Aahana Swrup
Brad Ingelsby’s crime drama series ‘Task’ presents a familiar premise with complex characters and narratives. The show follows the dual narrative of an FBI agent, Tom Brandis, and his target, the elusive robber, Robbie Prendergrast. The former is a grieving widower who is pulled out of his grief-drenched personal life as his boss assigns him in charge of a task force. The group, made up of multiple young tri-county agents, is tasked with the responsibility of unmasking the perpetrators behind a series of heists taking place at numerous drug houses. Robbie, a garbage truck driver with easy access to people’s routines and personal information, is one of the criminals behind the operation. However, the single father’s storyline is enriched by the narrative’s focus on his personal life, which highlights the intricacies of his circumstances. Cupid’s Plan, the dating app he decides to try out in an attempt to put himself out there again, is one element of the same.
Cupid’s Plan is a Fictional Website That Informs Robbie’s Characterization
In ‘Task,’ a lot of worldbuilding, especially that surrounding the characterization of specific characters, comes from fictitious origins. Cupid’s Plan, the dating site, is no exception, and remains a work of fiction created to contribute toward Robbie’s narrative. In real life, there are plenty of dating websites with near-identical functions that allow people to make connections of any and all kinds through profiles and convenient chat functions. Likewise, there are many sites with a similar name, owing to the relevance of the word “Cupid” in the context of dating. Therefore, websites and apps like ChristianCupid, OkCupid, and more offer a comparable real-life parallel to the on-screen Cupid’s Plan. Nonetheless, there’s no reason to believe any of these actual websites have any direct connection to the dating site featured in Robbie’s story. In the show, Cupid’s Plan enters the narrative through the robber, who is considering dipping his toes back in the dating pool.
Robbie’s love life has been on the rocks ever since the mother of his kids, Karen, decided to leave the family. Although the single father seemingly holds out hope for her eventual return, he has started to accept the fact that he will likely never see his ex again. For the same reason, after hearing about Cupid’s Plan on the radio, Robbie decides to give the app a try in an attempt to find love or just some pleasant company. Thus, the fictional narrative tool defines the nature of the protagonist’s personal relationships, drawing a clear image of his romantic history and hang-ups. Furthermore, his way of manoeuvring through the app the first time that he uses it also offers a peek into his inner life and character. Consequently, the dating website remains an effective way to establish and explore certain aspects of Robbie’s story, grounding it further through a sense of relatability and empathy. Nonetheless, it ultimately stays confined within the fictional premises of the show.
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