New J.J. Abrams Show ‘Duster’ Showcases How Simple Television Is Still Effective
Television, specifically the world of streaming, finds itself with two First World problems: there’s too much to watch and a lot of it is very good.
Viewers feel overwhelmed looking at the main screen of these streaming services, with everything clamoring for attention. You’re almost too scared to start something new, because you know something else is coming next week and you’re afraid you might not get to everything and leave your ever-growing watchlist unwatched. It’s a weird catch-22.
Sometimes, though, you don’t want complex or intense shows. Not everything needs to be Twin Peaks or Chernobyl, because after a long day at work, it’s okay to just want something entertaining to take your mind off life’s many (many) problems. The good news is there’s a show out there just like that, but the bad news is not enough people are talking about it, reducing the chances of a second season. So, if you value simple television, give Max’s Duster a chance.
What is ‘Duster’ about?
Set in the Southwest in 1972, Duster centers around the story of Jim Ellis (Josh Holloway), who works as a getaway driver for notorious crime lord Ezra Saxton (Keith David). Jim doesn’t drive around in a bashed-up VW Beetle, though; he’s got style and swagger, so he cruises around in a cherry red Plymouth Duster.
While Jim and Ezra have a good relationship, this all changes after Jim finds out that Ezra may have had something to do with the death of his brother. So, Jim turns informant, helping the FBI’s first Black female agent, Nina Hayes (Rachel Hilson), to get enough dirt on Ezra to put him away. However, not everyone backs Nina and Jim in this quest for justice.
Why this ’70s-themed crime thriller is worth your time
Heavily stylized, Duster doesn’t only look like it’s set in the ’70s, but it also feels like it, sharing more in common with shows like Kojak and Columbo than modern-day crime thrillers. Holloway’s Jim walks with purpose and confidence, flicking his long hair and becoming an instantly likable protagonist because of his unabashed cool factor. In fact, one has to wonder how much bigger of a star Holloway would have been in this era, since it’s as if he belongs to the decade. Holloway also plays off Hilson’s Nina well, as Nina fights to be taken seriously in a time in which racism and patriarchy ran rampant like they were competing in the Olympic Games of Scumbaggery. Nina, though, gets creative in maneuvering around her obstacles, as she demonstrates how her smarts will get her to where she wants to be in the end.
While the characters add the fuel to Duster, the story is the engine that makes it such a palatable series. There’s no reinvention of the wheel or desire to appeal to those who scrutinize every frame of every scene. Instead, the show values entertainment over pretentious intellect. Now, this doesn’t mean it’s all fun and dumb, but rather that it knows the audience wants guns, fast cars, and a good time more than anything else. Duster leans into it, creating a simple but effective television series that’s easy to enjoy and revisit.
It’s J.J. Abrams’ first big project since ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’
There was a time in Hollywood when J.J. Abrams walked on water. Not only was he the man who rebooted Star Trek on the big screen successfully, but he also managed to breathe life into the new Star Wars trilogy with The Force Awakens. Abrams wasn’t meant to return for The Rise of Skywalker, but after Rian Johnson’s divisive Last Jedi and Colin Trevorrow departing the third picture, Abrams came back to steady the ship for the finale. It’s clear now that The Rise of Skywalker was a struggle and unlikely what Abrams envisioned, as he had to course correct and appease everyone from fans to the studio. In the end, the film wasn’t memorable nor a good sendoff; it just exists.
After the Star Wars misadventure, Abrams retreated mostly into producing work; however, Duster marks his return to a showrunner role, as he co-created the series with LaToya Morgan. According to Morgan, Abrams had an image for the show in his head for 20 years, but he struggled to unlock what the story was actually about. So, they worked together to flesh out what would become Duster. The best part? They only had one person in mind for the lead role – someone whom Abrams had been familiar with from his time as the co-creator of Lost.
“We wrote the show from the beginning with Josh [Holloway] in mind,” Morgan told Inverse. There was no other person. It was always Josh.”
Holloway also didn’t need much convincing to accept the part, since he had been looking for a good lead role since Colony completed its run. “He was very excited to be in the show where he’s going to get to drive fast, he’s going to get to shoot guns, he’s going to get to also be vulnerable with his family,” Morgan said. “He gets to run the gamut and do a lot of things that people have been wanting to see him do.”
It’s as if all the stars aligned here, right? Well, it’s all up to the viewers now. Sure, there’s a lot of quality shows begging for attention, but there’s also breezy programming like Duster that have their place in homes. The danger, though, is that a series like this might just race past everyone, becoming nothing more than a tumbleweed in the dust and a forgotten relic of what could have been.
