Warning! Spoilers for Task episode 5 ahead!
Task episode 5 finally reached the moment we've all been waiting for, and it did not disappoint. The HBO series, created by Brad Ingelsby, has, so far, revolved around the cat-and-mouse game between Tom Brandis (Mark Ruffalo) and Robbie Prendergast (Tom Pelphrey). For four episodes, Robbie managed to stay out of Tom's reach, but Task episode 5 finally brought them together.
We knew after the ending of Task episode 4 that both the FBI and the Dark Hearts were close to discovering that Robbie was behind the home invasions and Sam's abduction. Episode 5 followed up on this as both Perry (Jamie McShane) and Tom began to close in. Ruffalo's character got there first, and, very quickly, Task's cat-and-mouse game took a major turn.
Task Episode 5 Made All The Buildup To Tom & Robbie Finally Meeting Worth It
The second half of Task episode 5 was devoted to Tom and Robbie's first meeting. It began with Tom feigning incompetence to put Robbie at ease, though the latter man wasn't fooled. Next thing we know, Robbie has a gun to Tom's head and takes him captive. The cat-and-mouse dynamic takes a shift, and the pair end up on a road trip together.
Task could have paid off the built-up tension of the previous episodes with a big firefight or car chase in episode 5. However, Ingelsby instead chose to make Tom and Robbie's first interactions carefully subdued. There's a clear strain between these characters, but it's ultimately expressed through their conversation, which emphasizes Task's themes of family, desperation, and tragedy.
Why Robbie Chose Not To Kill Tom (& Vice Versa) In Task Episode 5
The tension of Task episode 5 came down to the question of whether Robbie or Tom would harm one another. It truly seemed for a moment that Robbie would pull the trigger out in the isolation of the forest. However, he instead gave Tom directions to safety.
It's made clear throughout this HBO series that Robbie isn't a violent person. He's broken, but has no desire to hurt anyone. By Task episode 5, Robbie is pretty desperate. However, he recognizes that Tom doesn't deserve to die. He may even see that, on some level, Tom genuinely cares about what happens to Robbie. Unfortunately, we've already seen that this compassion will make it difficult for Robbie to survive.
Tom may have been spared by Robbie, but he still has a job to do. Task episode 5 ends with a cliffhanger, as Tom successfully tracks Robbie down (again) just before the latter man's meeting with the Dark Hearts. It's evident in this moment that Robbie recognizes his mercy has come back to bite him. What he may not realize, however, is that Tom is now Robbie's best chance of survival.
Will Tom Still Be Able To Save Robbie In Task Episode 6?
Jamie McShane and Sam Keeley in Task on HBO.
Ingelsby has really proven himself to be the master of tension. If Tom and Robbie holding guns on one another wasn't enough, the approaching Dark Hearts have made the whole situation that much more stressful. It's evident that Robbie is angry that Tom got the better of him, even after his mercy. He may fire his weapon, but such an action would absolutely doom him.
If Robbie kills Tom, he would be sent to prison for life. However, what is even more likely (and worse) is that the Dark Hearts would immediately get their hands on him. Tom is Robbie's best chance of avoiding Billy's and Cliff's fates. Still, it's also possible that a member of Tom's team, likely Grasso, will see Robbie with his gun raised and take deadly action.
Robbie's only chance of survival is Tom. Tom's frequent reminders in Task episode 5 that Robbie can go home are a sign that he recognizes this. Perhaps, come episode 6, Tom can make a miracle happen. All we can do is wait and find out.
