Daisy Jones & The Six: Music To A Book Lover’s Ears

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Emily Tolcer

(MINOR SPOILERS)

The highly anticipated tv show Daisy Jones & The Six was released early this month. The series follows a band, loosely based on the really famous Fleetwood Mac, going through the struggles of a band with a 70’s backdrop.

Being based on the best-selling book, die-hard fans are very protective over the fictional band members. Just like any other book/game adaptation,  fans were really concerned if it would be authentic to the original content. As a recent reader of the book, it’s something I was concerned about so it drew me to watch the show. 

The mini-series only spans 10 episodes, the average time being 45 minutes an episode. We follow Daisy before she meets the band and the band separately. The series starts with a background on her and a background on the Dunne brothers, two plotlines until they merge together. 

The cast includes Riley Keough (Daisy Jones), Sam Claflin (Billy Dunne), Suki Waterhouse (Karen Sirko), Camila Morrone (Camila Alvarez), Will Harrison (Graham Dunne), Sebastian Chacon (Warren Rhodes), and Josh Whitehouse (Eddie Roundtree). The cast actually learned all the instruments and sang the songs you hear in the show. They all spent time together in somewhat of a “band camp” before the show’s shooting. 

Viewers get introduced to the mockumentary style in the first episode, exactly the style the book is written in. It is from the band member’s perspective many years past their breakup, and we see them pop up all throughout. 

Being a show all about music, the original music is a standout aspect. Knowing the actors are the ones truly performing adds an even more captivating detail. The soundtrack also includes popular music from that era, across the genres. Lots of prominent people worked on the soundtrack and the composing of the music including the well-known Phoebe Bridgers. 

Personally, being someone super interested in the 70’s clothes, music, and era in general, the entire atmosphere of the series feels very authentic. The outfits are perfectly styled, elevating each of the character’s own personalities. 

Someone that deserves to be highlighted is Nabiyah Be (Simone Jackson), she is Daisy’s best friend throughout the series but she is also navigating through her own journey of getting into the music industry, her side plotline is extremely important. 

Another “side” character that deserves credit is Tom Wright (Teddy Price), he is the band’s producer, and he is essential to both Billy and Daisy, he becomes both of their needed father figures. 

Going along with the specific characters, their actions can be very frustrating at times. That’s truly what makes them seem like real people, but seeing them hurt each other and their relationships is hard to watch. 

Billy specifically is the most frustrating in his choices. He is going through a constant struggle between his love for Camila-his wife, his daughter, and his attraction to Daisy. 

Billy and Daisy outwardly don’t get along the best but their personality differences don’t equal their creative interconnection. 

A slow burn prominent love affair appears between Karen and Graham. Graham spends a lot of time silently pining for Karen. Eventually, they both express their feelings to each other and begin a relationship that is kept secret from all the others. 

A trigger warning definitely applies to the drug abuse that is present in the show. The 70s obviously had a huge drug scene and you can see how it truly affects the band. Again, the character Billy Dunne’s familial relationship is affected by his addiction.

The cinematography and visuals are beautiful. The scenery of all the tour locations and backdrops are so enthralling. Obviously, being a touring band, they visit a lot places and play shows everywhere. There is even one episode that was filmed on location in Athens, Greece. 

A very memorable scene, the first time Daisy and Billy meet and sing in the studio, the “Honeycomb” performance, is stunning. That was the song I was most excited to hear because of the book’s description, and it exceeded my expectations. 

Overall, the show kept pretty true to the source material. It was a super enjoyable show, even if the characters can be unbearable sometimes however, that is exactly true for the book as well. It glamorizes the rockstar life while still showing the consequences that can come from that “dream” life.