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Duster Ending Explained: Saxton’s Sacrifice and Xavier’s True Identity Revealed, Here's How It Sets Up Season 2
The Duster season finale leaves fans stunned with Saxton’s dramatic exit, Xavier’s shocking reveal, and creator LaToya Morgan hinting at bigger twists.
The explosive Duster series’ ending ties up plenty of secrets but leaves fans wanting more. The ’70s crime thriller from J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan delivers high stakes in its season finale, setting up a tense road ahead for Jim Ellis, Nina Hayes, and a new twist involving Jim’s brother.
What happens in the Duster season finale?
The Duster season finale breakdown shows how everything reaches a boiling point in Arizona. The truth finally comes out about getaway driver Jim Ellis’s confidential informant deal with FBI agent Nina Hayes. Meanwhile, tensions between Arizona mob boss Ezra Saxton and his rival reach their peak. The result? A brutal shootout leaves several dead.
LaToya Morgan told Collider, “It was always our plan from the beginning…It was something we discussed with [Keith David] right before we cast him, and this was also part of a larger plan for multiple seasons.”
Saxton sacrifices himself for his son Royce, a choice Morgan says was planned to make his death feel earned, not wasted. “It had to be in a way that felt special, that felt like it was the right arc for his character,” she said.
What we learned about Nina and Saxton’s past
One of the biggest moments is a Philadelphia flashback showing young Nina meeting Saxton. The scene explains Nina’s lifelong mission. Morgan said, “It was such a priority for me…to set the table and show young Saxton…and that there are repercussions to those actions.”
The finale also shows Nina being kidnapped and tortured, but she doesn’t back down. “This woman is going through it,” Morgan shared. “She’s still standing up for herself and standing up for her father.”
Xavier’s identity twist: Jim’s brother Joey is alive
A major shock is the reveal that Jim’s brother Joey is not dead, he’s Xavier, the mysterious figure haunting the season. Morgan shared, “In the beginning…we started laying out ideas for multiple seasons. It was always a part of what we were thinking about.”
This twist means Jim and Nina can’t just leave Arizona behind. Nina’s future at the bureau and Jim’s life are tied to these secrets.
The Duster finale brought more heartbreak for Jim as well. His ex Izzy tells him she has cancer, another early plan that Morgan delayed for a bigger impact. “Originally, we were going to reveal it in the pilot…It had to be more impactful at the end,” she said. Fans now wonder how Jim will care for Izzy and their daughter Luna, and whether Nina stays by his side.
With Saxton gone, Xavier’s true identity revealed, and Nina’s mission unfinished, Duster sets up new dangers. Morgan teased that these big reveals open more doors. “Hopefully you’ve been enjoying the ride…because there’s more,” she said.
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