Sam Claflin plays the lead singer/songwriter for his struggling band when along comes a firebrand (Riley Keough, granddaughter to Elvis) who’s talent and energy changes the band’s trajectory. This series, based on the book by Taylor Jenkins Reid, follows this fictional band on their rise to fame (with hints at a Fleetwood Mac), while detailing the internal struggles that should give the show its emotional edge. Alas, the whole thing is rather tame. The central conflict is the love/hate attraction between the 2 stars and their chemistry makes that work. Claflin is effective as the earnest member trying to be a good husband, but it’s Keough’s unbridled energy and charisma that roots the series. The songs are from a group of pop composers and they’re all acceptably generic without strong hooks. The duo really sings them, so there’s that. To add perspective, there are also interviews with the band members from current day, looking back on their experience without much additional insight. The 70s re-creations don’t go into camp territory and actually, nothing about this series ventures too deeply, not the relationships or the interactions, leaving it a bland creation. 
(3 / 5)
