"Like real partners": Duster's Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson on shootouts, trust falls, and their breakthrough episode

Max's crime thriller series, Duster, starring Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson, premiered on May 15, 2025. Since its release, viewers have been hooked on the adventures of getaway driver and FBI agent duo, Jim and Nina, as they try their absolute best to stop crime syndicate boss Saxton (Keith David).

Duster Season 1, Episode 6, “Meet By the Clothes,” continues to build tension and pushes the key players closer to the edge. On one hand, we see how Jim and Nina, in an uneasy yet effective partnership, pull off a high-stakes deal with Russians, outsmarting Sal's crew after a violent ambush. Meanwhile, Nina manages to protect her cover despite Agent Grant's meddling. With two episodes left, the pressure is mounting fast, and danger feels inevitable.

In a recent interview with Variety, Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson opened up about Episode 6. Previously, we saw how Nina posed as a Russian interpreter to infiltrate Saxton's mob. Even though Jim wasn't comfortable with the setup, they successfully completed their first task and secured a deal with a Russian gangster. Agreeing with Hilson's statements about Jim and Nina's fresh partnership, Holloway told Variety:

"Like real partners. There’s a whole new level of trust that has to be there –– or not. But after this deal, I think they do have a mutual trust for each other that is deepened through this experience."

Created by J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, Duster has already garnered 7.1/10 stars on IMDb and 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Duster Season 1 Episode 6: Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson hint at a possible romance between Jim and Nina

The episode ends with Nina tending to Jim's wounds, as a spark of romantic tension quietly ignites between them. Even though Holloway isn't sure about the future of Jim and Nina's relationship, he shared:

"I wondered if this was gonna be weird, but if you put it in the world of the ’70s, not so much. People were more fluid around most issues.It makes sense, because in the beginning, before he realizes she’s FBI, it’s very flirty. Their actual professional relationship has been antagonistic —but who knows where that could grow later.”

To which Hilson added,

"You don't know what people's kinks are!"

Co-creator Morgan continued,

"To me, there’s nothing sexier than helping someone when they’re hurt. They’ve had a little tequila, and tequila can go to your head. There’s this thing between them and nobody else understands but them.”

Morgan revealed that to elevate the realism of the danger Nina and Jim face, they incorporated a scene where Nina gives her locket to her FBI colleague Awan Bitsui to send to her mother, while Jim gives his Duster’s key to his daughter.

Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson on Duster Season 1 Episode 6: From Nina's fluent Russian to Billy's rising suspicion

During the deal with the Russian gangster, there was a minor hiccup that could have blown Nina's cover. When Saxton and his team went to secure the deal, the Russian gangster offered them alcohol. Bill freaked out, as he was still on heart surgery medication, and the alcohol caused him to speak gibberish. However, Nina’s fluent Russian and Jim's quick thinking helped them escape the awkward situation. Hilson shared her experience learning Russian:

"I knew she had to be fluent. I started that pretty soon, and then we had a dialect coach on set who was amazing."

Their mission takes a violent turn when Sal's men — including a Greek mobster — ambush them, still bitter over their previous encounter. A chaotic shootout follows, and Nina proves her worth by helping fend off the attackers. She saves Ben’s life, though his suspicions, while momentarily stalled, still linger, suggesting a future fallout. Holloway added:

"Billy is my main concern, because he’s already suspicious and I can feel him honing in on us"

Watch Duster every Thursday at 9:00 PM ET on Max.

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Also read: The opening credits from Duster have multiple Easter eggs, and here’s what they mean

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