Get ready for a jaw-dropping twist that will leave you questioning everything—because the ending of Task Episode 5 is a masterclass in tension, and it’s about to flip the entire series on its head. After weeks of watching Robbie Prendergrast (Tom Pelphrey) and Tom Brandis (Mark Ruffalo) navigate their parallel paths, their explosive collision in Task Episode 5 “Vagrants” is nothing short of electrifying. But here’s where it gets controversial: is Robbie the hero or the villain? And is Brandis truly in control, or is he just another pawn in this high-stakes game? Spoiler alert—if you haven’t caught up on HBO Max, you might want to pause here.
The episode kicks off with a heart-pounding moment when FBI Agent Brandis shows up at the Prendergrast home, searching for Maeve (Emilia Jones) after her fingerprints are found on a crucial piece of evidence. But Maeve’s nowhere to be found—only her uncle Robbie, who wastes no time sizing up the danger. In a bold move, Robbie takes Brandis hostage, forcing him into a car for a tense, middle-of-nowhere drive. And this is the part most people miss: what unfolds isn’t just a hostage situation—it’s a raw, unfiltered conversation about life, love, and loss.
Tom Pelphrey describes this scene as “one of my favorite scenes I’ve ever gotten to play as an actor,” and it’s easy to see why. Series creator Brad Ingelsby crafted a dialogue that’s deceptively simple—on the surface, it’s casual chatter, but beneath lies a storm of unspoken emotions. “It’s like the conversation is happening up here,” Pelphrey explains, pointing to his head, “while everything else is down here,” gesturing to his heart. Director Jeremiah Zagar calls it “the core of cinema”—just two people, two close-ups, and raw humanity. No fancy camerawork, no distractions—just truth.
But here’s the kicker: the scene was shot in a real car on a real highway, with the actors relying on voice and fleeting eye contact in the rearview mirror. “It was like sitting around a campfire,” Zagar reflects, “where the light and the moment create a space for conversations you’d never otherwise have.”
Robbie eventually releases Brandis, but the tension doesn’t end there. The FBI agent and his task force are hot on Robbie’s trail, leading to a remote hunting lodge where Robbie awaits a rendezvous with the elusive Dark Hearts. The episode’s second face-off between Pelphrey and Ruffalo is a gut-wrenching climax. As Brandis yells Robbie’s name, gun drawn, Robbie pulls his own weapon, leaving viewers with a single, haunting question: Is Robbie about to pull the trigger?
But wait—there’s more. Just as you think you’ve got it all figured out, Task drops another bombshell: Anthony Grasso (Fabien Frankel) is revealed as a mole working for the Dark Hearts. Kathleen McGinty’s (Martha Plimpton) mysterious phone call? A red herring. Grasso’s betrayal runs deep, and his presence within the task force spells disaster.
So, what does this mean for the impending showdown? Nothing good. And here’s where we leave you with a thought: With Grasso’s betrayal exposed, who can Brandis—or Robbie—really trust?
Next week’s episode promises to pick up right where this one left off, seamlessly transitioning between directors Jeremiah Zagar and Salli Richardson-Whitfield. “It’s very intermingled,” Richardson-Whitfield explains, “but we worked closely to ensure the same vision.”
As the dust settles on Episode 5, one thing’s clear: Task isn’t just a show—it’s a rollercoaster of emotions, betrayals, and questions that demand answers. So, what do you think? Is Robbie a hero or a villain? And how deep does Grasso’s betrayal go? Let us know in the comments—because this is one conversation you won’t want to miss.
