Task Recap: Belief Versus Proof

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I’ve noticed a trend lately where shows feel the need to wrap things up with an extra episode, like they’ve built some grand world that demands an epilogue. This show definitely falls into that trap. We’ve already had the big conflicts, and this episode is all about the aftermath, but it’s strangely paced – really front-loaded with action. We finally get a thrilling shootout between the FBI, a biker gang, and a key character, and honestly, it *is* exciting. The problem is, we spent so long waiting for things to blow up that the impact isn’t quite as strong as it could be. There are losses, sure, but they didn’t hit me as hard as something like *Mare of Easttown* did. Maybe the show should have been marketed differently. It’s hard not to compare, even though I appreciate that *Task* is attempting something unique. Ultimately, this show has sent out so many mixed signals that it’s tough to stay fully invested.

The action resumes immediately with Robbie cornered and Tom urging him to give up. Jayson initiates a gunfight, leading to a spectacular and visually impressive battle in the woods – a chaotic chase through valleys, streams, and tangled roots. Robbie manages to kill one of the Dark Hearts, but Kathleen, Tom’s supervisor, is wounded. Aleah lives up to her nickname, “Bullseye,” proving to be a skilled sharpshooter. Eventually, Robbie and Jayson come face-to-face. During the struggle, Robbie throws the drugs into the river, seemingly relieved to be rid of them. He furiously shouts at Jayson while nearly strangling him, only stopping when he realizes he’s been stabbed. Tom intervenes, trying to get Robbie to a hospital, but Robbie tragically dies before they can reach it. It’s a powerful and well-acted death scene, thanks to Tom Pelphrey’s performance, but it feels strange to remove such a strong actor so close to the show’s conclusion, seemingly to change the central conflict.

Grasso attempts to protect Lizzie by leveraging his position as an informant, but his plan goes horribly wrong when a stray bullet causes her to lose her hearing. Thinking someone is about to attack, Lizzie shoots one of Grasso’s associates and then flees to the bridge to call for help. Grasso follows, desperately trying to appear loyal to both the FBI and the Dark Hearts gang. Tragically, as the gang tries to escape the approaching task force, they accidentally run Lizzie over, and she dies in the arms of her new boyfriend. It’s a shocking end for the clever but flawed detective, brought to life by Alison Oliver’s excellent comedic timing. The show’s title appears on screen with atmospheric music and flashing police lights.

Honestly, after a strong start, this episode felt a little lost. Everyone’s just reeling and trying to figure things out, and the story didn’t quite keep its pace. Even when scenes worked, something felt…off, like that special spark was missing. Two characters died, which *should* have been huge moments, but they didn’t quite land for me. Kathleen survived her shooting and revealed she suspected Grasso was the mole, which was interesting. We saw Emily and Sara really connecting, offering each other support, and Tom stepping up to take in Sam after seeing how poorly he was being cared for. Grasso is clearly eaten up with guilt over Lizzie’s death, and Maeve is just doing her best to care for Robbie’s kids. True to form, Tom followed through on his promise to Robbie and got Maeve released. The interrogation scene was intense – Tom started piecing together how the task force was compromised. He confronted Grasso, and they had another of those heavy, philosophical talks. Grasso, that slippery character, didn’t confess anything, just hinted at his involvement. He said something about the difference between belief and proof, and I’m guessing he’ll keep playing this game for a while. There’s a good energy between Fabien Frankel and the other actors, but Grasso doesn’t quite feel as fully developed as Robbie was. On a brighter note, Aleah is finally getting more screen time, and it looks like she and Tom might team up to track down the remaining Dark Hearts members.

Just when you think things are settling down, Jayson and Perry attempt to get the fentanyl, but instead find a large collection of Canadian magazines. Meanwhile, Maeve answers a knock at the door to find Ray’s wife, Shelley, delivering a bag she’d promised to Robbie. It seems likely this bag contains the missing drugs, leaving us on a major cliffhanger.

Loosies

Throughout the season, we’ve seen Robbie swimming, and those scenes come together beautifully in a final flashback. It’s a touching moment, showing us his one place of true happiness: the clear blue water.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Emily and Sara – it felt genuine and heartwarming to see them support each other and work through their issues. The show excels at portraying complicated family relationships, and I wish we’d seen more of that explored. Even smaller moments, like Emily’s date with a coworker, felt realistic and well-developed.

Sara said she needed a cigarette before discussing something difficult. Tom was surprised to hear she’d started smoking again, and Emily explained that Sara had resumed smoking after Tom was kidnapped.

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2025-10-13 06:00