WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Duster season 1, episode 4.

The end of Duster season 1, episode 4, finds both Jim and Nina at a dangerous crossroads as they head into the latter half of the season. Looking to stay on Ezra Saxon's good side so he can extract intel for Nina, Jim offers to take Saxon's son Royce out on a visit to a nearby shipping facility. Royce, eager to prove himself to his father, ends up biting off more than he can chew when he pulls up in a luxury car owned by Howard Hughes, a renowned aerospace engineer, investor, and film producer.

Naturally, Jim and Royce go out for a friendly joyride until Royce nearly hits an oncoming vehicle, which later spawns a vengeful carjacking after Jim encounters the formidable cartel assassin known as The Blade. Meanwhile, Nina continues to heed Leland Breen's advice and "follow the numbers" with Awan. The FBI duo realizes that there's a sequence in the order of Leland's case files on Saxon, which ultimately points to coordinates on the Navajo Nation Reservation that lead to an abandoned old car. They uncover a VHS tape hidden under some dirt in the trunk.

Why Jim Made A Deal With Enrique The Blade & Mad Raoul

It Was His Way Of Apologizing For Breaking His Word

After a vicious fight in the bathroom of an auto body shop in the middle of the desert, Jim ultimately gives Enrique, better known as "The Blade," Howard Hughes' car that Royce was driving recklessly. Royce overheated the engine, which brought them to the auto repair shop in the first place, where they became sitting ducks for the two young men in ties who decided to steal the car without knowing who they were messing with. Jim and Enrique stop fighting to have a drink and talk about their career aspirations when they realize that the car's been taken.

The former enemies work together to chase after the two car thieves, one driving their original car and the other driving the stolen luxury vehicle. The Blade takes both of the thieves out with pinpoint accuracy, making sure that the car is undamaged. As a token of his gratitude, and to apologize for agreeing to work for The Blade's cartel boss, Mad Raoul, only to go back on his deal, Jim hands the keys to Howard Hughes' car to Enrique. Jim is confident that he will be able to come up with a story to tell Ezra Saxon, which may have consequences for his relationship with him down the line.

What Nina & Awan Discover On Leland Breen's VHS Tape

Leland Says To "Expose Xavier" & "Trust No One"

Since the FBI agents Nina Hayes and Awan have been digging into the unfinished work of Leland Breen. Breen was a former FBI agent who was handling the Ezra Saxon case before a psychotic break landed him inside a psychiatric hospital. After frighteningly encountering him in episode 3, which nearly cost Nina her life, Nina and Awan's trip to the Indigenous reservation lands them a major clue that could uncover an FBI conspiracy. In the tape, which is unfortunately distorted but still working, Leland mentions a man named Xavier, saying, "Expose Xavier and his network. Until then, trust no one."

In the tape, which is unfortunately distorted but still working, Leland mentions a man named Xavier, saying, "Expose Xavier and his network. Until then, trust no one."

One of the biggest unanswered questions heading into the second half of Duster season 1 will be uncovering who Xavier is and what exactly his network consists of. There are still plenty of elements and characters that have yet to be explored in Duster, particularly the Cowboy character introduced in Washington, D.C., who will surely play a bigger role as Duster season 1 continues. As Nina and Awan dive deeper into Leland's trail of clues, more parties are bound to be interested. However, it is intriguing to see how, if at all, this connects to Saxon and Jim's brother's death.

How Jim Winds Up In A High-Speed Chase With Howard Hughes' Car

Royce Got Himself In A Pickle That Jim Had To Fix

Jim wastes no time in chasing down the car thieves with his new sidekick, Enrique The Blade. It's interesting to note that at any time, The Blade could have turned on Jim, since he had originally been sent to kill him, but didn't because he realized that Jim is a lot like him. Hopefully, The Blade will return in future episodes of Duster as he and Jim make for a fun and very dangerous duo. If Duster returns for a second season, perhaps The Blade can make another appearance if Jim ends up going to Mexico after all. The Blade could also introduce the mysterious Mad Raoul character.

As much as Royce was trying to make a good impression, he nearly crashed Howard Hughes' car while racing with Jim, which would have made his life being saved in the Duster season 1 premiere all for nothing. Jim knew he had to take things into his own hands after the car was stolen by those two young men. Fortunately, he had the incredibly precise assassin known as The Blade to help him get the car back. If there were anyone to blame, it might have been Royce for overheating the engine in the first place. Regardless, Jim cleans up Royce's mess even though it costs him the car.

What Duster Episode 4's Ending Means For The Rest Of Season 1

There's Still A Lot To Figure Out In The Coming Episodes

Although Jim and Nina each stayed in their respective worlds in Duster season 1, episode 4, both found themselves in tough situations that, in the end, presented a new set of circumstances. Jim will have to figure out a way to justify losing Howard Hughes' car to Saxon, who will undoubtedly be upset about the whole dilemma. Jim had worked hard to get in good with Saxon throughout the first half of Duster season 1, but now things between them could be a lot bumpier, which could prevent Jim from being on the inside of Saxon's affairs. Jim still saved Royce's life, but Saxon may become suspicious and lose trust in him.

Jim and Nina still have a ton of work on their hands in Duster if they hope to get to the bottom of Saxon's past, Joey's death, and the FBI's corruption.

As for Nina, she will have to figure out who Xavier is and who else is in his network in the latter half of Duster season 1. She and Awan will likely keep digging into what is almost certainly some type of FBI conspiracy or cover-up, which places Nina in more danger than ever since she no longer knows whom she can trust. For all she knows, Awan could be in on the whole thing, although some of her FBI coworkers are obviously more antagonistic towards her than others.

All things considered, Jim and Nina still have a ton of work on their hands in Duster if they hope to get to the bottom of Saxon's past, Joey's death, and the FBI's corruption.