Task episode 6 came with several massive story twists ahead of the HBO miniseries’ finale. This installment served as the climactic high point of the series so far, as it kicked off with the explosive showdown between Robbie, the Dark Hearts, and the FBI. Tragically, this resulted in two major deaths, significantly shifting the trajectory of Task‘s story going into the final episode.
Task episode 5 left off with a cliffhanger, as Tom aimed his gun at Robbie, demanding that he put down his own weapon. Robbie, who had the bag of Fentanyl in tow, was supposed to be meeting with a potential buyer. However, the Dark Hearts were there ready to take their drugs back and kill Robbie, unaware that the FBI was there too.
As the firefight broke out in Task episode 6, Robbie tossed his duffel bag into the river and faced off with Jayson. All the while, Tom, Aleah, Grasso, and Lizzie fought their way through the other Dark Hearts. The massive showdown ended, tragically, with Robbie and Lizzie’s deaths, but that was only the beginning of Task episode 6. The rest of this installment came with even more surprises.
Tom & Aleah Are Planning To Expose Grasso’s Dark Hearts Informing
Task started as a cat-and-mouse game between Tom Brandis and Robbie Predergrast. This made it all the more shocking that Robbie was killed before the show’s finale episode. Now, the focus has shifted. Rather than Robbie or even the Dark Hearts, it’s now Anthony Grasso who will be Tom’s target.
Tom knows that Grasso is the one passing information on to the Dark Hearts. Unfortunately, the evidence of this came in only after Lizzie was killed. This tragedy has him determined to take Grasso down, and he told him as much during their confrontation in Task episode 6. At the end of the episode, Tom looped Aleah into the situation, and their combined focus has shifted to proving Grasso’s crime.
Precisely how Tom and Aleah will manage this, however, is unclear. They are technically on leave from the FBI, given the investigation into all the members of the task force, so their resources will be limited. There’s also a lot that Tom and Aleah do not know about just how deep Grasso’s crimes go.
Lizzie & Robbie Both Die In Task Episode 6
The greatest shock of Task episode 6 was the death of two major characters. As one of the two primary characters of this HBO series, it’s surprising that Robbie didn’t make it to the finale. However, his death will have a significant impact on the coming episode. Tom had really tried to save Robbie’s life, and the fact that he failed will only add fuel to his determination to take Grasso down.
Lizzie’s death was even more tragic. At least in Robbie’s case, he placed himself in a deadly situation. Lizzie might have known that her job on Tom’s task force came with mortal risk, but she had no idea that her teammate was passing on information to the Dark Hearts. Lizzie did her best and even fought against her impulse to freeze up under pressure. Still, she didn’t survive Task episode 6.
Robbie’s Real Plan With The Money Is Revealed
The big reveal of Task episode 6’s ending is that Robbie’s final plan wasn’t what it had appeared. We thought that this character had ignored the many warnings about trying to sell the Fentanyl himself. He was told that the Dark Hearts would be on his tail, but it appeared that he was pushing through regardless. However, Robbie was actually a step ahead of his killers.
Robbie had allowed the drugs to be sold elsewhere while he set up a meeting with a different buyer to distract the Dark Hearts.
Before his big showdown with Jayson, Robbie threw the bag of what everyone thought was drugs into the river. When Perry and Jayson fished it out, they found that it was instead full of booklets and magazines. Next, we see Shelley deliver a bag full of money to Maeve in Task episode 6’s ending. Robbie had allowed the drugs to be sold elsewhere while he set up a meeting with a different buyer to distract the Dark Hearts.
Everyone expected Robbie to act rashly, but he had, in truth, developed a concrete plan. He had it all set up so that, even if he were killed by Jayson and the Dark Hearts, Maeve and his children would have everything they needed.
Tom Brings Home Sam As His New Foster Son
Mark Ruffalo in Task on HBO.Image via HBO
Previously in Task, Maeve brought Sam to the police and turned him over. Unfortunately, there was really nowhere for the boy to be placed. When Tom went to talk to Sam, he found that he was being kept in an institution for troubled youth, which had been partially converted into a foster home. It was a cold, loveless place, and Tom couldn’t stand to leave Sam there.
Tom and his wife had been foster parents themselves, and they were still technically licensed. This meant that Sam was legally allowed to come stay at the Brandis home. Of course, this situation is still far from ideal. Tom and his daughters are going through a tumultuous time themselves as they await Ethan’s sentencing trial. Regardless, it’s a better place for little Sam than his previous situation.
Jayson Still Doesn’t Know That Perry Killed Eryn
Jayson hugging Eryn from behind in Task
As of the end of Task episode 6, Jayson and Perry are still working together to find the drugs that Robbie stole. However, this friendship is unlikely to last long. Jayson is already afraid that something terrible has happened to Eryn. He knows she wouldn’t run off and leave their kids behind. It’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out.
Perry hadn’t wanted to kill Eryn. It’s evident in Task that he feels genuine love for Jayson and his family. However, after discovering that Eryn was passing information about the Dark Hearts to Robbie, Perry confronted her. Eryn tried to make an escape, and Perry took impulsive action to stop her from screaming out for help. We don’t see in Task what he did with her body.
It’s unlikely that Jayson will simply walk away from Perry if he finds out the truth in Task‘s final episode. Said and done, these two characters could be one another’s undoing.
Tom Ensures Maeve Isn’t Charged For Her Part In Robbie’s Crimes
Maeve wasn’t entirely blameless in Robbie’s crimes. She was certainly placed in a difficult situation that she hadn’t asked for, but the FBI could have easily placed charges against her. However, Tom, who had already felt compassion for Robbie, recognized that Maeve genuinely tried to do the right thing around every corner. She was just young and scared.
Thanks to Tom, Maeve was able to return home to care for Robbie’s two children. However, she may be on some thin ice, and suddenly having possession of a big bag of drug money may not wholly help her situation. Task‘s final episode will have to explore how Maeve continues to handle Robbie’s actions.
Grasso & Chief Dorsey’s History With The Dark Hearts Is Revealed
It was previously revealed in Task that Grasso was the Dark Hearts’ informant. Task episode 6 saw this character face the consequences of what he had done. This was followed by the revelation that Grasso was working as an informant alongside his boss, Chief Dorsey. Although there are still further details to learn, we discover in this episode that Grasso and Dorsey have been doing this for quite some time.
It looks as if Dorsey was the one who pulled Grasso into this crime. The chief had likely been on the Dark Hearts’ payroll for years, and he managed to get Grasso in on the operation later on. There’s no doubt in Task episode 6 that Grasso is having some regrets. However, Dorsey isn’t particularly sympathetic to his subordinate’s breakdown.
How Task Episode 6 Sets Up the Series Finale
Mark Ruffalo in HBO’s Task
Task has a lot to wrap up in its final episode. Everyone will still be reeling from Robbie and Lizzie’s deaths, all the while Perry and Jayson reach peak desperation regarding the drugs they lost. It’s likely that the Dark Hearts will turn on them as well, and that will only get more complicated as Jayson discovers the truth about Eryn.
The real showdown of Task will be between Tom and Grasso. However, as has been the theme of this crime thriller, both these characters will have to deal with their own personal traumas as they contend with one another. Tom still has to accept his feelings about his son, Ethan, while Grasso must determine how he will handle his guilt over Lizzie’s death.
While there will undoubtedly be more crime-thriller action in Task‘s finale, the big reveals of episode 6 imply that the story will be more centered on the emotional impact. If we thought this installment was devastating, it will surely be nothing compared to the HBO series’ final resolution.
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