Task: HBO's Gritty Crime Show Keeps Audiences Guessing Who to Trust

HBO has a way with crime dramas, and its 2025 entry, Task, surely continues that run. This series, from Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby, sets up a chilling tale right from the start. It gives viewers a world where danger hides in plain sight, with FBI agent Tom Brandis hunting a pair of thieves who have stirred up a hornet's nest. A biker gang named the Dark Hearts stands in the middle of it all, making things even more complex. If you thought you had a handle on things, Episode 4 just ripped that idea away with a brutal turn that left many speechless.

There's no avoiding comparisons to Mare of Easttown. That show had a clear message and delivered it with raw power. Task, however, takes a different path. It introduces many characters and plots, pulling viewers in many directions. This can be a lot to take in. Sometimes, it feels like the show doesn't spend enough time with any one person. This show isn't the same sensation that Ingelsby's previous series became. It attempts a delicate character balancing act, but this doesn't always work out. Yet, it still brings some solid moments, perfect for a cozy fall evening watch.

The Unsettling Premise: Paranoia and Small-Town Troubles at the Forefront

The show immediately places you in a state of unease. Episode 4 opens with Tom hearing voice-overs from the previous episode: "Suspect everyone." It's a clear signal. This show explores how paranoia can turn people into dangers within their communities, especially when everyone wants to escape small-town boredom. Folks are searching for their real enemy. The Dark Hearts seek the source of their problems. Robbie and Cliff need to get their family to Canada safely. The police just want to find Sam. They have already accused Cliff, but this accusation doesn't help them much in the end.

The Dark Hearts' mysterious leader, Perry, wants to uncover what's happening inside his gang. The members want Jayson out, and Perry needs to know why. Jayson killed Robbie's brother, Billy, because Billy was seeing Jayson's wife, Eryn. Jayson beat Billy to death. "It's been following us around like a curse ever since," a gang member says. The Dark Hearts did not support Jayson's actions. Now, Perry has a new target: a possible mole leaking information about the gang. He's right, of course, though he doesn't know it yet, and Eryn will not talk. It's a growing problem. Perry punishes Jayson for lying about Billy's death by whipping him with a chain.

The Shocking Episode 4: A Sting Gone Wrong and a Brutal Farewell

The fourth episode, titled "All Roads," written by Ingelsby and directed by Salli Richardson Whitfield, significantly raises the stakes. Tensions soar for everyone. The FBI, using Ray as leverage, plans a fake meeting with Cliff at Bailey Park. The goal is to capture Cliff and his unknown partner, ideally with young Sam Nance. Tom, however, worries about a leak within the task force. He confides in his boss, Kathleen McGinty, but she dismisses his fears as speculation. She tells him to proceed with the sting but promises to look into it. A phone call Kathleen makes to an unknown contact immediately afterwards casts suspicion on her.

This suspicion gains weight when Perry arrives at the billiards hall. He punches Jayson for lying about Billy's death. Jayson then reveals he knows about the Bailey Park meet, courtesy of their FBI source. This gives the Dark Hearts a chance to interfere.

The resulting sequence is one of Task's best. The FBI waits in the park. Robbie and Cliff split up. Cliff plans to show a fentanyl sample to the buyer, ask for money, and then Robbie will follow with the rest. A car pulls into the park. No one can see who is inside. Under pressure from Kathleen and Chief Dorsey, Tom orders Delco PD to swarm the vehicle. It's not Cliff. It is a couple looking for their lost dog. Cliff is nowhere near the park. He has been texting with the Dark Hearts, not the FBI.

Perry and Jayson ram Cliff's car while Robbie is still on the phone with him. They run Cliff off the road. Robbie arrives at the meeting spot, but Cliff is gone. Back at the park, Tom is more certain than ever there's a traitor in his team. He scans his agents' faces for any sign of deceit.

Raúl Castillo's Intense Portrayal of Cliff and His Final Moments

Cliff's fate is quickly revealed. The Dark Hearts subject him to a brutal beating. They only find a fentanyl sample and a gun Perry seems to recognize. Despite the torment, Cliff refuses to give up Robbie's name. He spits blood in Jayson's face. In response, Jayson uses plastic wrap to suffocate Cliff to death. Robbie returns home alone, already sensing his friend's tragic end.

Raúl Castillo, the actor behind Cliff, knew his character's fate from the start. He spoke with show creator Brad Ingelsby on a Zoom call. Ingelsby revealed Cliff would be tortured to death in Episode 4. Castillo said he had to decide if he could commit to such an intense role. He felt it was unavoidable, saying, "Like, oh shit, I have to do this thing."

Castillo never saw Cliff as a victim. He considered Cliff free-willed. Castillo felt there was a shared history between Cliff and Robbie, a loyalty that explained Cliff's choices. "I always felt that Cliff was not strung along or forced into any situation," he stated. Castillo's first scene that drew him to the character involved Cliff and Robbie discussing dating. He loved Cliff's sharp wit and loyalty to Robbie.

The transformation into Cliff was physically demanding. Castillo had to get prosthetics for the torture scene. He flew to Atlanta for a face cast. He had only two small holes to breathe from. He couldn't speak and could barely hear. He described it as "like being underwater." Castillo is claustrophobic, so this was a harrowing experience. However, the crew made him as comfortable as possible. The prosthetics took nearly four hours to apply and a couple of hours to remove. Castillo describes the look as "gruesome" and "documentary-like realism." He worried about his mother seeing the episode because of its intense realism.

The filming of the torture scene itself was challenging. It took multiple takes to get it right. Technical elements, like the spit machine and the plastic wrap, faced issues. At one point, Castillo suggested performing the spit take himself. "They put some fake blood in my mouth, and we worked up to that moment, and I spit in Sam's face and his real reaction to me hawking a loogie is what you see in the show," Castillo recounted. For the plastic wrap, Castillo, an "excellent swimmer" who can hold his breath, volunteered to have it wrapped around his face. He trusted the crew and felt he could remove it if his safety was at risk. This allowed for the realistic take used in the show.

Before filming the scene, Castillo sought a "meditative state" and was given a tent to be alone. Once the makeup was on, the set grew quiet. People walked on "eggshells" around him. He noted that with such realistic makeup, "you almost don't have to do any acting." It was an intense experience and one of the darkest things he has done as an actor.

Castillo praised his scene partner, Tom Pelphrey. They met at sanitation-worker training outside Philadelphia. Ingelsby and Zagar set them up at a sanitation company. They hit it off right away. Pelphrey, being from Jersey, helped Castillo with his accent work. Castillo found the accent a way into the character, not a hurdle. He stated, "I could just look at Tom in the eyes, and I knew that there was absolute trust and care."

The Fallout and the Shifting Sands of Betrayal in the Narrative

Cliff's death leaves Robbie alone to face the consequences. The biker gang outsmarted Cliff and Robbie. Robbie must now deal with the aftermath without his friend. A critical detail emerges: the phone Robbie discarded contains photos of himself and Sam. This means Robbie needs to be even more cautious.

The dual mole hunts continue. Tom's suspicions about a mole within the FBI grow stronger. He specifically watches his agents. Perry, on the Dark Hearts' side, continues his own search. He combs through old photo albums. He finds the gun used by Billy Prendergrast in a photo of Billy with his daughter, Maeve. This discovery adds another layer to the gang's internal conflict. Maeve herself gives Robbie an ultimatum. She is tired of his schemes. She believes they will never make it to Canada. She tells him to turn Sam in by morning, or she will.

The episode also explores other character storylines. Lizzie and Grasso share a romantic evening, dancing to Gwen Stefani. Their budding relationship offers a brief break from the episode's uneven pacing. Emily's subplot also gains significant attention. In therapy, she confronts her anger at her adopted family and Tom. She feels she is not allowed to express her true feelings. After Tom says he cannot forgive her brother for killing his wife, Emily snaps. She gets drunk at a party and later confronts Tom. She yells at him, "I'm really sorry that you adopted me and I ruined your perfect fing lives." This raw moment shows Emily finally releasing her simmering emotions. Many characters appear to be on the verge of emotional explosions. The question remains: who will survive once the dust settles?

Who is the Traitor? Speculating on the Mole Within the FBI Task Force

The identity of the mole within Tom's task force remains a central question. The show has cleverly avoided clichés. It has not revealed the traitor through typical high-profile casting or obvious personality contrasts. Tom's team consists of Lizzie, an inexperienced state trooper; Aleah, a by-the-book local police investigator; and Anthony, a laid-back county detective.

Conventional crime stories might point to Grasso, whose smooth persona could hide a true nature. This would be especially impactful given his growing closeness with Lizzie. However, Task might throw viewers for a loop. Aleah's strict professionalism could serve as a perfect cover. Her position close to Tom could make her a subversive choice. Lizzie seems too obvious, often portrayed as desperate. Revealing her as the mole would almost be too easy a guess. The show has only planted seeds of doubt, not confirmed a mole. This keeps audiences, and Tom, constantly guessing.

The Dark Hearts also hunt for their own insider. This dual mole hunt creates significant tension. As Brandis and his team get closer to the thieves, an insider means the Dark Hearts will soon connect the dots. Given the gang's brutality, this promises a dark road ahead.

Why Task Commands Attention in the Landscape of Crime Television

Task stands out as a must-see show for 2025. It presents a world with every shade of morality. From the upright cops to the vicious Dark Hearts, and Robbie and Cliff caught between them, the characters are multifaceted. The series brings a fresh twist in every episode. It leaves audiences eager for the next chapter. For fans of shows like Animal Kingdom and Breaking Bad, Task delivers. It reminds us of the power of television at its best.

The mole hunt storyline offers a compelling hook. The identity of the traitor within Tom's team will surely be addressed soon. After witnessing the Dark Hearts' actions, the show's most intense moments are certainly yet to arrive. Whether creators tease a predictable turn for Grasso, a surprising twist with Aleah, or make viewers second-guess Lizzie, identifying the mole will keep everyone glued to their screens.