Look at Them Now: Daisy Jones & The Six Finally Hits the Screen
Image Courtesy: Entertainment Weekly
Warning: minor spoilers included.
Seven years since its conception, four years since the book’s release, and a year and a half of anticipation – the television adaptation of Daisy Jones & The Six is finally here.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll recall Tik Tok’s praise and craze for author Taylor Jenkins Reid. Last summer, “BookTok” went absolutely feral for Jenkins Reid’s 2017 release and New York Times best-seller, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Shortly following, her 2019 novel titled Daisy Jones & The Six enjoyed the same popularity. Wanting to read more last summer and inspired by the promises of glamor and drama in Jenkins Reid’s novels, I delved into the world of Daisy Jones & The Six.
Image Courtesy: Elle
The novel is written in an interview style, following the history of the fictional rock band Daisy Jones & The Six. Set during 1970s Los Angeles, Jenkins Reid sets the scene in the golden age of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. Following The Six’s humble beginnings in suburban Philadelphia to their reluctant addition of L.A. singer Daisy Jones to their eventual superstardom, the story is a quick read packed with drama, personality, aesthetics, and a rollercoaster of emotions. At the center of it all, the ‘will-they-won’t-they’ romance between Daisy and The Six frontman Billy Dunne creates a whirlwind for everyone involved.
When rumors began circulating about an on-screen adaptation of the novel, I was ecstatic. I couldn’t wait to see Daisy Jones & The Six in real time: the 70s rock ‘n’ roll aesthetics, the gorgeous wardrobe, the portrayal of Jenkins Reid’s colorful cast of characters, and all the drama. I wasn’t alone in my enthusiasm; scrolling through social media the whole year leading up to the show’s release, the Internet was abuzz with Pinterest aesthetics, casting predictions, and reposting any and all news we could get about production. Once I saw the first episode, I knew it was worth the wait.
Image Courtesy: Thought Catalog
Playing the red-haired wild child Daisy Jones is actress Riley Keough, whose flaming red hair, piercing blue eyes, and passionate singing match Daisy’s description perfectly. The cherry on top of Keough’s casting is the fact that she’s Elvis Presley’s granddaughter, meshing fictional rock ‘n’ roll history with the real thing. Paired with her fabulously 70s-inspired wardrobe by Denise Wingate, Keough brings Daisy to life in all her free-spirited, unpredictable, incredibly talented glory.
Image Courtesy: Vulture
Billy Dunne is played by Sam Claflin, who accurately portrays the frontman’s stubborn, struggling, yet passionate character. In both the book and the show, Billy’s rigid nature and ideas of success are in constant battle with Daisy’s unpredictable yet equally stubborn methods, as well as the suppressed desires of the other band members. Contrasting his tensions with Daisy is his relationship with his wife, Camila, a dilemma that constantly tests his strength and loyalty. This is where the book and show differ, with a huge plot twist that deviates from Jenkins Reid’s original narrative.
Image Courtesy: National World
Camila Dunne is played by Camila Morrone, an Argentinian-American actress, and model who shines alongside The Six’s members. The series adaptation develops Camila’s character more than the book and establishes a closer connection between her and band members like Karen and Graham. Following Camila’s inner life more closely gives audience members like me more of a desire to see her side of the Billy-Daisy conflict, and even root for her with more enthusiasm than we did in the book. Of all the casting choices, this one is my favorite.
Image Courtesy: Marie Claire
Graham Dunne, Billy’s younger brother, and The Six lead guitarist, is played by Will Harrison. His goofy charm, subtle good looks, and gentle persona make him just as loveable as the novel character. His secret love affair with The Six pianist Karen Sirko (whose comically repetitive nickname Karen Karen was nipped from the adaptation) parallels the tensions between Billy and Daisy yet adds an element of illicit romance that we get to see play out. Karen herself is played by beloved singer Suki Waterhouse, whose beauty, elegance, and talent mesh perfectly with the rest of the ensemble. Meanwhile, Sebastian Chacon as Warren Rojas (a name change from the original Warren Rhodes) is the same feel-good comic relief character we love from the novel. In my opinion, his wardrobe in the show is criminally underrated. Lastly, Josh Whitehouse plays Eddie Roundtree (originally Eddie Loving), The Six bassist who constantly struggles with feeling underappreciated and overshadowed by Billy. Another huge plot twist concerning Eddie’s jealousy and desire to be Billy is included in the adaptation. Book character Pete Loving, Eddie’s brother and the sixth member of The Six, was cut from the adaptation.
Image Courtesy: Variety
Daisy’s best friend, disco star Simone Jackson, is played by Nabiyah Be. While the book didn’t go very deep into Simone’s private life, the show adds a lot of dimension and depth to her character by adding a female love interest and depicting her struggles with sexual harassment in a male-dominated industry. Her experiences as a queer Black artist in 1970s New York City adds an entirely new element to Daisy Jones & The Six, a wonderful depiction of Black love, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and realistic struggles with coming out while rising to fame in an emerging genre.
Additionally, the cast members of the show went above and beyond to record and release actual music from the show. Their album Aurora, which the climax of the show completely centers around, is available to listen to on streaming platforms. I’ve been listening to songs like The River and Look At Us Now (Honeycomb) all week, solidifying my love of Daisy Jones & The Six, both fictionally and in real life.
Image Courtesy: Camila Morrone via Instagram
Although the original story underwent a few major changes, the adaptation of Daisy Jones & The Six is wonderfully faithful to the aesthetics and feeling of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s hippie-rock n roll-love child. It’s a feel-good mini-series that leaves you at the edge of your seat, itching to find out what will happen next. The casting, wardrobe, settings, cinematography, and of course, the story itself make for an entertaining, gossip-worthy, and aesthetically inspiring show. For me, this is a body of media I can see myself returning to for years to come.
Strike Out,
Writer: Cristina Angee
Editor: Jayna O
Tallahassee