After spending six seasons trapped on a mysterious island in the South Pacific Ocean,Josh Hollowaydecided it was time for a change of scenery (and decade) and headed back to the ’70s for the crime thrillerDuster. In the exciting new crime series from HBO Max, Holloway portrays a getaway driver who is approached by an FBI agent to help her take down the dangerous kingpin he works for.
Dustermarks the TV return of Holloway, who had previously skyrocketed to stardom when he portrayedthe rebellious James “Sawyer” Fordin the sci-fi seriesLost.The crime drama capitalizes on Holloway’s charisma as a leading manand has attracted rave reviews upon its August 23, 2025, debut, nabbing a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics. Let’s take a look atDusterand why it’s a must-see.
Holloway Makes His TV Return in ‘Duster’
Featuring an eclectic cast led by Josh Holloway, Rachel Hilson, Keith David, and Corbin Bernsen, the exhilarating crime dramaDustertakes place in June 1972 after the Watergate break-ins. The series follows the tenacious Nina Hayes, the FBI’s first Black agent and a brand-new Quantico graduate hungry to prove herself. As the FBI struggles to find its identity following the death of J. Edgar Hoover, who had encouraged the hiring of minority groups, Nina feels stuck in career limbo as she is sent to the Phoenix office for work.
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The move proves to be exactly what Nina had hoped for, as the city is home to regional crime boss Ezra “Sax” Saxton (David), and she sets her sights on gaining the respect of her colleagues and showing off her skills by taking on the tough case. Motivated by her vendetta against Sax, Nina gets herself an inside man in the form of his trusted driver, Jim Ellis (Holloway), with the two forming an uneasy alliance after he discovers his boss may have harmed his family. Together, the unlikely duo join forces to take down the notorious criminal.Jim Ellis channels the same rebellious charisma as Holloway’sLostcharacter, so fans of the hit series will feel right at home.
‘Duster’ Is a Nostalgia-Fueled Joyride
Dusterreunited Holloway with his former collaborator J.J. Abrams, with the filmmaker having previously co-createdthe cultural juggernautLostand fellow TV hits likeFelicity, Alias,andFringe,along with films including 2009’sStar TrekandSuper 8. Abrams partnered up with writer and producer LaToya Morgan (Shameless, Into the Badlands) for the crime series, and together, the pair knew from the beginning that Holloway would be their leading man. In aninterview with Inverse, Morgan said of casting the actor:
“We wrote the show from the beginning with Josh in mind. There was no other person. It was always Josh. 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. He gets to run the gamut and do a lot of things that people have been wanting to see him do.”
After Abrams personally called and pitched him the project,Holloway immediately enrolled in stunt driving school online and “proceeded to teach for myself or be taught every trick in the book that they would allow me to do.” The practical action sequences and hand-to-hand combat are just another reason to tune into the new series.Dusterserved as Holloway’s return to the small screen, with the TV staple having last headlined the sci-fi dramaColonyfrom 2016 to 2018 before appearing in the recurring role of Roarke Morris in the neo-WesternYellowstone.
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Dusterwill immediately hook you with its bold action sequences, eccentric characters, and the killer chemistry between Holloway and Hilson. The nostalgia-fueled series follows the duo as they become swept up in precarious situations in pursuit of the truth, withthe FBI agentand getaway driver discovering they share some surprising parallels in their personal lives that ultimately help them connect and respect one another on a deeper level.
The crime drama has proven to be quite a hit with both critics and audiences, and with just two episodes under its belt,Dusteralreadyholds a 91% Rotten Tomatoes scoreand 82% Popcornmeter from viewers.Fans of the groovy decade, a gripping premise with juicy twists and turns, and high-octane car chases will love the entertaining series, as Abrams and Morgan brilliantly pay homage to popular ’70s exploitation films and the culture of the decadewhile subsequently crafting a fun and engrossing original story.TV Insider wrotein their rave review:
“With a tangy 1970s look and feel, Duster shifts gears confidently between violent cliffhanger crises and knockabout humor. Strap in for the joyride.”
