WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Duster season 1, episode 8.
TheDusterseason 1 finale, “‘66 Reno Split”, finally reveals who Xavier is andwhat happened to Jim’s brother, Joey, with a shocking double-punch twist. AfterNina Hayes’ FBI superior, Nathan Abbott, admits to the FBI conspiracy that she and Awan had been investigating, he tells Nina the truth about Xavier.
Jim thinks about hitting the road in the final moments ofDusterseason 1, but is forced to stay after learning about Izzy’s cancer. He has yet to reveal to Luna that he’s her father, not her uncle, but a potentialsecond season ofDustersets up Luna to finally learn the truth about her father.
Saxton Knew Joey Was Alive But Never Told Jim The Truth
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The mysterious Xavier that was referred to throughoutDusterseason 1 is revealed to be Jim’s brother, Joey Ellis.Jim thought Joey was killed by Saxton, but instead, the truth is revealed that Saxton helped Joey go undercover. Saxton never revealed this to Jim, even as he was dying.
Xavier is at the head of Saxton and Howard Hughes' purchase of the infamous and incriminating Richard Nixon tape. He also appears to be orchestrating the FBI conspiracy cover-up, enlisting Cowboy and Agent Grant to go after Nina Hayes.Xavier is incredibly powerful with ties to D.C. – and he’s also Jim’s brother.
Saxton & Hughes Originally Planned To Give It To Xavier
The valuable tape of Richard Nixon ends up in Mad Raoul’s hands at the end ofDuster season 1. Saxton had initially secured it from Greek Sal by exchanging it for Jim, which would have brought the tape back to Xavier, Jim’s brother.It’s not clear what Xavier was planningto do with it.
The real-life audio recordings of Nixon were infamously part of the Watergate scandal of 1972, which is right around when Duster season 1 takes place. Duster portrays a fictional version of the historical event in which one or more of the characters, potentiallyCowboy, works at the White House and steals one of Nixon’s tapes.
Ezra Wasn’t Going To Risk Wade Killing Genesis
Saxton had the opportunity to walk away from the deal with Greek Sal unscathed after handing Jim over. He makes the shocking move to save Jim by killing Greek Sal and sparking a shootout. The shootout kills Billy andEzra, who jumps in front of his son, Royce,as one of Sal’s guys aimed and fired.
Ezra was motivated to save Jim and kill Sal because Jim’s dad, Wade, was with his daughter, Genesis.If Jim had been killed, Wade would have sadly killed or hurt Genesis, even though the two served in World War II together. Ezra says to Jim, “I can’t do this to my kid.”
Jim Has To Stay Around Phoenix To Look After Izzy & Luna
In the aftermath of Saxton’s death, Jim tells Izzy he plans to leave Phoenix for an indefinite time. Izzy tells him that he can’t becauseDavid, her new boyfriend, is not just any oncologist, but her personal oncologist. This is how Izzy tells Jim she has cancer and that he needs to stick around for Luna.
Because of this shocking twist, Jim may finally tell Luna that he’s her father in a potentialDusterseason 2. Things with David could get tricky down the line when it comes to guardianship, butJim would have to give up his wild lifestyle in order to be a dad, which seems incredibly unlikely now that he knows his brother is alive.
Cowboy Appears To Be Taking Orders From Xavier, Jim’s Brother
Cowboy still remains a mysterious character by the end of Duster season 1, but it’s clear that he and Saxton both have a lot of respect for Xavier. Xavier appears to be the one who instructed Cowboy to go after Nina.Cowboy enlists the corrupt agent Grant to finish the job, but Awan takes him out in the nick of time.
Grant was assigned by Cowboy to keep tabs on Nina because she was uncovering the FBI conspiracy.
Grant was assigned by Cowboy to keep tabs on Nina because she was uncovering the FBI conspiracy. Now that Abbott has confirmed the conspiracy is real and identified Xavier at the top of it, Nina will have her hands full trying totrack down Xavier in a potential second season and may just ask Jim to be her bait.
Virgil Ratted Ezra’s Illegal Numbers Game Out To The Police
Another lingering mystery is solved in theDusterseason 1 finale when Ezra reveals the truth about the death of Nina’s father, Virgil. Ezra admits that he did kill Virgil, but only becauseNina’s dad was a snitch for the Philadelphia police. Virgil informed the cops about Ezra’s illegal numbers game, and Ezra paid him back by blowing up his car.
Nina finds it hard to believe that her dad was dishonest, but she alsoblames Ezra for wanting to flex on an innocent personand make an example out of him to the community. Ezra shows no remorse for killing Virgil and defends his reasoning for doing so.
How Duster’s Season 1 Finale Sets Up A Potential Season 2
Both Jim & Nina Will Be Looking For Xavier
Dusterseason 1 sets up a new target for the unlikely duo of Jim Ellis and Nina Hayes.Jim will go after Xavier to discover if he is actually his brother, Joey, while Nina will pursue her investigation into the FBI conspiracy that Agent Grant died trying to keep secret.
One of the first things that Jim may be asked to do by Xavier, who is bound to make his introduction in a potential Duster season 2, is retrieve the Nixon recording from Mad Raoul.
Royce and Genesis will have to carry on without a father, as a massivehole has been made in Phoenix’s underground world of organized crime. One of the first things that Jim may be asked to do by Xavier, who is bound to make his introduction in a potentialDusterseason 2, is retrieve the Nixon recording from Mad Raoul.
