“Daisy Jones & The Six,” the TV adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestselling novel, tells the story of a fictional 70s band that mirrors the tempestuous creative and personal dynamics of Fleetwood Mac. With a talented young cast, period-appropriate detail, and a compelling source material, the show has all the makings of a hit. However, like many streaming series, it falls victim to the problem of losing narrative momentum. Despite a strong start, the show becomes repetitive, feeling like a mere imitation of an imitation.
“Daisy Jones & The Six” kicks off with a strong start, thanks to the talented cast that makes up for some of the later rough patches. The show is presented as a documentary, taking place two decades after the band’s last concert. As the band members gather for interviews, they begin to explain the rise and fall of the band. Most of the show is told through flashbacks, starting with the introduction of Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne, who are compared to the iconic Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. Throughout the interviews, we discover that all the band members have secrets, which are slowly revealed as the story unfolds.
In the early episodes of the show, we witness the collision course of two young people destined for creative greatness, both of whom are tired of being underestimated by those around them. While the comparisons to “Almost Famous” are inevitable, this is not a criticism, as the show echoes the film’s creative spirit and joy in these first few chapters. As Billy puts his band together, there’s a sense of anticipation and excitement for the creative fusion that’s about to take place, while Daisy is continuously underestimated and used by the men around her who can’t see her true talent. Ponsoldt and his team do an excellent job of giving these episodes a buoyancy, and Claflin and Keough’s performances perfectly capture the “hungry artist” chapters, blending ambition and anxiety into creative genius. However, it would have been beneficial to spend more time letting The Six struggle in Pittsburgh and Daisy fight her way through the California music scene, as this would have helped define the other band members before the focus became solely on Daisy and Billy.
The TV show “Daisy Jones and The Six” features a powerful creative fusion between Billy Dunne (Sam Claflin) and Daisy Jones (Riley Keough), encouraged by the renowned producer Teddy Price (Tom Wright). Their voices harmonize magically in the studio, especially in the original music of the show, which is remarkably strong. However, the focus on their relationship becomes the downfall of the series, as the rest of the band members are not given enough time in the spotlight. Although some of them get pushed to the background, they are barely defined before it happens, which lessens the impact of the drama.
In “Daisy Jones and The Six,” the music of the band is powered by the synergy between Billy Dunne and Daisy Jones, with the help of their producer Teddy Price. The original music in the show is quite strong, especially when Claflin and Keough’s voices blend together in the catchy tune “Look at Us Now.” However, the focus on the two leads becomes the weak point of the series, as the other band members are not given enough screen time to develop their characters. Although some of them are pushed to the background, they are not adequately defined beforehand, which weakens the impact of their storylines.
There is a growing feeling that the show fails to capitalize on its setting and era, lingering too long in the studio or Billy’s home. When the series looks at Simone (Nabiyah Be) and her need to conceal her sexuality from the public while Daisy & Billy’s possible romance is promoted by The Six, there are interesting reflections on celebrity and double standards that might give the show more substance. However, the writers do not do justice to these topics, rapidly reverting to the primary love triangle. As a result, it is a production that feels too constrained for a band that was supposedly so popular.
Later on in the show, Timothy Olyphant, who plays the band’s tour manager, recommends they include pyrotechnics in their act. Daisy’s response was “I’m the fire”. By this point, I was not convinced anymore that she truly had the same passion as before. While it is true that the story is about how creative fires can be suppressed by personal issues, this theme may have been better portrayed in a shorter format or even in literature.
Lester Bangs famously said “The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you’re uncool”, and this appears to be the idea that “Daisy Jones & The Six” is trying to convey. However, instead of concentrating on finding the true currency that lies beneath the rockstar glamour, it seems to be more focused on looking cool.
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