Where does the show Task take place? As of October 2025, this question has become one of the most frequently asked by fans and new viewers alike. The answer is clear: the series is set in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, a region located just outside of Philadelphia. This working-class suburban landscape isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a vital part of the series’ tone, storytelling, and identity.
The creators of Task have carefully used the region’s natural beauty, industrial corners, and close-knit communities to build a world that feels raw, believable, and deeply intertwined with the lives of its characters.
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A Real Place with Real Texture
Unlike many shows that use fictional towns or generic cityscapes, Task plants its story firmly in a real place. Delaware County, often referred to locally as “Delco,” is an area rich with cultural quirks, recognizable accents, and long-standing community ties. Situated just a short drive from Philadelphia, the county blends suburban neighborhoods, wooded parks, small business districts, and stretches of rural land.
The decision to set Task here wasn’t random. Delaware County has a unique character — gritty yet familiar, both inviting and unsettling. It’s a place where a tree-lined street can quickly lead to an abandoned quarry, where family-owned diners sit beside aging factories, and where neighbors often know each other’s histories. That dynamic setting gives Task its distinctive atmosphere.
Why Delaware County Was Chosen
The creative team behind Task intentionally chose Delaware County because of its natural storytelling power. It’s not simply about convenience; it’s about authenticity. The area’s blend of tight neighborhoods, winding roads, and quiet natural spaces gives the show layers to work with.
In Task, crimes don’t occur in some distant, faceless metropolis. They unfold within communities where people have lived for generations. That familiarity raises the emotional stakes for both characters and viewers. When something happens in Delco, everyone seems to hear about it — and everyone has an opinion.
The choice of Delaware County also helps distinguish Task from other crime dramas. Instead of relying on fictional cities or anonymous suburbs, the show embraces the real geography, allowing viewers to become immersed in a living, breathing environment.
Key Locations That Define the Series
One of the reasons fans keep asking “where does the show Task take place” is because of the striking and memorable locations featured throughout the series. Many of these spots are actual places in and around Delaware County, making the show’s world feel grounded.
Here are some of the main types of locations used to tell the story:
1. Wooded Parks and Natural Escapes
Large parks and wooded areas form a significant part of the show’s landscape. Quiet forest paths, creeks, and state park trails become settings for tense confrontations, clandestine meetings, and emotional conversations. These spaces provide contrast to the suburban streets — they’re where secrets can hide and danger can emerge unexpectedly.
2. Suburban Neighborhoods
Much of the story unfolds in tight-knit residential areas. These are the kinds of neighborhoods where every house has a story, and every neighbor seems to know each other’s business. The modest homes and quiet streets give the series a sense of realism, showing where characters live, argue, and make critical choices.
3. Diners, Bars, and Local Hangouts
Recurring community spots like diners, local taverns, and small family-run businesses give the series a recognizable rhythm. These are the places where characters exchange information, share suspicions, or confront one another unexpectedly. By using familiar social spaces, the show builds layers of community into its drama.
4. Industrial Edges and Quarries
On the outskirts of the suburbs are quarries, old industrial buildings, and stretches of unused land. These locations are perfect for the show’s darker sequences — stakeouts, escapes, and moments of tension. The contrast between everyday neighborhoods and these isolated sites reflects the moral duality in the storyline.
5. Community Centers and Riverfronts
The series also taps into shared spaces like community centers, riverfronts, and gathering areas. These places bring groups of characters together, creating intersections between personal lives and the wider community.
Together, these locations give the series a tangible sense of place. They create a map that viewers begin to recognize — a living environment where the plot doesn’t just happen, but grows organically.
Characters Rooted in Place
The setting of Delaware County doesn’t just shape the look of the series; it influences how characters think, act, and relate to one another. Each character’s relationship to their environment helps drive the story forward.
- Tom Brandis, played by Mark Ruffalo, lives in a suburban neighborhood in Marple Township. His personal and professional lives are both centered in the same community, blurring the lines between his role as an investigator and his ties to the place he calls home.
- Robbie Prendergrast, portrayed by Tom Pelphrey, works as a garbage collector who moves through the county’s streets daily. His job keeps him deeply connected to his surroundings, making his actions and decisions inseparable from the community’s rhythm.
- Supporting characters — from law enforcement officials to gang members to everyday residents — all operate within the same compact geographic area. This interconnectedness means paths cross naturally and frequently, heightening both personal drama and investigative tension.
The show’s creators understand that geography shapes character. In Task, where people live, work, and gather is inseparable from who they are.
How the Setting Influences the Storytelling
The question “where does the show Task take place” isn’t just about trivia — it’s about understanding why the show feels the way it does. Delaware County’s landscape is integral to the series’ structure. Here’s how:
- Proximity Raises the Stakes
Crimes happen close to home. Victims and suspects often share neighborhoods, schools, or workplaces. This proximity creates layers of suspicion and emotional complexity that a big-city backdrop wouldn’t offer. - Natural Environments Build Suspense
Woods, parks, and quiet creeks become ideal settings for tense encounters. Scenes set away from the suburban grid bring a sense of danger and unpredictability. - Community Ties Complicate Investigations
In a place where everyone knows each other, investigating crimes isn’t straightforward. Personal loyalties, family connections, and long memories affect how information spreads and how cases unfold. - Atmosphere Deepens the Drama
Overcast skies, fog rolling through the woods, and dimly lit streets help create the show’s signature tone. It’s neither glamorous nor exaggerated; it’s heavy, moody, and real.
By making the location a central storytelling device, Task sets itself apart from other dramas that treat setting as interchangeable.
Filming and Narrative Geography Align
Another reason Task feels so authentic is that the real filming locations closely match the narrative setting. Rather than creating fictional towns on soundstages, the production team filmed on location throughout Delaware County and nearby areas. This decision grounds the show in its environment and makes it easy for viewers to believe in the world they’re watching.
The production team spent months scouting neighborhoods, parks, and small businesses that reflected the story’s tone. By doing so, they captured the exact textures — from brick rowhouses to overgrown back roads — that define the region.
Why the Setting Resonates with Viewers
Many crime dramas are set in either sprawling cities or vague, made-up towns. Task is different. Its commitment to Delaware County gives it a sense of honesty and specificity that audiences respond to. Viewers who live in Pennsylvania recognize the locations, while those elsewhere find the region fresh and distinctive.
The setting also plays into the show’s themes of community, secrecy, and moral ambiguity. It’s a place where people are bound together by history, yet divided by personal choices. That dynamic mirrors the show’s central conflicts, making the location a subtle but powerful storytelling tool.
Looking Ahead: Delaware County’s Role in Future Episodes
As the series continues, Delaware County remains at the heart of its storytelling. Upcoming episodes are expected to delve deeper into unexplored corners of the region, from overlooked industrial pockets to community hubs that haven’t yet taken center stage. The setting has more to offer, and the show seems determined to use it to its full advantage.
There’s also growing fan speculation that future seasons or spin-offs might remain in the same region, exploring new characters and storylines while maintaining that distinct Delco atmosphere. Whether or not that happens, one thing is clear: Delaware County is inseparable from Task.
The next time someone asks, “Where does the show Task take place?” the answer goes far beyond a simple geographic location. It’s not just set in Delaware County — it lives there. The streets, woods, diners, and community spaces aren’t background; they’re part of the show’s DNA.
Have you noticed how the setting shapes the story’s mood and characters? Share your thoughts below and keep the discussion going.