The Watch – “Creator Brad Ingelsby on the ‘Task’ Finale”
Date: October 20, 2025
Host(s): Chris Ryan & Andy Greenwald
Guest: Brad Ingelsby (Creator, Writer of “Task”)
Overview
This rich, in-depth episode of The Watch breaks down the Task finale with series creator Brad Ingelsby. Chris and Andy begin with a passionate discussion about the thematic power and emotional resonance of the show’s close, before talking with Ingelsby about the series’ evolution from crime drama to a profound meditation on forgiveness, sacrifice, and faith. The conversation explores writing, performance, setting, and spirituality, with a robust focus on character work and the deliberate avoidance of genre convention.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Emotional Impact & Musicality of the Finale
- Satisfaction & Structure: Andy found the finale “insanely satisfying,” describing the show as “magisterial” and “deeply moving.” Both hosts reflect on the coda-like structure after the action ends, highlighting the “musicality” of the script and the emotionally charged closing scenes.
- “I wish I could chart the finale script like a piece of music...” – Chris (03:02)
- Memorable Moment: Maeve and Harper's final look at Billy and Robbie's house, confronting the fear of forgetting their past but being reassured: “You won’t.”
- Grace and Sacrifice: Andy highlights unexpected “moments of sacrifice and grace” (02:08), noting how Brad Ingelsby’s lack of judgment toward his characters sets the show apart from typical TV morality tales.
2. Thematic Depth: Forgiveness, Grace, and Cycles
- Beyond Crime Genre: Chris and Andy point out how the show reframes expectations, shifting away from being just a gritty drug/crime story and instead focusing on breaking generational cycles and the struggle for redemption.
- “It's not about that. It's about parents and children, about whether you can break cycles of misery and pain and being trapped in your own circumstances.” – Chris (07:06)
- Religion as Subtext: They discuss the show’s quasi-biblical undercurrents – ideas of God, angels, and demons – with antagonists named the “Dark Hearts,” drawing a sharp symbolic line.
- “There’s a version of religion that I find...very compelling. There is no room in Task for an actual God or devil, because look at the shit we have to deal with here.” – Andy (08:21)
3. “Task” as Tom’s Story (Not a Two-Hander)
- Subverting Expectations: Andy and Chris praise the series’ gradual shift, revealing that despite its “Heat in Philly” logline, the story is singularly Tom Brandis's journey.
- “The main character has been here the whole time.” – Andy (37:27)
- Letting Go as Redemption: The finale’s real twist: Tom’s act of faith is letting Sam go, rather than trying to replace lost relationships or repeat past mistakes.
- “The great gift Tom gives Sam is letting him go. I did not expect that.” – Andy (11:10)
- “Sam was Tom’s Canada.” – Andy (12:53)
4. Genre Mechanics vs. Character Motivation
- Procedural Elements: Chris observes that crime beats sometimes feel “convenient,” but Andy contends that inevitability and thematic resonance override strict realism.
- “The best case scenario...is when page-turning plot feels thematically relevant.” – Andy (13:56)
- Humor as Counterpoint: The series weaves in humor (thanks to Martha Plimpton and others) to undercut genre conventions and intensify character relatability.
5. Performance Highlights & Acting Choices
- Tom Pelfrey and Mark Ruffalo: The hosts highlight Pelfrey’s ability to make Robbie so compelling that the show had to give him a stronger send-off, while Ruffalo’s understated performance provides the show’s “heartbeat.”
- “He was so good that I got done editing the sixth episode and thought, wow, we’re missing something with Robbie.” – Brad (34:43)
- “It’s the most Mark Ruffalo performance since ‘You Can Count On Me’.” – Andy (24:18)
6. Catholicism, Penance, and Spiritual Inquiry (w/ Brad Ingelsby)
- Why Leave Grasso Alive? Brad shares that Grasso’s punishment is living with shame, not death – tying directly into Catholic ideas of penance and the corrosive nature of guilt.
- “The worst punishment for Grasso is to have to live with the consequences of his actions...That was something I learned from my uncle, a priest.” – Brad (47:04)
- Writing from Faith and Doubt: Ingelsby draws on his Catholic upbringing—his love for its compassion, confusion over its contradictions—and views most of his work as spiritual inquiry rather than pronouncement.
- “I’m closest to God when I’m asking the questions, not when I know the answers.” – Brad (49:17)
7. The Children's Perspective & Hopeful Endings
- Giving Voice to Kids: Brad intentionally kept small, honest scenes for young characters like Emily and Sam, allowing the finale to be about generational rebirth as much as loss.
- “If we’re going to talk about the actions of the fathers, we have to give voice to the kids.” – Brad (55:01)
8. Writing Craft, Character over Plot
- Character-Driven Writing: Procedural/crime elements are “just an excuse to spend time with them,” Brad reveals. He’s far more invested in how characters react to suffering, change, and love.
- “I hate to say this, I’m really not interested in the procedural stuff. I know an audience needs it, but the thing that gets me excited is writing characters.” – Brad (41:45)
9. Place and Community: Depicting Delco
- Delco as More than a Backdrop: Brad discusses the pressure and responsibility of representing Delaware County authentically, honoring the small heroism of everyday people.
- “It’s incredibly important to me that I hope the people here appreciate these stories—that I’ve honored this place.” – Brad (69:12)
- Pastoral Visuals: The show’s move into woods and rural spaces (contrary to “urban thriller” expectations) comes directly out of character exploration, not preset genre ambition.
10. The Anchor Speech & the Finale's Climax (Courtroom Scene)
- Building to Tom's Speech: Brad talks about wrestling with writing a speech that needed to encapsulate the show’s themes. He and Ruffalo agreed it would be a written statement, not a memorized monologue.
- “I felt it was important for him to acknowledge how hard it was first...then, say, but there was also so much joy.” – Brad (76:06)
11. The Possibility of Future Seasons
- Anthology vs. Completeness: Chris and Andy express love for the story’s completeness and question the wisdom of continuing, but Brad is open to more “Task” if the opportunity comes, motivated by the chance to write and spend time with new characters in this world.
- “It's my dream to write these characters in this place...If there was an appetite, I would do it.” – Brad (79:37)
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
On the Finale’s Emotional Power
-
“I found this show to be magisterial...the ending was more or less note perfect...a balance between fate, justice, and real moments of sacrifice and grace...”
— Andy Greenwald [02:08] -
“I wish I could chart the finale script and the episode like a piece of music...”
— Chris Ryan [03:02]
On Themes of Forgiveness
- “Tom’s act of faith was letting Sam go...believing he was going to be okay. It wasn’t about going back to church. It was his act of faith—having belief that Sam would be okay.”
— Brad Ingelsby [31:50]
On Subverting Crime Genre
- “It’s not about the drug trade, it’s about whether you can break cycles of misery and pain and being trapped in your own circumstances.”
— Chris Ryan [07:06]
On Character vs. Plot
- “I’m always interested in a group of characters, and then the crime is an excuse to get them together. The procedural stuff is always hard to write, but the thing that gets me excited is writing characters.”
— Brad Ingelsby [41:45]
On Delco & Authenticity
- “I have to live here, I have to walk these streets, I have to bump into these people. So it’s incredibly important to me that the characters do justice to them.”
— Brad Ingelsby [69:12]
On Grasso’s Arc & Catholicism
-
“The worst punishment for Grasso is to have to live with the consequences of his actions...That’s something I learned from my uncle, a priest.”
— Brad Ingelsby [47:04] -
“There are so many things I love about the church and so many things that still make no sense to me. I’m always on the journey, and I love to ask the questions.”
— Brad Ingelsby [49:45]
Memorable Moments & Timestamps
- Maeve and Harper’s Farewell [04:16] — A poignant moment confronting memory, home, and letting go.
- Grasso’s Home Life & Motivation [05:45, 45:02] — Humanizing the antagonist, offering empathy not often delivered in cop/crime shows.
- Tom’s Courtroom Speech [75:41-77:59] — The emotional climax, a nuanced and layered articulation of forgiveness, struggle, and hope.
- Kids’ Second Acts [54:13, 55:01] — Finale imagery focusing on children beginning anew, emphasizing hope and the possibility of different futures.
Segment Timestamps
- 01:09–13:01: Hosts’ first reactions: emotional, structural, and thematic breakdown of the finale.
- 13:01–28:27: Deep dive on the finale’s approach to crime drama mechanics, character arcs, and subtle subversions.
- 30:41–81:12: Interview with Brad Ingelsby: structural choices, faith, forgiveness, character focus, Delco setting, and writing challenges.
- 55:01–57:48: Discussing why kids’ perspectives matter, and the challenge/importance of keeping those scenes.
- 75:41–77:59: Insights into crafting Tom’s crucial courtroom speech.
Summary Tone and Style
Throughout, Chris and Andy maintain their trademark mix of warmth, humor, and geeky intensity—frequently referencing regional in-jokes, dropping pop culture analogies, and honestly interrogating the series and its creator. Brad Ingelsby matches their candor with contagious enthusiasm for character-driven drama, gentle self-deprecation, and thoughtful exploration of the show’s spiritual and emotional core.
For New Listeners
This episode is an ideal listen (or read) for anyone curious about how Task evolved from a genresavvy crime drama into a profound, character-driven meditation on loss, faith, and new beginnings. It’s also an exemplary study in how great writing and acting can transform TV, as well as a tribute to the storytelling power of specificity—geographic, emotional, and spiritual. Even without having watched the series, the episode unpacks its topics with clarity and depth, offering valuable insights about TV, faith, and the enduring struggle to do right by those we love.