Mark Ruffalo’s HBO crime series just did something completely unheard of on television

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Episode 6 of The Task.

HBO Stain was a slow burn of action, with Brad Ingelsbymonitoring of Easttown mare rich in character development, filled with twists and turns, and hinting at what our outcome might be. But in the sixth episode of the series, all the action you could have imagined has been added. a brilliant 18 minute action sequence — and before the show’s title card was even revealed.

The story of two men engaged in a moral battle to do good, Stain follows FBI agent Tom Brandis (Marc Ruffalo) while leading a Philadelphia-based task force investigating a series of violent robberies carried out by a garbage collector named Robbie Prendergrast (Tom Pelphrey). Although their collision course is almost inevitable, their paths cross in even more unexpected ways than viewers could have predicted. Following on from the cliffhanger of episode 5, Tom and Robbie firing guns at each other leads to an all-out shootout that leaves two characters dead. This week, Stain did the unthinkable, but it also took a major risk that other series would have been afraid to explore.

Task’s action-packed 18-minute opening was completely unexpected

StainThe fifth episode ends on a cliffhanger that reveals Tom catching up with Robbie in the woods, ordering him to drop his gun. With the FBI and the Dark Hearts watching from the sidelines, it initially seemed like everything was going to work out. Tom and the FBI would arrest their suspect, the Dark Hearts would stand down, and the rest of our series would focus on the aftermath of Robbie working with the agents to take down the Dark Hearts. Perhaps that was too optimistic, because when guns are drawn in a scenario like this, someone is going to pull the trigger. Dark Hearts leader Jayson Wilkes (Sam Keeley) decides to go rogueand an all-out melee begins.

After Jayson sparked action by shooting Robbie, the FBI pulled out all the stops. Since many Black Hearts, mainly Perry (Jamie McShane), seem eager to retreat, Jayson forces a loyalty test to eliminate their target, even though the task force is caught in the crossfire. Kathleen (Martha Plimpton) is shot in the shoulder in front of Aleah (Help Mbedu) comes to his aid in a demonstration of his own marksmanship. Tom and Perry engage in knockout hand-to-hand combat, while Lizzie (Alison Olivier), forced to test her anxiety, first freezes on the ground before shooting a member of the Dark Hearts. Despite his betrayal, it is Grasso (Fabien Frankel) who ultimately saves her, but not before blowing out her eardrum with his own gunshot fired near her head.

Jayson and Perry’s escape, with cover provided by Grasso, comes after Jayson fatally stabs Robbie, just as we thought it would go the other way – but the episode’s opening didn’t stop shocking us either. As everyone retreats, Lizzie, unable to hear the warnings of her colleagues or the Dark Heats’ oncoming truck, is mowed down by the fleeing Jayson and Perry. Tom, who did his best to save Robbie, ends up holding the dying fugitive in his arms.. It is then that StainThe title card finally appears on the screen.

Episode 6 of “Task” brings all the characters together for an incredible showdown

With more than half a dozen critical characters at stake, no one was really safe — and that’s what made Episode 6’s opening so extraordinary, as its three main storylines intertwined. The FBI is tracking Robbie while Robbie is tracking the Dark Hearts, but the Dark Hearts are more engaged in damage control while dealing damage of their own. With so much to do as character arcs unfold in real time, it’s not surprising Stain chooses to maintain the action without interruption.

Executive producer of the series Salli Richardson Whitfield noted at Inside the Episode that the 20-page scene in Episode 6’s script was a feat to pull off, but it’s a moment captured in complex chaos. With multiple locations in the woods, when a moment found its own resolution, the episode would immediately move on to the next fight, keeping viewers in suspense to see who would hold out and who would become a casualty. When it resulted in two incredibly crucial and dramatic deaths, Stain has proven its willingness to go to a place that very few shows would dare tread.

Task’s story took a completely unpredictable direction

Image via HBO

The opening scene of Episode 6 was one of the most captivating visual experiences in recent memory. With Tom trying to save Robbie’s life because he has a good heart and Grasso fully understanding how his actions ultimately put Lizzie in danger, this duel was the true final battle, regardless of what happens in the finale.

By keeping the action and its consequences contained before the title card, Stain also retained the cinematic essence while emphasizing the importance of every detail. Every key player played a role in the outcome, and the resolution was completely unanticipated. Robbie has been a central player and key target of Task, and yet, by ending his part of the story, his death reminds us that he was just one piece of a larger puzzle. Other series might have saved this sequence for the end of an episode, but Stain serving it cold proves that the story always went places we never thought it would. With only one episode left, it’s going to be hard to say goodbye, but it also leads to a resolution that no one saw coming.

Stain airs Sunday at 9 p.m. on HBO. All episodes are available to stream on HBO Max.

Release date

2025 – 2025-00-00

Network

HBO

Directors

Jeremy Zagar