Culture

The world’s biggest rock band to never exist finally came to life this spring, thanks to a gorgeous 10-part Amazon Prime Video mockumentary filled with yearning, angst and lots of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. After four years of existing solely in the minds of enchanted readers since Taylor Jenkins Reid’s best-selling novel of the same name was published in 2019, Daisy Jones and The Six at last gave not only a visual, but a crystal clear sound, to the most deliciously dramatic bunch of musicians since Fleetwood Mac (one of the book’s core inspirations, naturally).

Released a few episodes at a time throughout the month of March alongside an official album, Daisy Jones stars Riley Keough as the titular musical powerhouse alongside Sam Claflin as Billy Dunne, the gruff frontman of Pittsburgh amateur rockers-turned-global sensations, The Six. Filling out the cast are Camila Morrone as Camila Alvarez (Billy’s devoted wife), Suki Waterhouse as Six keyboardist Karen Sirko, Will Harrison as guitarist Graham Dunne, Josh Whitehouse as bassist Eddie Roundtree and Sebastian Chacon as drummer Warren Rojas.

At the heart of the book and show is Daisy’s relationship with Billy: cosmic, destructive, euphoric and heartbreaking to watch through the eyes of Camila, who sticks by her husband through the worst of it. It’s constantly a war between the lure of soulmates and the necessity of true love, a theme that refracts in different ways through the side stories of characters such as Karen, Graham and disco singer Simone Jackson (Nabiyah Be), all of whom must choose between love and fame at some point.

Though Daisy Jones is full of great moments, Billboard has narrowed down the most meaningful ones from each of the 10 episodes. See them in order below, but be warned that if you haven’t watched the series yet, spoilers are ahead!

“Daisy Also Agreed to This?”

Image Credit: Lacey Terrell/Prime Video

Episode: 1

At the very beginning of Daisy Jones, all we know is that the band was at the height of its success when the members made the secretive and mystifying decision to break up. We don’t know what lead to the split … until, with just one line, Billy reveals through misty eyes and a guarded expression exactly what happened without actually saying anything: “So, Daisy also agreed to this?”

It’s Sam Claflin’s second line in the entire series, but he delivers it so perfectly that viewers know from the get-go that Billy and Daisy are the two stars whose collision will be catastrophic for each other and everyone around them. There’s history, tension, anticipation, pain, nostalgia, regret — all within the first two minutes of the show.

Not Somebody’s Muse

Image Credit: Lacey Terrell/Prime Video

Episode: 1

It’s the most Daisy Jones line in both the book and the show. In the series, our heroine finally realizes her worth after going on a date with a jerk who offhandedly says he might write something she said into one of his scripts, and laughs her off when she says she might use it for herself.

“I’m not the muse, OK? I’m the somebody,” she tells him triumphantly.

From then on out, she’s Margaret (her birth name) no more. She’s Daisy effing Jones.

Karen Joins the Band

Episode: 2

The Six — still called The Dunne Brothers at this point — finally starts coming together for real when Karen, played by Suki Waterhouse, joins the pack. It’s a great moment for a couple of reasons: First, even though Graham is the one who extends the invitation, its Camila’s endorsement of the band that Karen trusts enough to take the leap. It’s one of the earliest moments showing how important Camila is and will continue to be in holding everyone together throughout the series.

Second, it’s the very rocky beginning of Karen and Graham’s slow-burn romance. When Karen first arrives at the band’s shared house in Laurel Canyon for the first time, she walks in to find a very embarrassed Graham — who has harbored a crush on her since they crossed paths in Pittsburgh — play-fighting with his bandmates wearing nothing but his underwear. Yikes.

Camila Finds Out

Episode: 2

It’s certainly not a “best moment” because it’s fun to watch, but it is one of the best executed sequences in the entire series. Readers of the book already know that Billy’s vices — drugs, alcohol and women — get the better of him when The Six go on their first tour. In the series, however, we see those events play out entirely through Camila’s perspective, which makes it go from sad to utterly excruciating.

After weeks spent going through pregnancy all alone at home with dwindling phone calls from her new husband, Camila finally gets some answers after traveling to meet everyone else on the road — where she finds Billy being, um, serviced by two women in the back of a van.

Once again, though, it’s Camila who keeps them together. “If you think I’m going to let you ruin our life, my life,” she yells at him through tears. “I don’t give a f–k what you do until this baby comes, but when it does, you are going to show up for me.”

Daisy Sets the Record Straight

Episode: 3

In the first episode, we see one of Daisy’s romantic interests coax her into singing one of her original songs for him. Later, he records the track for himself and goes No. 1 on the Daisy Jones universe’s Billboard charts with “Stumbled on Sublime.”

Eventually, though, Daisy steals back her spotlight. When she sees the guy at a party and he brushes her off, she pushes him in the pool and sings the lyrics he stole back at him as everyone else watches in stunned silence. “I mean, sure, a normal person probably would’ve let that go,” Daisy grins in her present-day confessional.

It’s a moment made even sweeter when, in episode five, Billy and Daisy hear “Stumbled on Sublime” over the radio at a diner. The two are still feuding at the time, but Billy admits he loves the song without knowing it was actually written by the girl sitting next to him.

Studio Sparks

Image Credit: Lacey Terrell/Prime Video

Episode: 3

It may not come until the end of the series’ third episode, but this is the moment where Daisy Jones and The Six’s story really starts. In one glorious sequence, Daisy and Billy meet, have their first fight and make their first masterpiece in the studio, an irresistible connection neither of them can deny or suppress from the jump.

Plus, that scene where Billy sits alone in the studio after everyone else has gone home listening to the solo track of Daisy’s voice with his eyes closed in confused agony? Incredible.

Camila Stands With Daisy

Episode: 4

Camila has every reason to distance herself from Daisy — it’s clear early on that her husband has feelings disguised as irrational hatred for the frontwoman — but she’s still able to put that aside and embrace Daisy at a house party. Camila earnestly thanks the singer for the fame her vocals have drawn to The Six’s music, and pleads with her to stay at the party even though Billy had given her the cold shoulder minutes before. It’s a beautiful moment of women supporting women, in spite of all that comes after.

Karen Falls for Graham

Episode: 5

Graham’s been pining for Karen since the second he saw her, but eventually, he tries to move on with another girl who (surprise!) doesn’t last long. After getting roped into third-wheeling a beach date with the guitarist and his new lady friend, Karen realizes she actually does return his feelings. Perfect, awkward cuteness all around.

“I’m Not Broken”

Episode: 5

Daisy and Billy have their first true moment of mutual understanding while reconciling after a fight, which started after he offhandedly called her “broken.” They realize how similar their estranged parents and coping mechanisms are, sealing their soulmate bond.

“I’m not broken,” Daisy declares. And for the first time, Billy sees that she’s right.

Billy Kisses Daisy

Image Credit: Lacey Terrell/Prime Video

Episode: 6

It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for since the very beginning of the show: After harboring intense longing and passion for one another for months, Billy finally kisses Daisy. Yes, he’s married and it’s a huge no-no, but he had good(?) reason — Daisy is struggling to get a good take in the studio while recording “More Fun to Miss.” But after Billy follows her outside and plants on one her? Her voice is flawless.

Simone the Disco Queen

Episode: 7

Though trouble is brewing at the beginning of episode seven — Daisy has disappeared right before The Six are supposed to go on tour — it’s an absolute joy to see Simone fresh off the bus to New York City, hitting the ground running as she works to find her voice in the underground LGBTQ dance-club circuit. She goes from nervous L.A. backup singer to loud and proud NYC disco pioneer, all while falling in love with the owner of her go-to club, Bernice.

Simone’s Brutal Honesty

Episode: 7

Let’s be honest: Episode seven was Simone’s episode. She spends most of it in Greece, where she’s hunted down a drugged-up, off-the-grid Daisy who’s about to get married to an Irish royal named Nicky and vows to never return to Billy or rockstar life in L.A.

Simone tries endlessly to convince her friend not to give up on The Six, but Daisy goes too far when she accuses Simone of being in love with her. Luckily, Simone is able to nail her with some much needed tough love.

“I’ll tell you what love is, cause you clearly have no f–king clue,” Simone says. “It’s when someone tells you the truth, even when you don’t want to hear it. I love you, Daisy, so I’ll tell you the truth: You’re a real selfish b—h.”

Billy Saves Daisy

Episode: 8

Finally, Daisy returns to The Six — with her new husband in tow. The “hate” part of her love-hate relationship with Billy is at an all time high following vicious comments he made in a Rolling Stone article about her substance abuse, which realistically, is starting to get out of control with Nicky’s influence.

Their feud gets so bad, Billy is seconds away from kicking Daisy out of the band. That is, until he finds her unconscious after overdosing on drugs, completely abandoned by Nicky. It’s heart-wrenching and very difficult to watch, but when Billy cradles Daisy in the shower a la A Star Is Born and pleads with her to wake up — which she eventually does, thankfully — their love finally wins out.

Bye Bye, Nicky

Episode: 9

Warren, Eddie and Graham are there to help Daisy give Nicky the boot after she realizes how toxic he is, a bittersweet moment to watch as the guys fiercely protect one of their own. Then, Karen is there to hold Daisy as she falls apart, comforting her in a way that only a friend-turned-sister can.

It Was Always You

Episode: 9

With Nicky gone and Daisy sobering up, she and Billy are at their best. They’re together all the time and back to writing songs together, with Daisy at one point sharing one she’s written for an awestruck Billy.

“I didn’t know it, I couldn’t control it,” she sings, her lyrics very obviously directed at the man sitting in front of her. “It was always you.”

“I Don’t Want to Be Broken”

Image Credit: Courtesy Photo

Episode: 10

Daisy and Billy’s kerosene-doused relationship finally lights up in the final episode of the series. Both of them have relapsed as they try to navigate their feelings for one another, especially after an angry and hurt Camila confronts them about their relationship.

Billy, drunk and knowing he’s about to lose his wife, takes Daisy aside after their final concert ever in Chicago and passionately kisses her, declaring, “Let’s be broken together.”

It’s Daisy, though, who’s strong enough to break it off. “I don’t want to be broken,” she tells him, leaving him backstage. And, finally realizing how much he doesn’t want that either, he runs out of the concert to chase after Camila and make right the relationship that’s always built him up instead of tearing him apart.

The Reveal

Episode: 10

At the very end of the series, viewers finally get to see who exactly is making the Daisy Jones “documentary”: Julia Dunne, Billy and Camila’s daughter.

That’s not the only big reveal, though. We also learn the devastating news that Camila has died from cancer, but not before telling Julia to pass on her blessing for Billy and Daisy to finally be together. It’s a heartbreaking, bittersweet, beautiful, perfect end to the series: “One day, when he’s ready, tell your father to give Daisy Jones a call. And tell Daisy Jones to answer.”