HBO’s 95% RT Crime Drama Left Fans Hanging With 2025’s Biggest Cliffhanger

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The HBO limited series, currently five episodes in, ended its latest installment with a major cliffhanger. While created by the same writer, Brad Ingelsby, as the popular *Mare of Easttown*, this new show starring Mark Ruffalo hasn’t resonated with audiences quite as strongly. It currently has a 63% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, but critics are much more positive, giving it a 95% rating based on 66 reviews.

In the fifth episode of *Task*, titled “Vagrants,” FBI agent Tom Brandis finally comes face-to-face with Robbie Prendergrast, the man responsible for the recent home invasions and kidnapping. As the show nears its end with only two episodes remaining, the tension is at an all-time high. The next episode will reveal whether a confrontation between Tom and Robbie turned violent. With everything still up in the air – not just the chase for Robbie, but also the personal stories of the families involved – anything could happen.

Tom and Robbie Finally Meet in Task Episode 5

The new HBO series premiered on September 7, 2025, and tells the story of Tom Brandis, a former Catholic priest who now works as an FBI special agent. Actor Mark Ruffalo plays Tom, who is dealing with a recent family tragedy. The first five episodes reveal that Tom and his wife adopted two children, Emily and Ethan. Sadly, Ethan struggled with severe mental health problems, and his struggles ultimately led to the accidental death of his mother.

The fallout from this event deeply fractured the family, creating distance between Emily and Tom, as well as Tom’s daughter, Sara. While dealing with personal grief and alcoholism, the FBI agent is unexpectedly assigned to lead a task force investigating a series of violent robberies. The first episode focuses on shutting down the criminals’ base of operations, and the series as a whole examines the repercussions for both the agent and the robber.

As a huge fan of *Task*, I was really hooked by Episode 3, “Nobody’s Stronger Than Forgiveness.” It became obvious someone inside the FBI was deliberately sabotaging the investigation, and things just kept getting worse. The latest episode revealed that Tom’s boss, Kathleen (played brilliantly by Martha Plimpton), intentionally put him on the case because the crimes were connected to the Dark Hearts – she was clearly trying to protect them. Honestly, I thought the task force was really gaining momentum in Episode 4, “All Roads,” and could have cracked the case. But their sting operation was undermined by the mole, and it wasn’t until Episode 5, “Vagrants,” that we found out there was *another* leak! Turns out, Anthony (Fabien Frankel) was the one helping the Dark Hearts intercept that crucial car before the FBI could get to it. It’s a total game changer!

As a true crime buff, I was really hooked by the layers unfolding in this series. It’s not just about robberies; it’s deeply personal. Initially, Robbie, played by Tom Pelphrey, seemed like a guy just taking advantage of what he saw as a garbage collector, hitting these drug houses when they were flush with cash. But it quickly becomes clear there’s a lot more going on. These weren’t random targets; they were connected to a family tragedy. The show slowly reveals how Robbie and his family are tied to this criminal organization, the Dark Hearts. It turns out Robbie’s robberies are actually revenge for his brother’s murder. And get this – he and his friend Cliff, played by Raúl Castillo, had inside help! Eryn, played by Margarita Levieva, was a mole, and she had a complicated connection to the whole thing – she’d been having an affair with Robbie’s brother, which ultimately led to his death. It’s a really tangled web, and it makes the robberies so much more than just crimes for money.

After a disastrous robbery results in deaths during the first episode, Robbie unexpectedly brings Sam, the son of a deceased drug dealer, back to his house. This complicates things for everyone involved – Robbie, the police task force, and especially Robbie’s niece, Maeve. Maeve, played by Emilia Jones, is already responsible for looking after Robbie’s children, and as her uncle proves increasingly unable to handle the situation he’s created, she’s forced to take on even more responsibility. By episode five, Robbie is broke, his friend Cliff is dead, and he fears he may never see his family again. Simultaneously, Tom, distrustful of his colleagues on the task force, decides to investigate a lead on Robbie alone. This leads to a first, desperate meeting between Robbie and Tom, both determined to end their dangerous game of pursuit.

Tom visits Robbie’s house, suspecting a link between a motorcycle gang, the late Billy (Maeve’s father), and Maeve herself. While waiting for a drawing of the person who kidnapped Sam, he sees Robbie leaving and cleverly delays him, already suspicious. Tom soon confirms Robbie is the criminal he’s been searching for, but the situation escalates when Robbie pulls a gun on him. Despite the tense standoff, the episode doesn’t offer a clear resolution. Robbie unexpectedly lets Tom go in the woods, only for Tom to quickly circle back and ambush him. The episode concludes with both men facing each other, guns drawn.

“Vagabond” Reveals Anthony Is the Mole in the Task Force

The biggest surprise in Episode 5, “Vagrants,” is the discovery that Anthony Grasso is secretly working against the FBI. He’s been providing information to Jayson, the Dark Hearts member responsible for Billy’s death (Billy was Robbie’s brother). It’s currently unclear how deeply involved Anthony is with the gang. He’s become an FBI specialist on this specific group, suggesting he may have been a mole for quite some time. The last two episodes of *Task* will likely reveal more about this shocking secret. When – or if – the truth is revealed, it will undoubtedly have a significant effect on Lizzie, played by Alison Oliver, as she and Anthony are developing a close relationship.

A surprising turn of events revealed that Perry accidentally killed Eryn while trying to confront her. He suspected she was the mole within the Dark Hearts organization, but didn’t mean to harm her, especially considering her marriage to his close friend, Jayson. Now that both Cliff and Eryn are dead, it seems likely Robbie is also in danger, as anyone who opposes the Dark Hearts has met a similar fate.

The biggest surprise, however, is how the story ends – with everything hanging in the balance. Robbie isn’t just facing consequences for his actions; Maeve is now also in trouble, as evidence links her to the crime. If both Robbie and Maeve are arrested, their children could end up in foster care. Meanwhile, Tom is dealing with his son Ethan’s upcoming trial. The whole family is incredibly stressed, and tensions are about to reach a breaking point. Adding to his worries, Tom still doesn’t know who is secretly working against him, and both Anthony and Kathleen are keeping a close eye on his every move.

Tom and Robbie’s initial encounter was complicated, and while they both recognize each other’s human side, viewers see their perspectives even more clearly. A surprising development could be the two of them joining forces to expose the corrupt connection between the FBI and the Dark Hearts. Despite ending the last episode as enemies, and the possibility of Robbie escaping capture, he might be arrested in the next episode. Tom could potentially make a deal with Robbie, using the information he provides to uncover who is leaking information about Anthony.

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2025-10-12 20:08