Somehow,J.J. Abramsreturned… to the small screen, that is. After a solid decade in the blockbuster realm and stints in theStar TrekandStar Warsuniverses, Abrams has found his way back to the medium that made him a household name and created his first scripted series since 2010’s short-livedUndercovers. His new show,Duster, doesn’t share much in common with the mystery-box delights ofLostor the underratedFringe, but it’s a hugely enjoyable homage to the ‘70s crime dramas he grew up watching.
ButDusterdoes share one big thing in common withLost, as it sees Abramsreuniting with James “Sawyer” Ford himself, Josh Holloway. Even over a decade away, Abrams still knows how to get the best out of the actor, as Holloway gives an effortlessly charismatic lead performance, perfectly mixing charm and charisma with moral ambiguity. As Jim Ellis, a getaway driver for crime lord Ezra Saxton (Keith David), it’s a role tailor-made for Josh Holloway, and he more than delivers. However, over the last couple of weeks, eagle-eyed viewers may have caught another subtle shoutout to Abrams’ first collaboration with Holloway.
‘Duster’ Tells Us To Follow the Numbers
InDuster’s third episode, “You’re No Good”,FBI agent Nina Hayes(Rachel Hilson) is desperate for a lead on Ezra Saxton, believing that he secretly arranged the death of Jim Ellis’s brother, Joseph. Knowing that she could use firm evidence to turn Ellis into an informant, she visits Leland Breen, the now-hospitalized FBI agent who previously investigated Saxon and specifically Joseph’s death.
In disguise as a nurse, Nina infiltrates the mental institution and finds Breen, though he quickly proves violent and holds a knife to her throat. After she manages to talk him down and demands information on Saxton,Breen briefly becomes lucid and tells Nina to “follow the numbers,”though she has no idea what he means by this.
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Breen’s words are obviously meant to foreshadow a potential cover-up over Joseph’s death (which the FBI might be complicit in), butthey’re also a clever callback toLost.The numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42played a role in one of the series’ core mysteries. Fan-favorite character Hurley used them as a winning lottery ticket and later became convinced they were cursed after suffering a string of bad luck.
The numbers kept appearing throughout the rest of the show, most notably in the second season, when they were used as a computer code at a scientific research station’s computer, repeatedly entered to prevent a surge of electromagnetic energy. Additionally, in the final season, each number was revealed to correspond to a specific main character, all of whom were being considered as candidates to replace the Island’s protector, Jacob.
What Do the Numbers Mean in ‘Duster’?
But even while this shoutout is a fun Easter egg, it’s also a key hint at the direction we’ll see the rest ofDuster’s first season go. As previously mentioned, Nina suspects that the circumstances regarding Joseph Ellis’s death are more complicated than she first thought and that the FBIwas likely involved in a cover-up.Breen’s words seem to vindicate her suspicions, as does his sudden death in the newest episode.
This week saw Nina and her partner Awan realize what Breen meant by “follow the numbers,” discovering that his case files on Saxton spell out a sequence when placed in a specific order. That sequence gives them coordinates to an abandoned car on a Navajo reservation, and in the trunk, they find an old videotape. On the tape, Breen gives a warning: “Expose Xavier and his network. Until then, trust no one.”
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It’sDuster’s clearest hint yet of a larger conspiracy, and proof that the road ahead will be bumpy for Nina, as some of her fellow cohorts at the FBI are almost certainly involved. And while we’re given no hints about who “Xavier” is or any information about his network, this development gives much-needed forward momentum to the show. We now have a clear path forward for Nina, which could also help her learn more about the death of her father at Saxton’s hands. Additionally, it gives another wrinkle to Jim Ellis’s arc, as FBI involvement in his brother’s murder means he’d be less likely to trust Nina, even if Saxton was the most responsible party.
But regardless of where things go, it’s almost certainlyDuster’s most exciting story development yet, and it feels like a throwback to J.J. Abrams’ early mystery-box storytelling, which was designed to invite questions and viewer speculation. And on top of all of that, it was a surprising but thoroughly welcome shoutout toLost, as it was an Easter egg that felt clever without being too cute about it. Four episodes in,Dusteris proving to bean old-school vibes-driven crime showin the best way possible, and we can’t wait to see where it goes.
