Our take
Duster isn’t doing anything new by taking on organized crime and cloaking it in vibrant retro garb. But it does spin something familiar into something enjoyable to watch. The period drama is reminiscent of 1970s exploitation films—it’s funny, fast-paced, and stylish—but it never feels like a caricature of the genre. Holloway and Hilson inject their characters with plenty of heart, so whether you’re following his rugged anti-hero or her rule-breaking FBI agent, it still makes for a thrilling ride.
The story
In 1972, the first Black female FBI agent heads to the Southwest and recruits a gutsy getaway driver in a bold effort to take down a growing crime syndicate.
Elsewhere
"Not all of it works and Season 1 never kicks into fourth gear, but “Duster” gets so many of the little things right, it’s easy to set your quibbles aside and just enjoy the ride."
— Ben Travers
"Holloway is effective, but the show is stolen by Hilson, who gets deeper and deeper into the Saxton underworld in an unpredictable and entertaining way."
— Brian Tallerico
Getaway driver Jim Ellis (Josh Holloway) forges an unexpected partnership with rookie FBI agent Nina Hayes (Rachel Hilson) to take down Arizona’s biggest crime syndicate.
I will be keeping tabs on whoever is doing Holloway’s luscious, flowy hair.
You won’t even notice each episode clocks in at an hour—the action and humor make it drive by so fast.
Streaming arrival
Who picked it
Renee Cuisia is the lead curator at A Good Movie to Watch. In her spare time, she likes to watch K-dramas and analyze them to death. She's also seen You've Got Mail one too many times but is still convinced it's one of the greatest films out there.
