‘Task’ Is Barreling Toward the End – The Watch (The Ringer)

Hosts: Chris Ryan & Andy Greenwald
Air Date: October 6, 2025
Episode Focus: In this episode of The Watch, Chris and Andy break down episode five (“Vagrants”) of the TV show Task, exploring its intense character moments, narrative pace, and distinctive sense of place as the limited series approaches its finale.

Episode Overview

Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald, with their trademark affectionate banter, dive deep into the penultimate storytelling beats of Task. This week’s discussion centers on character collisions (especially between Robbie and Tom), how the show's structure masterfully balances plot and human drama, and what sets Task apart from other crime dramas. Their conversation, rich with personal anecdotes and references, underscores the show's regional authenticity and emotional stakes.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The “Vagrants” Episode and Its Narrative Strategy

• Cliffhanger Storytelling:

  • The episode ends at a pivotal, anticipated meeting between Robbie (Tom Pelphrey) and Tom (Mark Ruffalo), characters who have circled each other all season ([01:51]–[02:15]).
  • Chris: "They cut it, and they'd have a cliffhanger at the most amazing moment at the end of this episode, which is called Vagrants." [01:46]

• Balancing Human Element and Genre Thrills:

  • The hosts praise Brad Inglesby’s commitment to giving equal weight to action and character psychology.
  • Andy: “What is this character's arc and journey? What are they getting out of this experience... as well as: what if we put Heat in Delco?” [02:11–02:27]

• Narrative Pace and Timing:

  • Brad Inglesby likened to a "long-distance runner" with "a sixth sense of the distance left to run"—the storytelling rhythm is expertly modulated to keep all major character and plot revelations engaging ([05:11]–[06:15]).
  • Andy: “Watching the way this seven-episode season has been constructed, to me is a masterclass in the writing version of that sixth sense. Brad is pushing all the right buttons at all the right times.” [05:11–06:15]

Character Deep Dives

• Robbie (Tom Pelphrey):

  • Pelphrey’s performance is repeatedly hailed as a highlight, especially in scenes illustrating Robbie’s unraveling and isolation.
  • Chris: “There’s this moment where Perry refers to Robbie as Crazy Robbie… that's really all you need to know about the character.” [08:22–08:33]
  • The dynamic between Robbie and his brother Billy is speculated to have anchored Robbie's sanity; Billy's absence leaves Robbie spinning out ([09:16–09:26]).

• Tom (Mark Ruffalo):

  • Ruffalo's portrayal as a “non-action hero”—older, tired, out of his element—adds realism.
  • Chris: “When you watch cops and robber shows, you’re assuming that what you’re going to see is Popeye Doyle or Vincent Hanna…but Tom’s not that.” [35:36–36:15]
  • The moment Tom begs to call his kids is described as “a really beautiful moment where he’s just like... man, let me call my kids.” [36:15–36:27]

• Grasso and Jason Dynamics:

  • Grasso’s conflicted behavior around Jason hints at a complex backstory and moral ambiguity:
    • Andy: "He is attempting to connect himself to Tom's story in the sense that he also feels like he's a fallen angel...[but] he's a bit further down in the muck than Tom is." [22:38–23:09]

• Supporting Characters:

  • Smaller roles, such as Rhae’s wife (Mickey Sumner) and Perry’s girlfriend, are praised for grounding the show in emotional reality with memorable performances ([10:44–11:06], [34:23]).

Thematic Motifs: Home, Place, and Lost Time

• Sense of Place:

  • The specificity of the Pennsylvania setting—references to local hospitals, diners, and even Bushkill Falls—is celebrated as key to the show's authenticity ([12:22–13:26], [17:09–18:59]).
  • Andy: “…in addition to the beautiful production and acting and writing, it has the two things that matter most… diamond sharp specificity… and generosity of spirit that gives humanity to every character.” [12:22–13:26]

• Storytelling as Myth:

  • The show’s central narrative—a man trying to return home—draws from mythic, almost Odyssean storytelling traditions ([15:27–15:49]).
  • Chris: “This story could only be told here… but the story is... the story we've been telling ourselves since the Odyssey.” [15:24–15:29]

• Recurring Visual and Emotional Motifs:

  • Birds, the Lehigh River, and returning to childhood spaces metaphorically represent characters seeking home or meaning ([30:32–31:47]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If Robbie had killed Tom… I would have said, holy shit. But I also would have leaned in and been interested.” – Andy ([06:19])
• “Having a motorcycle gang president think that he’s Crazy Robbie… is like, yeah, this guy’s got… maybe he’s the kind of guy who thinks you can just run away to Canada with a million dollars in fentanyl money and a family that’s not really yours.” – Chris ([08:32–09:02])
• "It’s the humanity… This is a show with a body count but that respects the severity and finality of death." – Andy ([24:25])
• “Photographs are doing a lot of heavy lifting in the show. I’m not mad at it…it’s really hard to write stuff that connects dots…” – Chris ([25:33])
• “I’ve kidnapped the world’s most depressing human.” – Robbie, paraphrased by Andy, highlighting the show’s dark humor ([38:49–39:09])
• "It was worth it. That kind of collision… there's a feeling of freedom. I think when you feel a show say, fuck it, we’re here. We’re at the point where this needs to happen." – Andy ([34:52–35:25])

Important Timestamps and Segments

| Time | Segment / Topic | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:10 | Opening impressions, expectations for gunplay and action | | 02:27 | Discussion on show’s human element vs. action | | 05:09 | Praise for the narrative structure and pacing | | 07:22 | Pelphrey’s performance, “big meeting” between Robbie & Tom | | 10:44 | Supporting characters’ humanity | | 12:22 | Value of regional specificity in storytelling | | 15:24 | Story’s mythic, universal arc | | 22:38 | Grasso and Tom’s moral parallels | | 30:32 | Recurring bird/home/homecoming motifs | | 34:39 | Tom & Robbie: authenticity in their confrontation | | 35:36 | Tom’s everyman qualities, subverted expectations | | 38:49 | Robbie’s bleak humor, converging factions |

Other Memorable Details

• Personal Anecdotes:

  • Andy shares stories of childhood visits to Bushkill Falls, reinforcing the discussion about place ([17:09–19:38]).

• Meta-Commentary:

  • The hosts call out their own Philly-centric bias but argue the show’s specificity works because it’s so grounded and generous—even for non-locals ([12:22–13:26]).
  • Comparisons to other TV (notably Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Heat) help situate Task within a tradition of character-led crime drama ([15:49–16:53], [35:23–36:15]).

• Speculation:

  • The hosts avoid overt predictions but note all the storylines are converging for a dramatic final collision in the Pennsylvania woods ([37:02–38:23]).

Tone and Style

• Warm and banter-heavy: The episode features typical Chris and Andy camaraderie, regional in-jokes, and sports talk detours.
• Emotionally invested: The hosts’ Philadelphia backgrounds inform, but do not limit, their deep appreciation of Inglesby’s storytelling.
• Respectful of the show’s intelligence: They avoid armchair quarterbacking, instead emphasizing how Task trusts the audience and prioritizes emotional truth over cheap twists.

Summary

This episode of The Watch offers a rich, enthusiastic breakdown of Task episode five, “Vagrants.” Chris and Andy celebrate the show’s storytelling craft, emotional resonance, and sense of place. With pointed observations about acting, structure, and theme, their conversation situates Task among present-day prestige crime dramas, making the episode’s nuances and stakes accessible even to listeners unfamiliar with the series.
Highly recommended for fans of sharp TV criticism and character-driven storytelling.