything quite like that. And so that was exciting. I feel like I want to do more of it." (08:04)

Exploring Age, Authority, and Authenticity

Women in Power:

• Unlike typical FBI portrayals, McGinty feels lived-in and authentic—no designer suits, just a worn-down professional doing her job (08:31).
• Discusses the subtle markers of real power: Nordstrom Rack suits, a single watch, stress eating ("Yeah, she's a stress eater, as she says." – 09:47).

Crafting Ambiguity: Playing Secretive Scenes

• Stewart references a cryptic phone call made by McGinty in episode four, asking how Plimpton handles scenes with unclear motives:
  • "I'm not really thinking about much except what I need to do in the scene... I let the camera do that... I try not to put too much weight on it." (10:37)

The Weekly TV Format: Building Anticipation

• On shows releasing episodes weekly rather than all at once:
  • "I love it... that one hour a week, you know, where people get to talk about it, where, you know, you're doing that sort of water cooler thing... I love that. I think it's awesome." (11:45)

Personal Reflection: ADHD Diagnosis

• Plimpton opens up about learning she has ADHD and how it reframed her self-perception and workstyle.
  • "When I got the diagnosis, everything just kind of fell into place. Like, all these previous things that were challenges for me suddenly made sense. ...It’s just helped me really come to a... kinder sort of understanding of myself." (13:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On McGinty’s worldview:
  "She’s got very little tolerance for nonsense... She's direct." — Martha Plimpton (01:26)
• On work and perception:
  "She would call herself dedicated. ...I think she would think of herself as a good friend, you know?" — Martha Plimpton (02:03)
• On nuanced TV writing:
  "Sometimes we throw people off, sometimes we create diversions in life with one another. And so I think [Brad] has got just a very clear and natural understanding of just how humans talk to one another and how things come out over time." — Martha Plimpton (06:27)
• On weekly series:
  "I kind of like that you gotta hang in there and you gotta wait and you gotta be patient and let things roll out." — Martha Plimpton (11:45)
• On ADHD and acting:
  "It's definitely made me easier on myself when it comes to work... it’s just helped me really come to a... kinder sort of understanding of myself." — Martha Plimpton (13:26)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:20: Show premise explained
• 01:26: Plimpton describes McGinty
• 02:59: Discussing McGinty & Tom’s relationship
• 05:14: Brad Inglesby’s writing approach
• 07:18: Behind the scenes of the shootout
• 08:31: Women in authority on TV – authenticity over gloss
• 10:37: Acting in ambiguous scenes
• 11:45: Thoughts on weekly episode releases
• 13:26: Living and working with ADHD

Final Touch

The episode closes on a warm note, with Plimpton naming her rescue dogs ("Walter and Jimmy Jazz" – 15:32), reflecting the show's recurring themes of resilience, authenticity, and found family.

This summary captures the episode’s insightful look at culture through performance, personal history, and the art of great television storytelling.