Daisy Jones & The Six is a Behind The Music-style exploration of the rise and fall of the eponymous 1970s band, delving into their origins and the reasons for their sudden breakup in 1977.
The TV adaptation of the book, produced for Prime Video by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, is an incredibly effective portrayal of the story. The ten episodes are presented in a documentary style, mirroring the novel's structure, where the characters offer commentary and reflections to the camera as the plot unfolds onscreen and reveals the highs and lows of being in a band, the secrets they've kept from each other and the world, and how the rock and roll lifestyle isn't all it's cracked up to be..
As a series centered on music, I'm thrilled to report that the music is undoubtedly the show's standout aspect. Featuring original tracks penned by renowned artists like Jackson Browne, Marcus Mumford, and Phoebe Bridgers, among others, the soundtrack is bound to be chock-full of fan favorites. The scenes are also populated with hits from the period, including tracks from iconic artists like Aerosmith, Carole King, The Beach Boys, and the inspiration behind the series: Fleetwood Mac.
The clear standouts of the series are Riley Keough and Camila Morrone. Whenever someone asks me for my thoughts on the show, I immediately mention their names (along with a nod to the soundtrack). Keough flawlessly portrays Daisy Jones, bringing to life a character that some may find unappealing but with enough charm to light up any room, making me root for her even at her most self-centered moments. Additionally, Keough proves to be a triple threat, showcasing her exceptional voice and natural stage presence. It's no surprise that her grandfather is Elvis Presley, but it's important to note that Keough is a talent in her own right, making the role of Daisy entirely her own and rendering it impossible to envision anyone else in that part.
Sam Claflin impresses as Billy Dunne, the leader of the Six, a Pittsburgh rock group missing a crucial piece. When Billy moves to Hollywood, he connects with big-shot producer Teddy Price (Tom Wright), who brings Daisy and the Six together for a collaboration. The ensuing drama is the driving force of both the novel and the series.
Daisy and Billy's rocky relationship fuels passionate songwriting and leads to Daisy officially joining the Six. Despite Billy being married to a photographer named Camila (played by the talented Camila Morrone), he and Daisy battle with both attraction and animosity towards each other. Meanwhile, Billy's brother and Six guitarist Graham (played by Will Harrison) becomes enamored with their keyboardist Karen Sirko (played by the charming Suki Waterhouse), adding even more tension to the group.
One of the most notable changes from the novel in the series, apart from the altered dynamics between Daisy, Billy, and Camila, concerns Simone's character. Fortunately, this change is also the most effective. Instead of merely serving as a refuge for Daisy and a source of comfort, Simone is depicted as a multifaceted young woman struggling between her aspiration for stardom and her emerging relationship with another woman, which forces her to confront her queer identity, particularly in a public setting. This plotline is satisfying not only for its portrayal of the impact of Black and queer communities on the rise of disco, but also for its nuanced depiction of a character's self-discovery journey.
I would have liked to have seen a cameo in the form of book character Mick Riva, though including him in this adaptation may have caused problems down the road in casting for the same character in Malibu Rising and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - both books of Taylor Jenkins Reid are also headed to the small screen sometime in the future.
Overall, Daisy Jones & The Six is a well-crafted, immersive show that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. It explores themes of creativity, love, addiction, and the price of fame, and it does so with nuance and sensitivity. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves music, historical fiction, or character-driven stories.
The first 3 episodes of Daisy Jones & The Six are available now on Prime Video.
