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Duster

Everyone needs an inside man.

2025Ended1 season8 episodes~60 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

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.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Duster?

As of October 24, 2026, Motif lists Duster streaming on HBO Max.

Subscription

Highlights

What stands out about Duster?

Duster earns 2 badges, led by Standout soundtrack and Crowd Pleaser.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Duster worth watching?

Duster's Midcredits score is the 55th percentile of all shows, from 9.4K ratings across 5 sources. 79% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

55th percentile

Better received than 55% of shows

47th percentile among Crime60th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)39th
Approval (how many liked it)70th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

68 /100

39th percentile of all shows

34th percentile among Crime44th percentile among 2020s

Critics 72 · Audience 68

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.5 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

79% liked it

70th percentile of all shows

61st percentile among Crime74th percentile among 2020s
79% rated it 7–1021% rated it 1–6

Critics 92% · Audience 85%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Reach

How many have seen it

90th percentile

9.3K ratings across platforms

85th percentile among Crime92nd percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 26% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A 1970s-set crime thriller that leans heavily on period style, retro music, and a dual-protagonist structure following a getaway driver and a female FBI agent.

Fans praised

  • Stylish 70s period recreation with authentic cars, costumes, and music
  • Strong cast chemistry led by charismatic Josh Holloway and compelling Rachel Hilson
  • Fun, fast-paced crime romp with engaging characters and solid writing

Detractors panned

  • Heavy-handed, preachy social commentary that overwhelms the story
  • Cartoonish, shallow characters with underdeveloped motivations
  • Incoherent tonal mix of pulp and prestige that fails to land

What stands out

Sound and musicDivisive85

Excellent period soundtrack and score; some detractors find needle drops overused

AtmosphereDivisive82

Immersive 1970s southwest setting with authentic design; detractors note some fake-looking geography

CinematographyDivisive80

Vibrant period look, creative camera work praised by fans; some critics note forced stylization

ActingDivisive78

Josh Holloway charismatic but divisively aged; Rachel Hilson praised by fans, called wooden by detractors

PacingDivisive73

Fans find it fast and bingeable; detractors say it drags and lacks momentum

CharactersDivisive60

Lead duo and Keith David's villain praised for presence, but many find them archetypal and underdeveloped

Plot and storyDivisive60

Simple, fun crime narrative with convoluted subplots; detractors call it clichéd and disjointed

OriginalityDivisive45

Fans enjoy the homage to 70s genre; detractors call it derivative and formulaic

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men even
  • US vs non-US even

Episodes

1 season

Season 1 · 2025 · 8 episodes · 5.0 average across 8 rated episodes

  • S1E1

    Baltimore Changes Everything

    May 15, 202552 minTMDB rating 4.7
  • S1E2

    Suspicious Minds

    May 22, 202549 minTMDB rating 4.1
  • S1E3

    You're No Good

    May 29, 202548 minTMDB rating 4.5
  • S1E4

    Criminalus Velocitus Super-Sonicus

    Jun 5, 202548 minTMDB rating 5.2
  • S1E5

    Ravishing Light and Glory

    Jun 12, 202549 minTMDB rating 5.7
  • S1E6

    Встречают по одёжке (Meet by the Clothes)

    Jun 19, 202544 minTMDB rating 5.8Season best
  • S1E7

    K-129

    Jun 26, 202552 minTMDB rating 5.4
  • S1E8

    66 Reno Split

    Jul 3, 202554 minTMDB rating 4.7Finale

Watch experience

What is Duster like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and intense — an even-paced watch that leaves you thinking.

Themes

  • Redemption: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).
  • Loyalty
  • Identity

Feelings

  • Tense
  • Melancholic

Style

  • Hardboiled: Terse, unsentimental, noir-inflected.
  • Adventurous

What it asks of you

  • Even-paced
  • Full focus
  • Heavy
  • Open-ended

How it leaves you

  • Thought-provoking
  • Bittersweet

Setting

  • Late 20th century
  • Realistic
  • Urban
  • Institutional

Story

  • Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.
ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Heaviest: middleDark humor
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe series plays its 1970s crime drama straight, with a gritty, earnest tone balanced by moments of wry humour.
The rideThe middle episodes lean into the moral compromise and the weight of past crimes.
StructureEach episode follows a conventional beginning-middle-end structure, though the season arc is serialized.
Episode formatEpisodes feature a self-contained job or conflict while threading a season-long arc about Ray's past and the crew's evolution.
Season formatThe series is structured around a single season-long heist narrative with a clear start, middle, and end.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves you with the unresolved tension of systemic injustice and the cost of survival, tinged with hope for change.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% (this title) · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

18% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeTypical episode: the getaway driver and his FBI pursuer chase each other across the Southwest, with the crime syndicate as the predator hunting the protagonists.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7% (this title)
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11% (this title): Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% (this title) · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Morality

Redemption · 3% of showsLoyalty · 7% of showsIdentity
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeAn ex-cop and a gangster find purpose and a shot at atonement through a dangerous alliance.
StancePresents the criminal life and the characters' moral strains without editorializing.

The world

AmbientElectronicJazzSupportive music · hybrid · Cliff Martinez
SettingModern LA's criminal underbelly and the life of a getaway driver
MusicMartinez's pulsing synth score underscores the tension.

Content guide

Is Duster okay for kids?

TV-MA

Duster is rated TV-MA. As of August 18, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (67/100), sexual content at moderate (51/100), language at intense (73/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (67/100) and frightening material at moderate (60/100). Overall it is heavier than 55% of TV-MA shows.

Ratings in 10 other countries
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • France16
  • South Korea19
  • Brazil16
  • MexicoB-15
  • PRTV-MA
  • Russia18+
  • SingaporeM18
  • Spain16
  • VITV-MA
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 75% of all showsHeavier than 55% of TV-MA shows
Violence & Gore
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 52%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 45%
Profanity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 61%
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 73%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 50%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is language, violence, and drug and alcohol content. Everything else sits at or below what TV-MA shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Duster have?

Motif's classifier found no content warnings in Duster's parents' guide notes and plot synopsis; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

Screened from limited information, so some warnings may be missing.

Cast and crew

Who is in Duster?

Cast

At least 2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen; 1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Josh Holloway
as Jim Ellis
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Rachel Hilson
as Nina Hayes
Asivak Koostachin
as Awan Bitsui
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Sydney Elisabeth
as Genesis Saxton
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Benjamin Charles Watson
as Royce Saxton
Best so far: Their highest-reaching show role to date — the title is too recent to say more.
Camille Guaty
as Izzy Reyna
Best so far: Their highest-reaching show role to date — the title is too recent to say more.
Adriana Aluna Martinez
as Luna Reyna
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Greg Grunberg
as Nathan Abbott
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Keith David
as Ezra Saxton
Established: A standing when this show came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Evan Jones
as Billy Mahoney

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TMDB's suggestions for shows like Duster include The Rookie: Feds (2022), Animal Kingdom (2016) and Furious (2026).

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