Aahana Swrup
Brad Ingelsby’s ‘Task’ takes the viewers to the suburbs of Philadelphia, where a cat-and-mouse game of chase is afoot between two complex personalities. Robbie Prendergast is an everyman in a small-town community. He’s a single father who works as a garbage man by day, scouting out houses to hit during his nighttime illicit outings with his friend Cliff. Tom Brandis drives the other side of the story as an FBI Agent with a somber past whose family has recently suffered a horrid tragedy. Yet, eventually, when duty calls, he is compelled to pick up the phone.
Thus, the federal agent finds himself in charge of a tri-county task force, made up of three young officers, Grasso, Aleah, and Lizzie. The team of mismatched agents is tasked with the investigation into a series of violent robberies that seem to be targeting drug houses. The polarizing dynamic of the narrative as it swivels between the experiences of Robbie and Tom informs the subliminal sense of realism attached to the tale. However, between police procedures and a complicated family life, is there any real-life basis behind Tom’s character?
Tom Brandis was Partially Inspired by Brad Ingelsby’s Uncle, Ed
‘Task’ charts a highly authentic storyline that remains populated with fleshed-out characters and narratives. However, this crime drama series draws no direct inspiration from any specific real-life criminal case. Instead, it employs a realistic premise and strives to tap into the authenticity of the human experience within it. Yet, Tom Brandis manages to be an exception to his surroundings, retaining explicit influence from an off-screen counterpart. Creator and writer, Brad Ingelsby, mined inspiration for Tom Brandis from his Ed. Much like the show’s protagonist, the latter is also a former priest (Augustinian, to be specific), who eventually left the priesthood later in his life.
From here, Ingelsby found the basis for Tom Brandis’ character as a man of faith with a complicated relationship with his beliefs. Additionally, the creator, who attended a Catholic high school in his teen years and has since retained a wide-ranging relationship with religion, imbued aspects of his own experiences into the character. In an interview with Philly Voice, Ingelsby delved deeper into this facet of Tom’s characterization. He said, “I struggle with religion a lot, although I’m always on the path and I consider myself a believer. I’m always questioning it. I think Tom’s a guy that’s always asking himself in the story, why does suffering exist if God is so all-merciful?” Thus, the protagonist’s theological narrative, which remains in harmony with the show’s overarching themes, retains significant real-life roots.
Similarly, the other defining feature of Tom’s character, his law enforcement background, also has some off-screen influences. During the early days of the show’s conception, Ingelsby came to learn that clergy members like priests, rabbis, etc., sometimes have a close working relationship with the FBI. As it turns out, these professions are sought out in instances of mass casualties, wherein victims may be in need of comfort or counsel. This opened up a possibility of the overlap between two worlds, bringing about the federal turn in Tom’s career trajectory. Additionally, the show employed Scott Duffy, an FBI technical advisor, in order to ensure authenticity in this aspect of his life. Therefore, while no biographical inspiration was equipped for Tom’s narrative, it still remains ripe with realism.
Mark Ruffalo made Various Preparations to Step Into the Role of Tom Brandis
Even though Brad Ingelsby isn’t in the habit of writing characters with specific actors in mind, he knew early on that he wanted Mark Ruffalo for the role of Tom Brandis. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about the same, the creator said, “The guy’s (Tom) from the Northeast, he’s humble, he has a very specific perspective on life, and he has adopted children. You start to go, wait, who is believable as this? It’s a narrow list, and Mark Ruffalo was at the top of it.” Still, once Ruffalo signed onto the project, he realized he had much work to do before he could authentically embody the character. The actor wanted to put out a specific physicality for the FBI Agent, which would run in accordance with his personality and his lifestyle.
When the narrative first meets Tom, he’s a grieving father and husband who is consistently chasing his sorrows at the bottom of a novelty cup. Therefore, Ruffalo was adamant about putting on a handful of pounds so that the character’s body could authentically line up with his excruciating, but relatable, coping mechanisms. In the end, this effect was achieved through enlargement augmentation padding, i.e., a slightly shaved prosthetic baby bump. On the other hand, the actor, like his co-stars, also had to perfect a specific accent, native to the Delco area, to blend in with his surroundings. Thus, he worked with dialect coach Susanne Sulby to manufacture the distinct accent and make it seem effortless. Ultimately, these attention-to-detail efforts only add to Tom’s on-screen presence, reinforcing realism and authenticity in his narrative.
Read More: Is Miguel de Diego Based on Tamara’s Real Agent? Is Guesemen Talent Agency Real?
