The 2025 TV series Duster is set in Phoenix in the early 1970s and centers around the story of Nina Hayes, played by Rachel Hilson, the FBI's first Black female agent. The show opens with Nina assigned to investigate a powerful organized crime syndicate led by Ezra Saxton, portrayed by Keith David. From the outset, Nina is driven not just by duty but by a deeply personal mission: she believes Saxton may be responsible for her father's murder.

In the first episodes, Nina identifies the critical need to obtain inside information on Saxton’s criminal operations. She targets Jim Ellis (Josh Holloway), a loyal and skilled getaway driver for Saxton's gang, who drives a vintage 1970 Plymouth Duster. Recognizing Jim's position within the organization, Nina slowly wins his trust and convinces him to become an informant, effectively initiating the development of human intelligence (HUMINT) critical for dismantling the syndicate.

The narrative follows Nina and Jim's dangerous alliance. Nina operates undercover and through careful negotiation tries to extract actionable intelligence, while Jim navigates the perilous duality of his life—maintaining his cover among criminals yet cooperating with the FBI. This collaboration exposes them both to escalating threats and moral dilemmas.

Scenes are richly textured with 1970s Phoenix atmosphere—the dusty streets, the vintage cars, and the tense interplay between law enforcement and the criminal underworld. As the story unfolds, Nina’s determination and resilience as a trailblazing Black female agent come to the fore, marked by moments of vulnerability and strength. Jim's character arc moves from a reluctant criminal to a key player struggling with loyalty and conscience.

Key dramatic moments involve close calls with Saxton's enforcers, moments of betrayal within the syndicate, and Nina’s navigation of FBI bureaucracy and sexism. The tense interplay escalates to confrontations that put both Nina and Jim’s lives at risk.

The series culminates with Nina gathering enough evidence through Jim’s informant work to take down Saxton's syndicate. The resolution balances triumphs and sacrifices, highlighting Nina’s groundbreaking role and the complex costs of justice in a dangerous world.

The show was notable for its visceral scenes of crime and pursuit, its dynamic between Nina and Jim, and Keith David's commanding presence as the crime boss. Unfortunately, the series was canceled after one season in July 2025, leaving some story threads unresolved but delivering a focused, intense narrative arc within its run.

The TV show Duster (2025) is not family friendly and may not be suitable for children or sensitive viewers. It contains potentially objectionable and upsetting content, including:

• Multiple instances of nudity
• Frequent use of strong profanity (including numerous f-words)
• Violence, such as a man being beaten into bloody submission with a baseball bat
• Themes of crime, sex, and foul language throughout the criminal underworld setting in 1970s Phoenix.

The show is a gritty, somewhat dirty crime drama with gunfights, car chases, and punchups, reflecting a rough and dangerous world rather than a sanitized or lighthearted story. Viewers who are sensitive to violence, explicit language, or adult themes should approach this series with caution.

Yes, several characters die in the 2025 TV show Duster, particularly in the intense Season 1 finale that culminates in a violent shootout and major revelations.

Key character deaths and circumstances include:

• Ezra Saxton (Arizona mob boss, played by Keith David) dies in a Shakespearean fashion while trying to save his son during a climactic shootout that resolves the growing tensions between rival crime factions in Arizona. His death is pivotal as it shifts the show's power dynamics and emotional stakes.

• Other unnamed characters die during this violent shootout as well, although detailed names and circumstances of all victims are not fully enumerated.

• Virgil Hayes, Nina’s father, is killed back in 1954 in Philadelphia during a numbers racket conflict with Saxton. This death provides crucial motivation for Nina's later life choices and career as a law enforcement agent.

• There is also the ongoing threat to Jim Ellis and Nina Hayes throughout the season involving attempts on their lives, indicating dangerous stakes, but key deaths concentrate around the finale events and backstory revelations.

• The death of Jim’s brother, Joey, is a central mystery driving much of the plot; investigating this death ties into the larger conspiracy and the characters’ motivations.

These deaths are deeply tied to the show's themes of crime, loyalty, betrayal, and family and set up a tense and emotional framework for potential future seasons.