‘Task’ Star Alison Oliver Was “Running for Hours” to Nail that Tense Episode 3 Action Sequence: “I Wanted to Be Out of Breath”

Halfway through Task Episode 3 “Nobody’s Stronger Than Forgiveness,” the titular task force, led by Tom Brandis (Mark Ruffalo), closes in on one of their main suspects’ homes. However, they didn’t get to Cliff Broward’s (Raúl Castillo) house first. Two other characters are already inside the garbage man-turned-thief’s home, looking for their own reward. What follows in the tense HBO show is a thrilling action sequence that almost claims the lives of two of the four cops we’re following…

**Spoilers for Task Episode 3 “Nobody’s Stronger Than Forgiveness,” now streaming on HBO Max**

In Task Episode 3, Robbie Prendergrast (Tom Pelphrey) and Cliff decide to look outside their normal channels to offload the massive amount of fentanyl they’re stuck with after Episode 1’s robbery gone awry. Cliff calls upon shady pal Ray (Peter Patrikios) for help moving the drugs. The only thing is Ray’s abused wife Shelley (Mickey Sumner) eavesdrops and suggests they steal the drugs from Cliff to take all the money for themselves. (Or so this is Ray’s story.) Meanwhile, Tom Brandis and the rest of his task force have gotten a tip naming Cliff as one of the thieves in the ring they’re pursuing. Naturally, these dueling stories are on a collision course.

Task Episode 3 features a thrilling and tense sequence following the real nerves that Tom Brandis, Anthony Grasso (Fabien Frankel), Lizzie Stover (Alison Oliver), and Aleah Clinton (Thuso Mbedu) feel as they investigate Cliff’s house in the dead of night…stumbling upon the desperate and violent Ray and Shelley. The irony is that the drugs aren’t even at Cliff’s house. However, that doesn’t stop the complex and violent action sequence that ensues from happening.

The task force splits up. Ray pushes Tom down the basement stairs and Lizzie races to pursue Ray. Eventually, Ray almost gets the better of Lizzie, nearly killing her in a one-on-one struggle. However, Grasso arrives just in time to save her and arrest Ray. The whole sequence works because of the elegant combination of precise planning and raw emotion.

“It’s just a huge puzzle and we’re going to put together these little pieces first and this, and this, and this, and then we’re going to push it all together. That’s how we figured out, that’s how we work,” Task Episode 3 director Salli Richardson-Whitfield said of her process.

“Also, as much as it’s an action sequence, I make sure — even if my assistant has to remind me — okay, you got the action part, now let’s jump in to the real story in the narrative,” she said. “I don’t want it to become just an action sequence. I want you to leave there and learn something about these people and about their characters”

Richardson-Whitfield particularly pointed out what we learn about Lizzie in this episode.

“We know that she’s nervous. We know she’s going through different things,” Richardson-Whitfield said. “And we have to remind the actor, I have to remind myself, let’s not forget these story points.”

What Task star Alison Oliver can’t forget about filming Episode 3 was “running for hours,” even when the cameras weren’t rolling.

“It was a night shift and all I would see is Allie out of the window, fucking sprinting,” Fabien Frankel said, laughing.

“I did it because I wanted to be out of breath the whole time because you want to have the idea that she’s been running for ages,” Oliver explained. “So when they weren’t filming, I would still run in between because I wanted to be out of breath.”

“Salli shooting another scene, on another unit, and Allie’s fucking sprinting in a circle,” Frankel said, still giggling.

“But those scenes are really fun as well because you’re just sort of on instinct, really,” Oliver said, before recalling Frankel’s Grasso coming to her character’s rescue. “And then when you come. I guess you…”

“I arrived,” Frankel said.

“You arrive. Oh yeah, I guess ended after that scene, isn’t it, that they go to the bar?” Oliver said, setting up the flirtation between the characters that immediately follows. “So she’s sort of like, I guess there’s been like something growing over the last couple of days.”

Grasso’s gallantry is just the latest thing that seems to endear the cop to Lizzie, and to the audience.