Music is inherently difficult to write about because there’s nothing better than hearing an actual song, especially if the band doesn’t actually exist. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s 2019 Novels daisy jones and the sixAbout a fictional ’70s rock band that breaks through at the height of their fame, Tells a compelling story but lacks an immersive, sonic experience. It is for this reason that the ten-episode adaptation of the book by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber for Prime Video is so effective.
The episodes appear in a documentary format, mirroring the novel, written as fictional tell-all interviews of various band members. Here it’s like watching a docu-series, where the characters provide exposition and insight to the camera as the story plays out onscreen. A captivating and believable Riley Keough is Daisy Jones, a drug-addicted singer and songwriter looking for a way to share her music. Sam Claflin, finally getting his due, is Billy Dunne, leader of Pittsburgh rock group The Six, who is missing a vital piece of the puzzle. After moving to Hollywood, Billy teams up with big-time producer Teddy Price (Tom Wright), who arranges a collaboration between Daisy and Six.
The ensuing drama, of course, drives both the novel and the series. Daisy and Billy have a contentious relationship that leads to passionate songwriting – and Daisy is officially added to the Six. Although Billy is married to a photographer named Camilla (Camilla Morrone), he and Daisy battle equal amounts of attraction and hatred. Meanwhile Billy’s brother and Sixth guitarist Graham (Will Harrison) becomes infatuated with their keyboardist Karen Sirko (Suki Waterhouse, at her most charismatic), causing further tension in the group.
In the novel, Daisy Jones & the Six write and record their debut album, Aurora, Although Jenkins Reed gives a strong sense of the music in the book, seeing it composed and hearing the band play it is one of the highlights of the series. So much so that Atlantic Records is releasing the actual LP, written and co-written by Blake Mills, the same day the show premieres on Prime Video, with more tracks to follow digitally. Keough and Claflin embody the rock stars so perfectly that it’s hard to believe that neither has ever actually sung or played before. The directors, including James Ponsoldt and Ningha Stewart, give audiences ample opportunity to enjoy their collaborations both in the studio and on stage.
Some episodes work better than others, but daisy jones and the six Ultimately a really enjoyable show. It helps that the cast isn’t super famous—Nabiah B, playing disco singer and Daisy’s BFF Simone Jackson, is a great find—because it really feels like you’re watching a rock band discussing their actual rise to stardom. have been real life touches, like when the band performs Saturday night Live Or add that sense of possibility when characters visit places like the Troubadour. Jenkins Reed was inspired by Fleetwood Mac when he wrote the novel and that influence is also present in the series, particularly in Daisy’s look and vibe.
Not every book-to-screen journey is smooth, but this is a case of the TV version being better than the source material (which isn’t a knock on the novel). By the end of the series, you’d believe this was a real band because you could see them and, most importantly, hear them. Classic rock fans who have probably never heard of the book will find it just as compelling as those who longed to see the real Daisy and Billy onscreen. Daisy Jones and the Six may be fictional, but it’s a joy to see them come to life like this.
