Adapted from #BookTok darling author Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestselling book of the same name, Daisy Jones & The Six is now a series, available to stream starting March 3rd. Daisy Jones & The Six tells the story of a fictional rock band called The Six, and its front-woman, the enigmatic and dazzling Daisy Jones. Primarily set in the 70s, the book was inspired by the famously tumultuous relationship between Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.
Starring Riley Keough as Daisy Jones, the ten episode miniseries uses a documentary-style format to tell the story of its titular band who rose to immense fame in the 1970s, then after just one album, and one sold-out national tour — stopped touring, and broke up. In the “present-day” 1990s, a filmmaker wants to understand what really happened back then, and decides to interview the former band members.
The interviews take us through the band’s story, and the ways its disbanding (hehe) affected its members. We are taken through a journey full of nostalgia, bitterness, grief, hurt, and disappointment as we learn about the relationships that made up the band, and the ways many of them were changed by its dissolution. We’re taken through time as these personalities meet, get to know each other, grow larger than life, and then break apart. While the miniseries does give us a bit of a background into the ways the band got together, and how the members found their way to music, in ten hours of television, it’s hard to get across that kind of depth of backstory. So if you’re curious to learn more about the characters, I’d recommend reading the book.
We see the ways the group came together, initially to make one song, and then the majority of the show follows the band as they work on their debut album Aurora. This is a prime setup for the various interpersonal conflicts that made the show (and the book) so rich and emotionally resonant – the breakups, the makeups, the love triangles, the fights, and the vulnerabilities that make for the kinds of belt-worthy ballads that lead to a killer soundtrack.
The intricacies and intimacies of their music-making lead to some of the series’ best moments. We get to see a lot of fire and a lot of vulnerability from our actors in these scenes. The songs themselves are compelling and well-produced — with the help of a variety of collaborators, including Jackson Browne and Marcus Mumford (love of my life!!!)… While it’s hard to fill the shoes of 70s musical icons, like Carole King or Fleetwood Mac, Daisy Jones gives us its best shot — the songs are catchy, tender, groovy, and “sticky” enough that they’ll be stuck in your head. If you like the songs, or like 70s vibes in general, you’re in luck, because alongside the show, on March 3rd, we will also be able to get our hands on the aforementioned Aurora album (available in vinyl and CD formats, as well as on Spotify). The actors themselves sing the songs, and they are GOOD… I’ve been listening to Regret Me on repeat since the single was released earlier this year.
The show is a whirlwind of heartbreaking ballads, a drug-fuelled rock scene, fringe jackets, flared jeans, and twanging guitars, with a tender and fiery underpinning of messy and imperfect humanity. While it is, in part, a story about music, fame, stars burning bright, and the epic flames of passion – it’s the tumultuous romance and love triangle between Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne, and Camila’s growing suspicions of their relationship that take front and center stage in this adaptation.
Whether you’ve already read the book, and are eagerly anticipating the adaptation, or you’re just looking for a great new show to watch, Daisy Jones & The Six is a fast-paced, thrilling journey back to the 70s. You’ll find yourself in the guitar-smashing, song-belting world of a 70s rock band at the top of their game, and then again, twenty years later, in the aftermath of a shocking breakup. The strengths of the show lie in the show-stopping cast and the incredible musical performances. The charisma is off the charts, and the vintage bohemian aesthetics, and long hair paint a nostalgic picture of an iconic era of music. As the forecast calls for more snow, and dropping temperatures, this weekend feels MADE for tuning into the first three episodes of this sun-soaked, sepia-toned story about love, music, and rock & roll.
Daisy Jones & The Six will premiere on Prime Video starting March 3rd, with the first three episodes (episodes will then release weekly on Fridays, until March 24th).
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Ameema Saeed (@ameemabackwards) is a storyteller, a Capricorn, an avid bookworm, and a curator of very specific playlists, customized book recommendations, and cool earrings. She’s the Books Editor for She Does the City, where she writes and curates bookish content, and book recommendations. She enjoys bad puns, good food, dancing, and talking about feelings. She writes about books, big feelings, unruly bodies, and her lived experiences, and hopes to write your next favourite book one day. When she’s not reading books, she likes to talk about books (especially diverse books, and books by diverse authors) on her bookstagram: @ReadWithMeemz