Where does the show Task take place? As of October 2025, the location is firmly established: the series unfolds in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, set in the suburbs just outside of Philadelphia. This gritty, atmospheric region serves as both the literal and emotional backdrop for the crime-drama series, shaping its tone, characters, and storylines in powerful ways.
A Clear Setting: Delaware County, Pennsylvania
The setting of Task isn’t just a vague suburban landscape. It’s centered specifically in Delaware County, often referred to by locals as “Delco.” This area is known for its working-class neighborhoods, wooded parks, historic sites, and proximity to Philadelphia. The show uses this region to create a tense, grounded environment that feels authentic and lived-in.
The series premiered in September 2025 and quickly drew attention for how vividly it portrays the communities outside Philadelphia. Every major storyline plays out within the boundaries of Delaware County, with occasional scenes extending into nearby Chester County and the edges of Philadelphia itself.
Why Delaware County? The Creator’s Choice
The creative team behind Task deliberately chose Delaware County as the setting because of its unique blend of suburban, industrial, and rural elements. It’s a place where tight-knit communities intersect with long stretches of quiet parks and isolated roads. This contrast allows the show to build both intimate character moments and high-stakes tension.
The area’s distinct accent, local traditions, and community culture give the story a sense of specificity. Instead of using a generic American town, the creators built the series in a real place they understand, using recognizable neighborhoods, businesses, and landmarks to ground the drama.
Key Locations Featured in the Show
Throughout the series, several real locations in and around Delaware County play a central role in the story. These settings create a visual map that viewers begin to recognize over time:
- Ridley Creek State Park – A major outdoor location used for secluded encounters, tense chases, and dramatic turning points.
- Suburban neighborhoods – Residential areas in towns like Marple Township and Broomall provide a believable home base for the lead characters.
- Local diners and bars – Neighborhood establishments act as recurring meeting spots where secrets are shared and confrontations unfold.
- Community centers and riverfronts – These spaces anchor larger community scenes, adding scale to the storyline.
- Industrial outskirts and quarries – Rural edges and quiet roads give the show a suspenseful, cinematic atmosphere during pivotal action scenes.
By relying on recognizable places, Task avoids feeling like a soundstage production. It feels like it happens in a real community.
Characters Anchored in Place
The setting deeply shapes the main characters and how they interact with their world:
- Tom Brandis, played by Mark Ruffalo, is a former priest turned FBI agent who now lives in a modest suburban home in Marple Township. His return to field work happens in the same neighborhoods he once drove past every day, adding personal stakes to his investigations.
- Robbie Prendergrast, portrayed by Tom Pelphrey, works as a garbage collector. His daily routes through small-town streets keep him closely tied to his community, making his involvement in the unfolding crime plot deeply personal.
- Supporting characters — from detectives to gang members — all inhabit the same geographic area. This interconnectedness mirrors how real communities function, where personal and professional lives often overlap.
Because the setting is so compact, characters frequently cross paths in unexpected ways. A diner encounter, a park at dusk, or a chance sighting on a quiet road can become crucial turning points in the story.
Real Filming and On-Screen Geography Align
Unlike some shows that film in one place but set the story in another, Task keeps both filming and narrative locations rooted in Pennsylvania. Production took place primarily in Delaware County during spring and summer of 2024, capturing real neighborhoods, wooded areas, and community spaces.
This choice adds authenticity. Viewers familiar with the region recognize local details, while those unfamiliar are drawn into a believable, textured environment. The visual tone—dense woods, riverbanks, narrow streets, and modest homes—matches the series’ themes of secrecy, pressure, and moral ambiguity.
The Setting as a Story Element
The Delaware County location isn’t just a backdrop—it drives the drama:
- Community Intimacy
The setting amplifies the sense of everyone knowing everyone. When crimes occur, they ripple through tight social circles quickly, raising personal stakes for investigators and residents alike. - Isolation and Escape
The nearby forests, creeks, and rural roads offer spaces for characters to hide, meet secretly, or face off away from watchful eyes. This physical geography intensifies suspenseful sequences. - Authentic Atmosphere
The series uses local weather patterns—fog, overcast skies, quiet nights—to enhance its moody, tense storytelling style.
Impact on the Show’s Identity
By committing to Delaware County, Task distinguishes itself from other crime dramas. Many series rely on fictional towns or loosely defined suburbs. Task chooses to ground itself in a specific, real place. This decision:
- Strengthens character motivations by rooting them in their environment.
- Gives audiences a sense of place that grows more familiar each episode.
- Encourages local viewers to engage, recognizing their own neighborhoods on screen.
- Provides a strong visual and cultural identity that sets the series apart.
What Lies Ahead
The show’s setting will continue to shape its direction. Future episodes may explore neighboring parts of Pennsylvania or dive deeper into hidden corners of Delaware County. Because the setting is so rich, the creative team has room to expand storylines without losing the show’s grounded feel.
Fans are already speculating whether future projects might connect Task to other stories set in the same area. While nothing has been confirmed, the location provides fertile ground for more layered narratives.
The next time someone asks, “Where does the show Task take place?” the answer is simple and clear: it takes place in Delaware County, Pennsylvania—a setting that is as central to the show as any character.
Have you spotted any familiar locations or noticed how the setting shapes the story? Share your thoughts and keep the conversation going.