Task Series-Finale Recap: Forgiveness

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Creating truly memorable TV isn’t about following a set formula; it happens organically. The show *Task* aimed to compare two fathers – very different men – and their journeys toward making amends, whether by overcoming addiction or building a better life for their children. At its strongest, the show delved into the complex lives of the women who dealt with the consequences of these men’s mistakes, while also skillfully examining themes of masculinity, class, and gender. These insightful moments are less prominent in the final episode, but when they appear, the writing is excellent. The episode also features good pacing, plot development, and overall messaging. Animals remain a recurring symbol, though their connection to the larger story isn’t always clear. A particularly poignant scene involves Emily, Sara, and Sam putting up posters while discussing the sadness of animals in zoos – it’s during this moment that Sara finally seems to forgive Ethan for a past tragedy, recalling a time he searched for a lost dog. These emotionally powerful scenes are a hallmark of writer Brad Inglesby’s work. Watching Sam navigate yet another unstable home life, especially given the complexities of adoption, is captivating. And Emily’s willingness to listen to Sara share a story about her brother creates an even more compelling dynamic.

The Dark Hearts are falling apart, with disagreements about what to do next – should they try to recover the stolen money, or simply disappear? Maeve is trying to maintain a sense of normalcy for her uncle’s children. Emilia Jones delivers a compelling performance as a woman shocked to discover she’s about to receive a large sum of stolen money. Meanwhile, Tom steps in to care for Sam, an orphaned boy, preventing him from entering the foster care system. A heartwarming moment is watching Tom teach Sam how to garden.

Grasso is living in fear, knowing his cover as an informant is about to be blown. With Tom suspecting him, he believes his arrest is inevitable. In a desperate move, he confesses everything to his sister, seemingly burdened by the harm he’s caused, including the death of his former lover, Lizzie. Meanwhile, Aleah and Tom continue their investigation, and the FBI makes a grim discovery: Eryn’s body. This news shatters the Dark Hearts, causing the gang to splinter into numerous, conflicting factions – some want revenge on Grasso, others on Jay and Perry, while still others are only interested in the missing money. They quickly deduce that Robbie must have already sold the drugs and taken the cash – a fact the audience already knows, as Maeve currently possesses it. When Jayson discovers Perry killed his lover, he attacks Perry and flees the scene.

The latter part of the episode is filled with action. Aleah and Tom go to confront Grasso, but find him already in trouble – the Dark Hearts are trying to kill him to cover their tracks. He barely escapes and realizes they’re now targeting Maeve to get their money back. With his last bit of energy, he races to warn her, but arrives too late. Jayson shows up with a gun, forcing Maeve to retrieve the money from the hen house. Aleah and Tom arrive soon after, carefully trying to gain an advantage in a dramatic and intense shootout. Inside the hen house, Maeve struggles with Jayson, nearly strangling him while trying to escape, but only manages to alert her uncle’s children. Thankfully, one of the children reaches Grasso and tells him Maeve is in danger. He still sees Grasso as a good man, and he is – Grasso ultimately shoots and kills Jayson, saving Maeve, even while seriously injured. Tom finds Maeve’s bag of money but leaves it untouched, deciding it’s not his place to interfere – he’s a priest, and believes in letting things be. He clearly has a kind heart and even visits Grasso in the hospital, telling him he won’t demand repentance. He believes people are already hard enough on themselves. The episode emphasizes that hope, like forgiveness, is delicate and something you must give yourself.

The episode’s final scenes focus on Tom, Ethan, and Emily, and how their relationships reflect each other. Tom delivers a powerful speech at a court hearing for his adopted son, honestly confronting his own shortcomings as a father. We learn Ethan killed his mother due to a lack of medication during the pandemic, stemming from his struggle with schizophrenia. Tom asks Ethan to look at him, and after some hesitation, Ethan does. Tom tells his son he loves and forgives him. He has a similar, difficult conversation with Emily, who finally confronts him about his drinking. While emotionally impactful, these scenes are challenging because we haven’t spent much time getting to know these characters. The episode ends with Tom expressing his readiness to welcome Ethan home whenever he’s ready, leaving the outcome of the hearing unknown and offering a bittersweet, hopeful conclusion.

Tom mentors Sam in gardening and displays an old Phillies cup—a reminder of his past—on his porch. He realizes it’s time for Sam to move on when Sam’s family comes to take him home. Tom strives to love selflessly, like his late wife, Emily. The show mirrors an earlier scene where Tom and Emily greeted their own children, Ethan and Emily, as they say goodbye to Sam. The final scene shows Tom looking at his garden, seemingly reflecting on themes of forgiveness and second chances. This focus on complex family dynamics and moral struggles is common in acclaimed HBO dramas like *The Sopranos* and *Succession*, and in shows like *Industry*, which explores ambition versus human weakness. Similarly, crime dramas such as *Vera* and *Prime Suspect* have often highlighted the challenges faced by women prioritizing their careers. At its heart, a good mystery needs both darkness and compassion. While *Task* didn’t always fully live up to its potential, it was a worthwhile show that deserves recognition and will likely appear on many “best of the year” lists. Like the flawed families at the show’s center, it wasn’t perfect, but it was ultimately satisfying.

Summary Judgement Appendix

Emilia Jones truly stood out as the highlight of this show. Her performance in the scene where she frantically searches for her car keys – rummaging through drawers – was especially captivating.

Sara mentioned she hadn’t had Dairy Queen in a long time. Kathleen then asked Sara to do something they weren’t allowed to do, and expected Sara to agree anyway.

• The credits set to various bird sightings is a nice touch.

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2025-10-20 04:55