Duster (2025) Review

A Slick, High-Octane Crime Thriller with Vintage Flair and Charismatic Leads

If you love a show that peels away the dust and dirt from backroad America, setting you down in the thick heat of a 1970s desert, then “Duster” on Max begs your attention. Unveiled on May 15, 2025, this series comes straight from the well-oiled creative engine of J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan. Each week, from mid-May through early July, viewers buckle up for another ride through a lawless, neon-lit Southwest. In just eight episodes, “Duster” manages to spark, swerve, and stall—all with vintage flair.

Unpacking the Setting and Cast

Let’s talk scene. Picture 1972, a time before GPS, dashcams, or 911 speed dials. Down in the scrubby American Southwest, grit rubs up against glamour, and the rules no longer matter on the open road. Here, Jim Ellis, played with a sly magnetism by Josh Holloway, makes a living steering the wheel for criminals. Then Nina Hayes, who carries authority and ambition in equal measure—thanks to Rachel Hilson—crashes into his world. As the FBI’s first Black female field agent, Nina doesn’t just step on toes; she dances across them. Together, Jim and Nina aim at Ezra Saxton, the kingpin played by Keith David, whose presence grounds the show with dry wit and a sense of danger.

A few more faces fill out this wily world. Sydney Elisabeth steps in as Genesis Saxton, and Greg Grunberg’s Nathan Abbott brings humor and pathos. Camille Guaty (Izzy Reyna), Asivak Koostachin (Awan Bitsui), Adriana Aluna Martinez (Luna Reyna), and Benjamin Charles Watson (Royce Saxton) round out a roster that feels authentic and never overdressed.

Who’s Behind the Camera

The Abrams-Morgan creative duo set the bar here. Abrams brings longtime muscle, and Morgan balances with sharp, energetic writing. Directing the first two episodes, Steph Green sets the look and feel—all dust, chrome, and murmurs of trouble. This is no pretty postcard of the ’70s. It’s rougher, like the grit that sneaks into your boots.

Critical Word on the Street

So what happens when critics get ahold of “Duster”? As of May 2025, not only have reviewers tuned in, but most haven’t looked away. Check the numbers: Rotten Tomatoes lists it at an impressive 90%. Metacritic clocks the show’s average at 72/100, a sure sign of “generally favorable” buzz.

What draws the praise? What rings alarm bells? Let’s throw open the hood.

Three Gears That Keep “Duster” Running (Key Positives)

Engaging Performances

Josh Holloway leans into his role as Jim Ellis with grit, charm, and a wild streak. You sense the street even before tires squeal.
Rachel Hilson injects all the urgency and poise you’d want in a TV agent, her chemistry with Holloway obvious and playful.
Critics compare Holloway’s performance to classic McConaughey—a mix of humor and unpredictability. Dynamic, not static.

Atmosphere That Sticks

Here, the 1970s are more than a costume party. Chalk it up to the set design, the cars, the music, and even slang.
Every car chase, lounge scene, and snappy aside feels pulled out of a time capsule, but not like a history lesson.
The show floods your eyes and ears with color, noise, and energy; nostalgia without getting corny.

Character Meets Action

The plot never slows for melodrama but weaves emotional beats into the chase scenes.
Heroes get layered; villains too. Stakes feel real, not like throwaway TV danger.
Each episode balances boom and breath—a heist here, a confrontation there—so you always care who’s behind the wheel.

Three Potholes on the Road (Key Negatives)

Tonally Off Sometimes

Critics catch the show tipping between pulpy entertainment and heavy issues. Sometimes, the switch flicks too suddenly.
Fun moments undercut by sudden plot drama cause viewers to jerk forward, like hitting a brake.
The show likes to dazzle, but when it tries to go deep, it sometimes wobbles.

Uneven Pacing

Episodes don’t always hit a steady cruise—one week’s a rocket, the next kind of drags.
Some plotlines resolve so fast viewers barely notice; others feel like long, hot afternoons that won’t end.
Action might snap you awake, but you might coast through a slower subplot, peeking at your phone.

Subplots Left in the Dust

Minor characters drift in and out, underused. Audiences wish they got more time to shine.
Interesting backstories sometimes get ditched quickly, replaced by another shootout or car chase.
Critics note missed chances for deeper dives into the criminal underworld or agents’ personal struggles.

Nostalgic but Not Mired in the Past

“Duster” doesn’t just sit in a museum display case marked “1972.” It roars and laughs and stings. The world the creators forge feels lived-in—more than spray tans and bell bottoms. The cinematography captures sunsets and sleazy diners as if John Ford swapped horses for Chevys. The soundtrack finds room for soul, twang, and early AM pop, all while tension brews.

While the crimes frame the action, the characters push the story. Relationships are uneasy, shifting with each episode. Trust takes on strange shapes, especially between Jim and Nina. Each is ambitious, tough, and vulnerable, making even their smallest conversations buzz.

Abrams and Morgan steer the ship with confidence, and the first two episodes directed by Steph Green establish both look and speed. Later episodes sometimes wobble, but the ride itself rarely feels dull. Even when the mood shifts from cheeky caper to social commentary or back again, the setting and stakes keep you strapped in.

The Critics Chime In

Check recent reviews, and you’ll see phrases like “almost too much fun” pop up in places like TIME. Critics can’t get enough of Holloway’s smirk or the kinetic bounce between him and Hilson. In the same breath, they mention the show’s retro style—a clear highlight rather than empty nostalgia. For all its action, “Duster” earns special applause for not reducing its leads, especially Hilson’s Nina Hayes, to tropes. She sweats, jokes, and commands just like the men around her.

Yet even the best adoration comes with advice. Time notes the show sometimes stumbles when shifting from playful to profound. The fun doesn’t always blend well with the drama, causing a few narrative speed bumps.

Who Should Watch “Duster”?

If you crave the sound of a revving engine, and you love a story where every partnership feels uneasy, tune in. Fans of classic crime dramas will love the propulsion, but newer audiences will find the production values far above those musty reruns. For those who love fast talk, rolling landscapes, and flawed heroes who refuse to give easy answers, “Duster” delivers.

But viewers who hate abrupt story shifts or half-baked side plots may wind up annoyed. If you demand perfectly tuned pacing, a few slower minutes might test your patience.

Final Assessment

“Duster” pulls everything it can from its engine, but it isn’t flawless. The excitement, lead chemistry, and devil-may-care style make most episodes zip by, but when it tries to juggle too much, things get rocky. Holloway and Hilson both breathe real life into roles that, handled poorly, could have been pure archetype. The 1970s come back to life in a way that pops, and critics agree: “Duster” is a ride worth taking.

Verdict: Duster (2025) BRNG?

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On the question of whether “Duster” is boring: the answer leans a loud and stylish no. While it sometimes slips on uneven pavement—due to tonal jolts and speed bumps in the story—its energy and performances keep the wheels turning. The best moments feel electric; the roughest, still pretty watchable.

Numerical Assessment: 8.7 out of 10.

That score means this is far from a snooze. It’s a series with more throttle than drag, ready to entertain but aware enough to stumble now and then. While it’s not always perfect, “Duster” never lets itself coast for long. Racing through the retro Southwest, you’ll have too much fun to check your watch.