Warning: This post contains spoilers for Episode 6.
The sixth and second-to-last episode of Task opens with the deaths of both PSP Lizzie Stover () and Robbie Prendergrast (Tom Pelphrey) within its first 20 minutes. Robbie succumbed to stab wounds inflicted by his Dark Hearts rival, Jayson (Sam Keeley), bleeding to death in the car while Tom () desperately tried to get him to a hospital. Concurrently, Lizzie, her hearing impaired by a nearby gunshot, was fatally struck by Jayson and Perry (Jamie McShane) as they fled the scene, a departure facilitated by County Detective-turned-Dark Hearts informant Anthony Grasso () who allowed them to go free.
This somber start to the episode set a tone of escalating tension for the remainder of the installment.
In the aftermath of the Bushkill shootout, the FBI initiated an investigation into the task force, probing for an internal source providing intelligence to the Dark Hearts. As viewers are aware, this individual was Grasso, whose role as an informant was inherited from County Chief Michael Dorsey (Raphael Sbarge). Lizzie’s demise seemingly plunged Grasso into remorse, though Dorsey commanded him to maintain composure to ensure their collective escape from repercussions.
Concurrently, Maeve (Emilia Jones) faced detention and questioning regarding her involvement in Sam’s (Ben Lewis Doherty) kidnapping, despite being the one who surrendered him to law enforcement. Following Maeve’s explanation for her delay in reporting Sam, the district attorney expressed intent to press charges. However, Tom successfully argued that securing a conviction would be difficult, and furthermore, prosecuting her would orphan the two children now solely under her care. Maeve was subsequently released and reunited with Harper (Kennedy Moyer) and Wyatt (Oliver Eisenson), allowing Tom to honor his implicit pledge to Robbie to support Maeve, given her minimal involvement in the Sam situation or, indeed, any related issues.
Maeve also informed Tom that Robbie and Cliff (Raúl Castillo) believed the operation was planned for a different park than where the FBI sting was scheduled. With Kathleen’s (Martha Plimpton) disclosure of a prior complaint against Grasso concerning similar dealings with the Dark Hearts, Tom connected the dots and accused Grasso of being the mole. While failing to elicit a full confession, Tom departed with a stark warning: “I’m coming for you.”
Regarding Tom’s domestic situation, complexities continue to mount. Following a visit to Sam at a juvenile detention center—where he was placed due to the closure of local temporary housing after funding cuts—Tom leveraged his status as a registered foster parent to welcome Sam into his own home. This decision visibly surprised Tom’s daughters, Emily (Silvia Dionicio) and Sara (Phoebe Fox). Sara noted the inopportune timing for bringing a vulnerable child into their already turbulent lives.
Should the preceding events not have provided sufficient drama, Task Episode 6 concluded with an additional shock: an ending montage revealed Jayson and Perry finding the bag Robbie tossed into the river contained only real estate pamphlets, precisely as Shelley (Mickey Sumner)—Ray’s (Peter Patrikios), Robbie and Cliff’s underworld associate, former partner and escaped victim—arrived at Maeve’s home with the actual cash. It became apparent that Robbie had placed his trust in Shelley’s Episode 5 assurance of being a “good person,” deliberately misdirecting the Dark Hearts to secure a better future for Maeve and his children. Regrettably, it is highly probable that Jayson and Perry will suspect Maeve now possesses the funds, setting the stage for another confrontation between the Prendergrasts and the Dark Hearts in the finale. The question remains: will Maeve seek retribution for her father and uncle?
Additional unresolved questions lingering before the conclusion of Task include: What will Jayson’s reaction be if/when he learns Perry murdered Eryn? Will Grasso face consequences for his actions? Is Sam’s relocation with the Brandis family intended to be permanent? And finally, what outcome awaits Tom’s son Ethan at his highly anticipated sentencing hearing?
While numerous plotlines require resolution, creator Brad Ingelsby’s past work on the finale suggests he is fully capable of the challenge.
