HBO Max adds great new shows every year, and Task is one of the highlights of 2025. The well-crafted crime drama from Mare of Easttown writer-creator Brad Ingelsby is a cat-and-mouse tale starring Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey, who play an FBI agent investigating a string of robberies and an unassuming family man involved in them.

Season one of The Pitt dropped all at once on HBO Max UK last week, and that’s all 15 episodes. Episode one of season two was also released at the same time, despite the US being way ahead. They’re about to watch the finale, meaning there’s a 14-episode difference.

The range of options facing UK viewers at the launch of HBO Max appears to be at odds with the sector’s founding promise of convenience and autonomy