Task Episode 2 recap: Sam and Robbie bond, Maeve makes a shocking move

Task Episode 2 shines light on some of the three mysteries that the premiere set up last week. That includes the main reason why Deric, Sam's father, felt that he had heard Robbie's voice before. Critically, we also learn more about Tom Brandis' home life and what the devastating loss was. Added to the mix is the dangerous biker gang Dark Hearts, which was mentioned in the first episode.

The episode opens with Robbie and Cliff walking into the former's house with a sleeping Sam in his arms. This week's episode was all about answering the intriguing questions about last week's Task episode. The synopsis for the episode reads:

"As Tom's family braces for an emotional court date, Robbie faces a dilemma, and Maeve makes a critical choice."

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Task Episode 2 recap

Here are some of the major revelations in this week's episode:

• The case that Robbie and Cliff stole is NOT cash

After murdering the three members of the Dark Hearts Gang, Robbie and Cliff take a mysterious bag that they believe to be cash. However, the first act of the episode reveals that the two have bigger trouble on their hands, as the bag doesn't contain cash but rather fentanyl.

• The Dark Hearts enter the picture

We meet the Dark Hearts gang and the Delaware County leader, Jayson, and Perry, the man who is a father figure to Jayson and one of the gang's national leaders. Perry is reprimanding Jayson for this mess-up, as the latter reveals the silver lining, the fentanyl sale was rescheduled to the morning the conversation is taking place.

Thus, the people who killed the gang members will be looking to sell the fentanyl stash, and that can be done only through Freddy Frias, a man whom Perry suggests they will make a deal with. In the last act of the episode, the gang identifies Peaches and attacks his fiancée's house.

• Robbie's past with the Dark Hearts is revealed

It is revealed in this episode that Robbie's dead brother, Billy, was a member of Dark Hearts. Anthony Grasso debriefs the other three task force members that Jayson brutally killed Billy because he was suspected of some wrongdoing, which the gang found.

While the team hasn't formed a connection between Robbie and Billy, viewers have formed the link that Robbie is choosing Dark Hearts drug houses specifically to get back at the gang. Grasso also reveals that one of the gang members was helping Robbie in his attack against Dark Hearts.

• Tom Brandis' family tragedy revealed

We finally learned why Emily and Tom's relationship is as awkward as it was in the previous episode. Task episode 1 alluded to Tom's son, Ethan, being in prison for a mysterious reason. This episode answers that question. Emily and her brother Ethan are adopted by Tom and his deceased wife. Ethan is someone with special needs, and he was off his meds in the middle of the pandemic.

During one of his outbursts, Ethan pushed his adopted mother down the steps, and this is why he is in prison, and Tom has been driven towards alcohol. Adding to that misery is when Sara, Tom's biological daughter, is cold and rude towards Emily and brings up the dangers of bringing Ethan back home. A hurt Tom gives this monologue:

“It’s easy to talk about forgiveness when it’s not your loss. I miss your mother. I miss my son. And there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t wake up and think, That didn’t happen. That couldn’t possibly have happened. Not to us. But it did. So, forgiveness and mercy? I don’t know. I’ve prayed for an answer, or some kind of guidance, and all I’ve gotten in return in silence. I’m lost."

We may learn more next week, as Ethan will be seen on the screen for the first time in Task Episode 3.

• Maeve discovers the truth

While Robbie lies to Maeve about Sam, the kid reveals his mother's name to her, and she realizes that he is Deric Nance's son. She googles and realizes that Sam is the missing child the authorities are looking for. The episode also reveals Sam's backstory as someone who was temporarily with his grandmother, who had dementia, because his parents had issues with substances.

But the grandmother's dementia got worse as Sam's parents got better, and they got custody back. However, Sam was not supposed to be in the house that night, and through a twist of fate, he and Robbie bond a bit as he allows Sam to pet one of the chickens. Despite the sweetness of the moment, Robbie still killed the child's parents.

Thus, Maeve takes Sam to the family entertainment center she works in and anonymously tips off the authorities. As Tom, his task force, and the police officers drive into the center, she changes her mind. She tries to confuse the officers about a confused kid inside the center, but Tom takes her to identify the child. But soon Tom declares the tip as inaccurate and leaves and instructs the police officers to leave too.

As of now, we don't know why she changed her mind. We may learn more about it in next week's Task episode.

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Family Statements, the latest episode of the HBO miniseries, is accessible via streaming on HBO Max. Catch the latest episode of Task on the streaming platform at your convenience.