Hello everyone
I’ve been watching Duster, an HBO series from last year.
Set in the 1970s, the story is fun, with lots of stunts, cars, fashion, and primary colors. It’s also a useful reminder that a story doesn’t need to be clever or to have a hidden message to be engaging.
The Setup
The premise of Duster is straightforward. Jim Ellis (played by Josh Holloway) is a driver for Ezra Saxton (Keith David), an Arizona crime kingpin. Nina Hayes (Rachel Hilson), is an FBI agent who is determined to bring Saxton down. She recruits Jim as an informant and pressurizes him to keep producing information.
And this simple setup drives the series.
Where Jim is a cool, relaxed individual, Nina is driven. She has fought her way from a tough background (which winds into the story), to become the first black female FBI agent. She is bright, smart, and resourceful, and refuses to be beaten. Ironically, given his trade, Jim lacks her drive, but he knows what is important for him and will fight for it.
why’s it called Duster?
Arguably, the third lead (after Jim and Nina) is the titular Plymouth Duster, the car that Jim drives.
Ensemble
We’ve heard the story of the FBI recruiting an inside man before. Many, many times. Indeed, one might go as far as to call this premise a cliché.
The factor that elevates the story is the cast of characters and how they interact.
Ezra Saxton wants to bring his (physically and emotionally) weak son into his criminal business while keeping his smart daughter out.
Izzy Reyna (played by Camille Guaty), is a former girlfriend of Jim and the mother of his daughter. She is struggling to make ends meet, but she needs Jim’s support in other ways.
Wade Ellis (played by Corbin Bernsen), Jim’s father and Ezra’s former co-conspirator, is now retired from crime, but he’ll do anything he can protect his son.
Then there’s Billy Mahoney (played by Evan Jones), Ezra’s muscle. On the surface he’s a mindless thug, but he sees people and has more of a brain than he is given credit for.
it’s all about family
The story hinges around the relationships. The relationships of blood. Found families. “Work” colleagues. Old friends and comrades whose loyalties were once unquestionable, but with the passing of time, maybe that certainty is now more a hope that another does the right thing.
There’s only one person obviously fighting for himself: Billy Mahoney, the muscle. For everyone else, there’s a family reason for their actions. Billy’s singular focus makes him effective…and deadly.
Violence
This isn’t a dark show, even though there’s plenty of jeopardy in it. The violence (and there’s quite a bit of violence) has a cartoon-like quality. It’s there for the spectacle, as the car stunts are, not to make you think about what a man is capable of when pushed to his limit.
Title Sequence
The title sequence deserves a mention in its own right.
I usually skip these sequences, but I watched this one every time. It’s a playful animation and stuffed with details that only fully make sense as you go further into further into the show.
And for those who remember Matchbox cars and Hot Wheels, the sequence is a trip down memory lane.
An Ending Without a Sequel
There is a twist in the closing scene which would have set up a series two, but unfortunately the show was cancelled. However, this cancellation may not be a bad thing: I would rather one great season and not have the disappointment of a weak second season.
Why It Works
Duster isn’t trying to say anything. It has no message, no thesis about the human condition, and nothing it wants you to walk away having learned.
For such an overtly political time, the show is politics-lite. There’s mention of politicians and a thread leading to a politician, but this story is a world unto itself. And where there is a quasi-political issue, it’s there for the story, not to mark the history.
If you’re not sure whether this is worth watching, the 92% on Rotten Tomatoes suggests quite a few people like it. And if you’re still not sure whether this is for you, watch the trailer and see if it grabs you.
Until September
That’s me for this month. I’ll be back in September.
Until then
All the best
Simon