HBO decided to hit the gas with TASK, and this last episode had me holding on for dear life. When the previous episode left off on such a precipice, I knew things were going to come to a head in a big way. Gravity, my friends. What comes up must absolutely come down, and they made sure the splash was a big one. Let’s dig into the latest episode and everything you might have missed!
I want to preface this by saying that the opening credit sequence did not occur until 20 minutes into the episode, after several lives had already been lost. They truly turned the heat all the way up on this one. To start, we see the gorgeous bridge banked by woods on each side. It’s absolutely gorgeous cinematography, but also an incredibly apt metaphor for our leading men. They are crossing a bridge; they may or may not be able to cross back over. Tom (Mark Ruffalo) was willing to make peace with his son when he thought Robbie (Tom Pelphrey) might kill him. But Robbie believes Tom is a good man, and to an extent, I think Tom believes that about Robbie, too. They’ve had their rough moments over the last year, and while Tom has wandered away from his faith, Robbie has his own faith in his own way. And it’s a beautiful thing to see this episode.
Tom and Robbie are at gunpoint with each other. We know the task force is making its way through the woods, as is the Dark Hearts. Everyone, let’s come meet by the river and try to kill each other! Jayson (Sam Keeley) can’t let the drugs go; he needs that score. He needs to settle things his way. Tom nearly dies, but Robbie grabs him, taking him to the cabin all the while ranting about the plan being screwed up. I’m going to be so honest with you right now, Robbie, what the fuck do you mean you have a plan? When, at any point, have you felt in control and in charge of this situation? But ok, I’ll wait and see what you’ve got cooking, I guess. Aleah (Thuso Mbedu) ends up in the woods with Kathleen (Martha Plimpton) while Grasso (Fabien Frankel) and Lizzie (Alison Oliver) end up together. Suddenly, Kathleen is shot in the shoulder, and Aleah has to leave her behind to get help. And Lizzie gets her ears mucked up, resulting in ringing, and given she’s already had fight or flight struggles, this cannot be good.
Continuing the mirrored style of this show, we see Perry (Jamie McShane) find Tom in the cabin and the two scrap. Meanwhile, Jayson and Robbie are having their own moment after Robbie throws the drugs in the river. The upper hand shifts constantly as we see these two pairs of men fighting for their lives. Tom leaves Perry in the cabin and heads out. Then we see Robbie finally get the upper hand on Jayson. And for a moment, you wonder if this is it. Could this whole thing finally be done? But Jayson has a trick up his sleeve, and it’s a knife. Tom arrives in time to drive Jayson off and tries to get Robbie to the hospital. Tom tries and tries so hard, but Robbie doesn’t make it. And in an act of faith, Tom gives Robbie silent last rites in the car. I was a wreck.
Meanwhile, Grasso dismisses a gang member only for him to cross Lizzie’s path. She’s found her courage again. She stands her ground and does well. But Grasso gives himself away… Running to give first aid to one of the fallen gang members is like throwing your ace on the table, Grasso. But Lizzie is so disoriented, she doesn’t even realize. She’s trying to make it back to the car to radio for help. Aleah needs medical help sent for the boss’s injury, plus Lizzie clearly needs a doctor. She’s doing what she can, but she can’t hear what the voice on the other end of the radio needs. And she can’t hear the car speeding her way. And she can’t hear Grasso and Aleah telling her to move. And then it’s too late. Jayson and Perry run her right over on their way to escape. I gasped so hard, you guys. It truly shook me to my core. And you have to wonder what this is going to do to Grasso. I mean, he deserves every ounce of pain from this all. But he really did start to care for her, and I hope he hasn’t lost all humanity already. Because he’s helped cause the death of the woman who just died in his arms. And here’s where the opening credits finally rolled. Are you kidding me? There have been many show openers that have floored me, but I think this one takes the cake.
Now that everything is settling, Lizzie’s ex will come collect her things, and an internal investigation is underway. It’s standard operating procedure when an agent is lost in the field, but something’s not quite right. Aleah is quite suspicious when she arrives at the Task House for her stuff, only to find a Bullseye patch from Lizzie. Ahhh, you made the most stone-cold agent on the team shed a tear, and it’s killing me. But she sees what is going on, and she’s curious.
Back at Tom’s place, Sara (Phoebe Fox) opens up to her dad about her marriage and what’s going on. The whole breakfast exchange was the fresh air this episode needed. Because we see a concerned dad wanting to make sure his kids are good. “When did she start smoking again?” “The night you were kidnapped.” Emily’s (Silvia Dionicio) facial expressions were priceless this episode. I just adore her. Her coworker comes to check on her after the vomit incident, and he’s so nerdy and adorable and awkward. But she smiles at him, and you can tell it’s been a minute since she’s let herself really smile. And then across the yard, Sara’s husband is leaving with her kid, and we get to see the sisters begin to reforge their bond. This whole time, we’ve seen a huge distance between them, and I had to wonder, were you ever close? Obviously, there’s an age gap, but it didn’t seem like Sara was so incredibly old when the kids came to live with them. Seeing the healing start happening after everything was heartwarming.
Then there’s Grasso, who is about to be in trouble on both ends. This isn’t the first time he’s come up under investigation. And last time, he kept his nose down and skated by without issue. I don’t think that’s gonna happen this time, bro. Your higher-up is pretty pissed. But Grasso is also taking it pretty damn hard. Because he actually liked Lizzie. And it’s quite possible, there could have been something there past just sex. They were both kind of jokes to their departments. But they saw something in each other. And now that’s gone. And it didn’t have to be. But Jayson killed her, and now Grasso’s life is about to get infinitely more complicated.
Next up is Tom giving Robbie’s niece Maeve (Emilia Jones) the bad news and I just cannot fathom how much heartbreak this girl has had to go through. We never see her mother. Dad was murdered. Aunt takes off and leaves the kids. Uncle dies. So now she’s got custody of her two cousins, and while she’s been doing a great job raising them, that is not a responsibility a 21-year-old should be saddled with. But everything she’s done has been to protect them, including ditching out after meeting Tom earlier in the season when she tried to drop Sam (Ben Lewis Doherty) off. In her conversation with Tom, we come to understand how they ended up at different parks during the sting. So we realize the Dark Hearts were tipped off. I don’t know how y’all are gonna just let her walk, and I don’t mean in regards to charges. I mean, how can you not put these kids in witness protection? Be so for real right now. You know a gang has eliminated her father and her uncle. What proof do you have that they wouldn’t come for her at this point? And this is where they lost me for a minute, because if I’m Tom, no way I’m not recommending WITSEC. But Maeve returns home to the kids, and it’s devastating.
However, Tom has other fish to fry, including meeting Sam. Ruffalo plays this scene so tremendously. He’s vulnerable and yet just trying to make the kid at ease. He engages Sam about the Lego he’s playing with and the chicken he built, after Gertie, of course. It’s no shock that Tom brings him home. Turns out he’s still a registered foster parent, and he wants to give Sam a better chance than being in what is essentially a kid prison. His daughters are a tad more concerned, but they can’t stop him, so why fight it? Tom has to work through his own shit, whatever that looks like. I’d rather it be taking in a kid than drinking to pass out every night. In actuality, he’s got even more on his plate.
“I’m coming for you, Grasso.” “So come.”
Kathleen (Martha Plimpton) confirms that Grasso is the leak and the whole point of the investigation. She encourages Tom to let everything run its course. Yeah, I’m not 100% clear on you, lady. I think you’re still sus and could be involved, so you’re not clear either until this is wrapped up. But Tom goes to meet Grasso, and the back and forth is so brilliant. The writing and acting were just top-notch. The verbal sparring while poking holes into each other was fantastic. Tom admits he hasn’t seen his son in over a year. And while Grasso doesn’t fully admit his involvement, he doesn’t deny it either. Game on, Grasso. If anyone can get you, I believe it’s Tom. With my whole heart. Plus, Aleah is ruthless. I hope she destroys you.
Lastly, we see Perry and Jayson in the woods still. They continue hiding out and combing the water for that black duffel bag. Jayson is suspicious that Eryn (Margarita Levieva) is still missing. When’s it gonna end up being trouble in paradise? We know Perry killed her, so it’s only a matter of time before that comes out. They’re hunting for that duffel bag, and wouldn’t you know it, they find it! Only, it doesn’t have drugs in it. Say it ain’t so! Robbie hoodwinked you? Excellent. Turns out Ray’s (Peter Patrikios) wife, Shelley (Mickey Sumner), wants out for good. Suddenly, Maeve’s doorbell rings. Well, ring a ding, ding! Robbie did have a plan, and if they could get away with it, his family could be set for a while. Robbie had faith his plan would work, even with Tom getting in the way. And even if he’s gone, he did well by his kids the best he could. But with one week left, there’s plenty more that could happen, and I, for one, cannot wait to see! Preferably, Grasso’s downfall, but we’ll have to wait and see.
