Stars and Strife: ‘Daisy Jones’

Amazon

Jillian Schudiske, News Editor

“Daisy Jones and the Six” which premiered on March 3, is an Amazon mini series based on the best-selling novel by Taylor Jenkins Reed. The story is told from the perspective of  fictitious reunited band members in a documentary style.

The premise is based on the dynamics of Fleetwood Mac, with the two lead characters Daisy Jones (Riley Keough) modeled after Stevie Nicks and Billy Dunne (Sam Claflin) after Lindsay Buckingham. 

Set on the Sunset strip in the 70s, Jones who grew up in the Los Angeles music scene, becomes a soulful songwriter as she joins “The Six”, to collaborate on a new album. “The Six” lead singer, Dunne struggles with sharing the spotlight with Jones while staying  faithful to his wife as he and Jones grow closer.

Keough and Claflin do a good job at recreating the tension between the two characters, when they first collaborate on “The Six” album, “Aurora”. The stars’ chemistry is prominent as the two singers are forced to share a microphone while recording “The Six ” single, Honeycomb.  They are able to represent the mutual apprehension without being too direct or over the top.

 Nostalgia for the time period is prevalent, yet most of the audience was not alive in the 70s which creates a disconnect from the storyline. The iconic places and rock ‘n roll references feel appropriate for the time but are lost on younger viewers.  

As with similar music genre films like “Almost Famous” and “That Thing You Do”, “Daisy delves into the darker sides of the music scene.  Both Jones and Dunne deal with alcohol and substance abuse recovery in an authentic and impactful way without feeling like it glamorizes addiction.  

The series features original music produced by Blake Mills and performed by the cast. The music feels a bit inauthentic at the beginning, but as the series progresses and the two vocalists come together the ballads sound more genuine. Keough’s soulful voice pairs well with Claflin’s rugged tone, creating a sound that’s sure to make Keogh’s grandfather, Elvis, proud.