Saagar Kote
HBO’s crime thriller drama series ‘Task’ follows an intricate game of cat and mouse between FBI agent Tom (Mark Ruffalo) and a criminal named Robbie (Tom Pelphrey). Created by Brad Ingelsby, it chronicles the happenings around a series of thefts and dangerous actions that compel the FBI to catch the one orchestrating them at any cost. The themes of courage, family, sacrifice, and morality are examined in the show, while also featuring intense and bloody action sequences that add to the experience of the viewers. As the two main characters push themselves to the limit, they encounter unexpected challenges that threaten them. If the dark tone, characters, and themes of the show entertained you, these shows, similar to ‘Task,’ will keep you intrigued.
12. Wiseguy (1987-1990)
Created by Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo, CBS’s ‘Wiseguy’ is the story of Vinnie Terranova (Ken Wahl) and his struggles with the ideas of loyalty and identity. In the crime drama show, the protagonist, who is an agent of the Organized Crime Bureau, is tasked with the infiltration of gangs and dangerous outfits, for which he has to go undercover. However, when he delves deep into the world of crime, he finds himself questioning his identity and where his loyalty truly lies. As he gets to know the people behind the curtains of the crime world, he undergoes challenges that threaten him and his views. Akin to ‘Task,’ it deals with a protagonist who tests his limits when going up against criminals, while also covering aspects of his personal life and morality. The visual elements of the stories forge a spiritual connection between them.
11. The Following (2013-2015)
Fox’s crime thriller series ‘The Following’ is a game of deception and secrecy that is narrated through the experiences of a retired FBI agent named Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) and his psychologically charged confrontation with a convicted serial killer called Joe Carroll (James Purefoy), who has seemingly created a cult of serial killers across the country, who follow his words. This leads to a hitherto unseen danger wherein a potential army of killers is active, threatening to cause more chaotic violence. The Kevin Williamson creation, on the lines of ‘Task,’ has ideas of two men on opposite sides of the law going head to head. Characters in both shows have to deal with dangerous scenarios in order to achieve their goals.
10. Battle Creek (2015)
‘Battle Creek’ is a story about the city of Battle Creek in Michigan, wherein two officers named Milt Chamberlain (Josh Duhamel) and Russ Agnew (Dean Winters) try to clean up the crimes in the place with their different approaches. Created by Vince Gilligan and David Shore, the comedy crime series follows the two protagonists as they hustle and bustle across the streets of the city, while also crossing paths with criminals and other dangerous players. The show features elements of adrenaline-fueled action sequences, confrontations between people on opposing sides, and depictions of crime that connect it to the world of ‘Task’ and its characters.
9. The Endgame (2022)
‘The Endgame’ is a tale of betrayals, love, and courage that is narrated through the cat-and-mouse chase between a criminal named Elena Federova (Morena Baccarin) and a dedicated FBI agent called Val Turner (Ryan Michelle Bathé). In the NBC show created by Nicholas Wootton and Jake Coburn, the criminal mastermind tries to execute operations while being behind bars, but the agent tries to stop her plans at any cost. The elements of two characters trying to outdo each other connect the crime drama series to ‘Task’. Characters in both shows push their limits on opposite sides of the law while trying to achieve their objectives.
8. Class of ‘09 (2023)
‘Class of ‘09’ is a tale where multiple timelines intertwine, through the experiences of an FBI team of recruits that includes Tayo Michaels (Brian Tyree Henry), Ashley Poet (Kate Mara), and others, who go through the trials and tribulations of the crime world. Created by Tom Rob Smith, FX’s crime drama thriller show chronicles the journey of the recruits who come together after many years following the demise of someone they knew. The ideas of justice and morality are examined in the series in ways similar to ‘Task.’ Both shows feature the workings of the FBI and the various challenges agents face in the field.
7. City on a Hill (2019-2022)
Showtime’s ‘City on a Hill’ revolves around the partnership between a lawyer named DeCourcy Ward (Aldis Hodge) and a retired FBI agent named John “Jackie” Rohr (Kevin Bacon). Created by Chuck MacLean, the crime drama series is set in the 1990s and follows the two men as they attempt to take on a case wherein a group of robbers is involved. As they delve deeper into the case, they face new and unexpected challenges that could be consequential. On the lines of ‘Task,’ it features highly intense action sequences and a deep dive into the minds of criminals. Both shows involve characters who find themselves in unexpected situations as they try to control the actions of dangerous people.
6. Manhunt (2017-2020)
Discovery Channel’s ‘Manhunt’ or ‘Manhunt: Unabomber’ is a story of investigations, secrets, and courage, looking at the attempts of the FBI to capture a terrorist named Ted Kaczynski (Paul Bettany), who seemingly makes himself almost impossible to apprehend. It also narrates the perspectives of a security officer named Richard Jewell (Cameron Britton), who is also investigated as part of the case. While the first season focuses on the “Unabomber,” the second season deals with the hunt for a criminal named Eric Rudolph. Created by Andrew Sodroski, Jim Clemente, and Tony Gittelson, the crime drama anthology thriller series shares similarities with ‘Task,’ as it primarily focuses on the efforts by cops to hunt down a criminal mastermind, while also featuring intense action sequences.
5. Graceland (2013-2015)
Created by Jeff Eastin, ‘Graceland’ is a tale of group dynamics in all its complexities, which chronicles the experiences of six federal agents from different agencies, who are tasked to live together in a house that is referred to as “Graceland.” As Michael “Mike” Warren (Aaron Tveit), Dale “Jakes” Jenkins (Brandon Jay McLaren), and the other agents explore their lives in the house, they come across hidden truths that can be consequential in the drama series. The workings of federal agencies, the relationships between different officers, and the elements of secrecy connect the show on a spiritual level with ‘Task’ and its characters.
4. White Collar (2009-2014)
‘White Collar’ navigates the lives of an FBI agent named Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) and his attempts to capture criminals by using a very unusual method. It involves him trusting a con man called Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) to help him in the capture missions. The two men form an unlikely team, and the dynamics between them are the crux of the crime drama series. Created by Jeff Eastin, the show, akin to ‘Task,’ looks at the interactions between cops and criminals, while also containing intense action sequences. The motivations of the characters forge a spiritual connection between the stories.
3. FBI (2018-)
Created by Dick Wolf and Craig Turk, CBS’s ‘FBI’ narrates the tale of an agent named Maggie Bell (Missy Peregrym) and her partner Omar Adom Zidan (Zeeko Zaki), who are part of a team that deals with cases related to organized crime, intelligence, and terrorist attacks. The main characters, along with the help of others in the team, push their limits to ensure the safety of the country, while also risking their lives, akin to the world of ‘Task’ and its characters. Both shows feature elements of adrenaline-fueled action sequences that connect them on a visual and spiritual level.
2. The Blacklist (2013 – 2023)
NBC’s ‘The Blacklist’ chronicles a game of wits and deception, narrated through the experiences of an FBI officer named Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone), and her unlikely interactions and cooperation with a criminal named Raymond Reddington (James Spader), as the two of them work together to catch other criminals. Created by Jon Bokenkamp, the crime thriller show, in ways similar to ‘Task,’ explores ideas of partnership and wit, while also dealing with the emotional dynamics between people on opposite sides of the law. Both stories examine the moral complexities of manhunts intricately, while also featuring intense action sequences that connect them on a visual level.
1. The Wire (2002-2008)
Created by David Simon, HBO’s ‘The Wire’ follows Detective James “Jimmy” McNulty (Dominic West), Lieutenant Cedric Daniels (Lance Reddick), and others as they attempt to deal with the world of crime and drugs in the city of Baltimore. In the crime drama series, the main characters come across various individuals and facts that reveal the moral complexities of the city, which test their perspectives on social realities. Akin to the world of ‘Task,’ it looks at the interactions between people on opposing sides of the law, while also dealing with the inner workings of law enforcement agencies and criminal groups. This establishes a spiritual connection between the two stories, which also have similar visual elements.
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