Crime
Task
Max’s newest release, Task, takes audiences to task with a slow-burn storyline involving graphic violence, nudity and crude language.
On the eve of World War I, a prince forced to hide and a girl (disguised as a man) with a desire to fly are thrown into a world of destruction and death. When they meet aboard the HMS Leviathan—a bioengineered whale airship—they learn they must work together to bring a war to its end.
Prince Aleksandar von Hohenberg of Austria-Hungary has just learned of his parents’ assassination in Sarajevo. Forced to hide, Alek must escape to Switzerland and bargain with nearby countries to assist in the fight against Germany and Serbia.
Deryn Sharp always wanted to fly. The problem? She is a woman. Now, with a new haircut, new name and combat boots in place of heels, she plans to join the British aviation corps and become an airman.
This anime series on Netflix delivers an alternate-reality sci-fi reimagining of WWI. It pits two groups of adversaries against each other: the Clankers and the Darwinists.
The Clankers have high-tech machines built for any terrain, equipped with heavy firepower. The Darwinists don’t need large guns. Why? Because they have Charles Darwin’s genetically engineered species. These include fabricated beasts such as bats that drop weapons on enemy aircraft and jellyfish-like aircraft called Huxley’s that airmen ride. Then, there’s the HMS Leviathan. This genetically modified flying whale is the largest and fastest airship in the British Navy.
Based on Scott Westerfeld’s novel of the same name, the show engineers a unique take on World War I. Yet, it still ignites some concerns for parents.
Deryn Sharp uses the men’s bathroom, pretending to shave and dressing like a man. Alek, meanwhile, often whines and talks back to those who want to protect him.
Since, the show takes place during war, there are soldiers who are killed. There is no blood seen, but it’s obvious when a character gets shot. And this TV-14 series also includes some mild profanity as well—perhaps the biggest concern for families with younger viewers who might find this anime series premise and animation intriguing.
(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)
Austria-Hungary’s Prince Aleksandar is awakened for a surprise training session. For the first time, he is piloting a Stormwalker, one of the best war machines the Clankers have in their war against the Darwinists. But Alek soon realizes this is a not a routine training session, but a kidnapping. And he is the one being kidnapped … for his own protection!
In Great Britain, Deryn (now Dylan) Sharp is disguised as a man to join the British aviation forces. She’s charged with riding a Huxley, one of Charles Darwin’s genetically engineered beasts used to aid the British military. While she’s in flight a storm brews, and Sharp finds herself adrift in the sky without any way to steer the beast.
One character is knocked out by someone using (presumably) chloroform in a cloth placed over that character’s nose and mouth. Alek’s friend and mentor, Klopp, is injured. Soldiers are shot at and killed (though no blood is seen). One character hits head on a metal pole. Sharp sees a vision of her father while she’s flying.
The British profanity “bloody” is used once. The phrase “barkin’ spiders” is used twice. “Blisters” and “bloomin’” are both used as mild interjections.
Alek, Klopp, Count Vulger (Alek’s fencing instructor) and war-machine engineer Hoffman remain hidden from enemy soldiers. Soon, Alek’s identity is discovered in a nearby town. Now the small party must escape into the mountains and evade capture by the German army, which lays in wait near the Swiss border.
Sharp, now aboard the HMS Leviathan, flies with the crew to Paris. While in France, Sharp is tasked to escort genetic scientist Emma Nora Darwin Barlow onto the ship. The scientist has joined the British navy for a top-secret mission. But when they return to the sky, the Leviathan must face a formidable German airship: the SMS Kaiser. It is, in fact, the only German airship that could possibly face off against the mighty Leviathan.
The Leviathan releases genetically modified bats that drop metal spikes on enemy planes. We see a man fall from the Leviathan to his death. While being attacked, the Leviathan receives bloody scratches on his body. Alek’s war machine is attacked by the Germans’ own mechanized contraption: The Herkules. We hear a man scream and shot.
Count Vulger slaps Alek across the face. Alek, in turn, threatens to execute the count. Sharp gets into a punching match with a fellow aviator. One man breaks his arm.
“Bloody,” “d–n,” “b–tard,” “idiot,” and “imbecile,” are all used once each. We also hear the phrase, “barkin’ spiders” twice, along with the word “blisters.” God’s name is misused once.
Natalie Dean is Plugged In’s 2025 Summer Intern. A native from South Dakota, she recently graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in Journalism and in the fall will be pursuing a master’s at Liberty University. Growing up in the Black Hills, Natalie enjoys spending her time outside, whether that be riding bikes or kayaking with her sisters, walking the dogs or going on long hikes. Her love for movie soundtracks stems from her sister asking, “what movie is this from” and “name the movie scene.” She has a passion for writing and hopes to one day be a published author.
Max’s newest release, Task, takes audiences to task with a slow-burn storyline involving graphic violence, nudity and crude language.
It’s fun, but the show is guilty of lack of restraint in the second degree—a senseless crime if ever there was one.
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