We are often told to work hard, chase our dreams to attain that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. What if we arrive there and find that pot of gold to be different from what we had anticipated?
Based on a book written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Daisy Jones and the Six Season 1, explores that pursuit of everything that is supposed to make us happy, achieving recognition, success and love. Yet at the height of the groups success, just when they had reached rainbows end, they disbanded.
Image taken from First Vanity Fair Look
Here are the two things we picked up from the story that is more important than that pot of gold at rainbow’s end
Social conformity.
It was a common believe in the 70’s that a woman can only be happy as a wife and mother. Daisy however, broke that stereotype.
Being in a male-dominated music industry did not stop Daisy from pursuing her dream and passion for music and songwriting. Refusing to fit into the mould that society expected of her is one of the main theme of the series.
Daisy said:
“I used to care when men called me difficult. Then I stopped. This way is better.”
Image taken from First Vanity Fair Look
This can also be seen in Karen’s determination to be a rockstar. Karen challenges society’s idea of what ‘feminine’ and ‘sexy’ should look like. Prefering to performs in turtlenecks (as opposed to more classic dresses), she set her own rules and standards for how she wanted to look.
“I had this really great mini-dress… I didn’t wear it. Because I knew they’d see a girl. And I wanted them to see a keyboardist.”
Karen and Daisy’s determination to be who they really are and to showcase their talent without any gimmicks, combats sexism-fuelled ideas of what women in the music industry should look like or do.
Finding the courage to be who you are, is worth more than it’s weight in gold.
Relationship expectations.
Often, we watch shows where true love conquers all, so we buy into that belief that only when we are in a romatic relationship can we overcome challenges in life.
In Daisy Jones and the Six, we find Daisy clinging on to a love interest for all the wrong reasons. Daisy’s love for Billy was mostly fueled by a fear of rejection and it teaches us that you cannot force someone to love you back.
Because Daisy struggled with abandonment issues from her parents’ lack of attention, this rejection from Billy triggered anger and ensuing feelings of shame and anxiety.
Image taken from First Vanity Fair Look
However, toward the end, Daisy realised that holding on to unrequited love and destroying someone else’s relationship would not heal her wounds.
“I thought love was supposed to tear you in two and leave you heartbroken and make your heart race in the worst way. I did not know that it was supposed to make you lighter, not heavier. I thought love was war. I didn’t know it was supposed to be peace.”
Letting go of the things that we want so badly but can’t have, may not be that scary after all. By letting go, Daisy gained freedom to realise what true happiness really is about.
Can you relate to Daisy and Karen? Here are some links you might find helpful
What to expect moving into adulthood.
