The latest episode of Task kicks off with a thrilling 18-minute sequence that feels like a relentless game of cat-and-mouse, with multiple players in pursuit. Crafted by creator Brad Ingelsby and brought to life by director Salli Richardson Whitfield, the episode navigates a dozen armed characters through thick woods and deserted cabins. As they engage in a tense chase, they confront each other in brutal hand-to-hand combat, gunfights, and vehicular pursuits. Sadly, two beloved characters don’t make it, but the intensity of the sequence is unmatched.

The episode picks up right where the last one ended, unfolding the chaotic aftermath when Tom, Robbie, and Tom’s team, which harbors double agents Grasso and McGinty, meet with Dark Hearts leaders Perry and Jayson and their crew in the forest. Tom and Perry clash in a fierce hand-to-hand battle. Aleah showcases her sharpshooting skills, taking down multiple bikers to protect Kath, who is injured. Lizzie also manages to take out a biker before Grasso’s gunshot leaves her temporarily deafened. While seeking help, Lizzie is tragically struck by Perry and Jayson as they flee, aided by Grasso. Meanwhile, Jayson stabs Robbie, and despite Tom’s efforts, Robbie doesn’t make it to the hospital in time.

Following the chaos, the narrative shifts to the aftermath. Jayson and Perry hide out at a safehouse, focused on retrieving the fentanyl Tom discarded into the river. However, tension rises as Jayson is distracted by the mysterious disappearance of his partner, Eryn, whom Perry secretly eliminated. The situation is bound to escalate when they discover the drugs are missing.

The fentanyl has already been sold, thanks to a plan hatched by Robbie and his contact, Shelley. After Robbie’s niece, Maeve, is questioned and released by the authorities, Shelley visits her, delivering a backpack filled with cash left by Robbie as his share of the sale. It seems even in the world of crime, some loyalty remains.

Meanwhile, young Sam, whom Maeve has been caring for, ends up with Tom. Still a registered foster parent, Tom opts to bring Sam home rather than leave him in an underfunded system. This decision surprises his daughters, Sarah and Emily, who are each experiencing personal growth. Sarah finally opens up about her marriage ending, and Emily decides to go on a date.

Everyone who cared about Robbie mourns him. Everyone who cared about Lizzie mourns her — even, or especially, Grasso, who basically got her killed with his double-agent bullshit but also cared about her and felt her lifeless body in his arms, a feeling he tells his equally crooked police captain he can’t shake.

He’d better. Tom comes knocking, after learning from Kath that Grasso has been involved with the Dark Hearts in the past, which she says the Bureau missed because no charges were filed. (More likely, she, a Dark Hearts asset herself, put him on the case for that exact reason.) After a brief discussion of Catholic confession, Tom warns Grasso he’s coming for him now, and he’ll be doing it with Aleah’s help.

Even after hell stops breaking loose, this episode moves along at a swift and sure pace, never really letting up on the suspense. Who is that ringing Maeve’s doorbell? What is Perry gonna do with the knife he’s using to gut that fish? What will Grasso do when he learns Tom knows he’s a rat? When will Jayson figure out his mentor killed his girlfriend? All of these questions carry life or death stakes that could be settled at a moment’s notice. 

On top of that is the terrible pathos of it all. Think of how many lives were shattered by those 18 minutes: Robbie’s kids, Maeve, Sam, Lizzie’s hated ex-husband, Aleah, Tom, even Grasso will never be the shame. And all those bikers had friends and families, too — isn’t that how all this started, because Robbie and his buddies got into a shootout at a safehouse and discovered they’d killed the biker parents of an adorable kid?

Every bullet fired, every child taken, every person shoved into the gaping maw of the system — the damage doesn’t start and stop with those victims alone. It spiders out in all directions, taking on consequences no one can predict, but anyone with a working soul can foresee.

Sean T. Collins (@seantcollins.com on Bluesky and theseantcollins on Patreon) has written about television for The New York Times, Vulture, Rolling Stone, and elsewhere. He is the author of Pain Don’t Hurt: Meditations on Road House. He lives with his family on Long Island.