If you’ve been watching Duster on Max, then you know it’s one high-octane ride with plenty to like about where it’s begun and where it could be headed.
There are two converging storylines within the crime thriller: that of getaway driver Jim Ellis and the FBI’s first black woman agent, Nina Hayes.
Jim and Nina are “working” together to bring down a massive crime syndicate boss, but their journeys to this point are pretty separate, with Jim off doing illegal things and Nina building a case.
Nina’s opportunity with the bureau is filled with animosity, blatant and subtle racism, misogyny, and just general rudeness from the second she steps into the Phoenix, Arizona office and must contend with pair after pair of judgmental eyes.
One of her only peers who shows her respect is Awan Bitsui, a Navajo agent, who we can see very quickly may be a male, but he’s not a white male and thus doesn’t garner much respect in that office.
When we first meet Nina, she’s being disrespected left, right, and center, which is a common theme throughout Duster Season 1 Episode 1, aside from the time spent with Awan, who is attentive and immediately receptive to her musings.
You learn early on that Awan is all heart and respect. He’s not being nice to Nina because he feels sorry for her or because she’s leading the case; instead, it’s simply who he is.
He’s a compassionate, kind-hearted soul who’s very aware of his circumstances but isn’t jaded or cruel. He comes to work every day with a good attitude, and even when he may be skeptical of something, he and Nina talk about it.
By Duster Season 1 Episode 3, the pair have only known each other for a little while, yet there’s an enormous amount of trust between them.
They put a lot of faith into each other’s hands as they strive to do something bigger than themselves, and with each passing hour, you can see how comfortable they are with one another.
The Superman scene has gone viral on social media, and it’s the perfect introduction to the pair for those unfamiliar, as it allows you to really see how wholesome their dynamic is.
Awan’s Velcro wallet is a little childish from the outside, right? It’s the kind of wallet you might see a little kid use to keep their ice cream truck money or money for the elementary school’s book fair.
When Nina lightheartedly calls him out on it, you can see Awan isn’t in on the joke, but he tells her plainly why it’s something that matters to him.
He doesn’t laugh it off or try to act like it’s not important to him, and it’s such a sweet moment to learn more about Awan and also to see Nina’s acceptance and respect for something he values.
Also, Awan’s love for Superman and everything he stands for is such a green flag.
Say what you want about the superhero, but his enduring qualities have always been his compassion and hopefulness, and Awan’s admiration for the superhero is incredibly charming.
There’s a sweetness between Nina and Awan, and it’s so fortifying, considering I shudder almost every time they’re in that FBI building, as you’re just waiting for the next microaggression to drop.
But between the two of them, there’s nothing but respect and a little admiration.
They’re learning from each other and listening to one another. They work as a unit; even if Nina is leading the charge, there is no need for egos or a desire to impress, which makes their partnership feel both balanced and refreshing.
There are MANY buddy cop duos on television, including some very popular ones from years past. And what’s always made the best ones stand out is that you feel like these two people would put their lives on the line for each other.
You feel the connection, the camaraderie, and the innate desire between two people to protect the other.
Even with Nina and Awan’s relationship being so fresh, you already feel like these two would go to war for one another if war broke out in the middle of the desert in 1972.
In today’s television world, shipping is a significant phenomenon, and naturally, pairing two people with chemistry leads to people shipping it. And it’s very easy to fall under the Nina and Awan spell because of how suited they are for one another.
Above all else, you can tell these two understand each other, and they feel at ease when together. Of course, they have chemistry for days, and they’re both beautiful, but above all else, they connect on a deeper level because they feel so similar in many ways.
Sure, there are differences, like Nina colors a bit more outside the lines than Awan is used to, and there’s a quirky little humor Awan has that can be a contrast to Nina’s more button-down demeanor, but that makes a ship fun, right?
Seeing the little ways in which they may conflict, but ultimately seeing how they connect outshine everything else.
If you ship Nina and Awan, I stand beside you because I see the vision wholeheartedly.
There’s something very endearing about seeing two people with the odds stacked against them, building a relationship both professionally and personally (maybe!), and finding in each other a person who believes in them when it feels like they spend so much of their existence in a bubble of hatred and intolerance conjured by an angry and ignorant world.
Could Nina and Awan be the next big romance? Or the next great cop pairing?
Nina and Awan’s pairing reminds us that true partnership is built on respect, empathy, and belief in one another, and it’s beautiful to watch.
Time will tell whether they stay platonic besties or cross that line, but their partnership has been so refreshing and wholesome, and I adore them. And they should be loved by you, as well!
Are you guys watching Duster on Max? If not, what are you waiting for?
Let me know how you’re feeling about the series and, of course, the adorableness that is Nina and Awan.
We know it’s not cool to ask for help, but here we are.
A comment lets us know someone’s out there, and a share helps more than you’d think. Either way, thanks for sticking with us.
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