Daisy Jones & the Six review: A messy, nostalgic thrill
Review Overview
Rags to riches
8Rock-tastic musical musings
9Righteous revelations
8Charlotte Harrison | On 05, Mar 2023
Episodes of Daisy Jones & the Six arrive weekly on Fridays. This review is based on the first three episodes.
Daisy Jones & the Six, by Taylor Jenkins Reid, was one of the books of 2019. So much so that Reece Witherspoon and her production company Hello Sunshine picked up the rights before it came out. It is an oral history of a fictional 1970s rock band (although anyone with even the most limited knowledge of Fleetwood Mac would recognise some elements…) who broke up at the very height of their fame, when they were one of the biggest bands in the world. They’ve stayed silent on what happened – until now. In the book, 40 years have passed. The TV show chooses 20 – which allows for the cast to stay the same, with the use of wigs and make-up.
The first three episodes of this adaptation follow two storylines, that of the Six and of Daisy – long before they ever met. The Six (five in the show, and an honorary member) are a jobbing covers band playing out of a Pittsburgh suburb, known for playing proms and other celebrations, fronted by the charismatic Billy Dunne (Sam Claflin), who is in a committed relationship with Cami (Camila Morrone). A chance encounter with a tour manager (Timothy Olyphant) has them headed for LA.
Which is where Daisy Jones (Riley Keough) grew up and lives. After a childhood being neglected by her parents and an adolescence being used by older, creative boyfriends as a “muse”, she’s determined to use her voice to create her own art. By the end of Episode 3, these two storylines collide in a recording studio where Daisy is recruited to provide the polish to the band’s new song Look at Us Now (Honeycomb). What comes next? Well, stay tuned…
It’s an incredibly faithful adaption, in part due to the author’s involvement. Jenkins Reid refers to her role as that of “grandparent” of the show, not having direct responsibility but more than enough involvement. For fans of the book, there’s a real thrill to seeing the beloved band brought to life and hearing those songs soar from beyond the page – which the actors themselves sing and perform. Claflin only started playing guitar when he came on board the project, and more than enough attention has been given to Keough’s genetic links to music royalty (her grandfather was Elvis Presley). Their chemistry is apparent from the outset, the feeling of being drawn together in a way that is beyond their control.
The interjection of the talking heads in the now, often altering the story due to contradictory recollections, is what makes this stand out beyond typical music-related fare. The three episodes are well paced for addressing the back story, what came before the rise and provide more than enough reasons for investment in their stories. The relationships and resentments, the challenges, and the joys. Just like with the band themselves, it all leads to that joining of forces and an epic song that will undoubtedly be a hit on streamers. Amazon is throwing its all behind the show, actually releasing the band’s iconic album Aurora on LP and all manner of merch.
At this point, avoiding the show feels like more effort than getting on board. So, why not give this glossy slice of nostalgia a try?