Daisy Jones & The Sixis an Amazon miniseries based on the historical fiction novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid and both the book and the TV show have a lot going for them.Daisy Jones & The Sixfollows a fictional band, the titular Daisy Jones and her six bandmates, as they play through 1970s Los Angeles, becoming one of the most famous bands of the era. The good times don’t last, however, and eventually, the band breaks up. Based on Reid’s experience growing up watching Fleetwood Mac,Daisy Jones & The Sixis a musical and lively series.
The series went on to earn three Golden Globe nominations and three Emmy nominations, though it was shut out of its categories.Critics generally had good things to say aboutDaisy Jones & The Six, with most of the praise going toward the performances by Riley Keough, Camila Morrone, and Sam Claflin. The series has a 70% onRotten Tomatoesand while the performances were singled out in reviews, some noted that the characters themselves were one-dimensional and the series had lackluster momentum. Some fans may be wondering how it stacks up with the book.
The Daisy Jones & The Six Miniseries Is Worse Than The Book
The Show Is Too Small In Scope Compared To The Book
For the most part,Daisy Jones & The Sixis a step down from Reid’s book, and the novel provides a much richer and epic overview of the 1970s music scene. Reid’s novel is much more expansive, covering the ins and outs of the fascinating world, using Daisy Jones and her band as a way into that universe.Daisy Jones & The Sixthe show is a bit more concerned with Daisy’s love triangle, and while the novel has even more Daisy romances, the series' focus on just one narrows the scope of the show.
Daisy Jones & The Six Cast & Character Guide
The ’70s era Prime Video original explores the dynamics of the titular rock band featuring some talented and musically-gifted cast members.
It feels less about the setting and the band and more about Daisy, in particular, as a character. Keough is charismatic and talented enough to carry that story load, butit is simply a less original and interesting story than the larger, sweeping story told in Reid’s book. Not everything is worse, however, and plotlines likeSimone’s inDaisy Jones & The Sixare slightly improved over their book counterparts. Like the book, the show pitches itself as a story of the era, but unlike the book, the show shrinks into something standard and artificial.
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones & The Six Book Is Still Worth Reading
The Novel Is An Ambitious And Freewheeling Tour Through The ’70s
Despite how lackluster the series is, and it’s by no means unwatchable,Daisy Jones & The Sixthe novel is still well worth any reader’s time. The novel is split up into years containing critical moments of the band’s formation, rise, and eventual fall, and each section also includes real-life events and pop culture touchstones from the time period including the Vietnam War,Saturday Night Live, andRolling Stonemagazine. These moments and pop culture standards help groundDaisy Jones & The Sixin reality, making for a more engaging read.
It’s a stylish and forward-moving novel that takes great advantage of its 1970s setting, thrusting the reader into the charm and occasional haminess of the decade.
It’s a stylish and forward-moving novel that takes great advantage of its 1970s setting, thrusting the reader into the charm and occasional haminess of the decade. Like the TV show, the characters in the novel are participating in a documentary retrospective of their band, but the interviews and interludes weave together much more effectively in Reid’s novel than they do in the show. Each one of Reid’s characters has their own voice and style, and it’s easy to distinguish one from the other. Surprising and without apology,Daisy Jones & The Sixis worth the time.
Daisy Jones & The Six
Cast
Based on the novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Daisy Jones & The Six is an Amazon Prime miniseries about a fictional band set in the 1970s. The original story followed Daisy Jones & The Six as they grew in this fictional timeline in Los Angeles while providing commentary on the 70s music scene. The series is loosely based on performances and events surrounding the band Fleetwood Mac.
