Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV) Review

Elle Fanning and Nick Offerman are stellar in Margo’s Got Money Troubles, David E. Kelley’s terrific adaptation of Rufi Thorpe’s novel.

That balance starts with the narrative, which tells the story of a college student named Margo (Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value) who seems to have everything going for her until she winds up pregnant after having an affair with a professor. Obviously that’s a pretty serious issue, but much like with everything in this series, David E. Kelley and the writers room find the comedy alongside varying degrees of chaos. Margo’s pregnancy ends up being the catalyst for this touching story about motherhood, family, and discovering who you are in the face of various challenges.

What I was most afraid of was that the creative team would find a way to make sex work, which Margo turns to in order to support herself and her baby, Bodhi, the butt of the joke. While there are comedic moments which stem from when the people in Margo’s life find out she’s on OnlyFans, this series treats sex work and sex workers with dignity. It’s a job that many women take on when they find themselves with nowhere else to turn, much like Margo, and there’s nothing wrong with it so long as you aren’t engaging in anything illegal. You may not agree with it, but that’s the truth, and this series makes that clear.

In addition, I enjoyed seeing a little bit of what goes into making content and learning how much it can serve as a creative outlet like it does for Margo. Just when she thinks her entire life must be dedicated to Bodhi, Margo finds herself while trying to provide for him, which is a beautiful thing.

That same respect also applies to how Margo’s Got Money Troubles handles drug addiction, with Jinx’s (Nick Offerman, The Last of Us) journey feeling so real every step of the way. What he goes through isn’t played for laughs and it can be hard to watch at times, but it’s also one of the big ways that this show stresses the importance of family and being there for each other. Margo builds a village made up of people that would do anything for her and Bodhi who have their own struggles, but she’s in their corner anyway even when things get dark for everyone involved. 

I do wonder if that will apply to the audience though, particularly with Margo’s mother Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer). While there’s nothing wrong with Pfeiffer’s performance – she does quite well here, as a matter of fact – the character is dreadfully written. Just when you think Shyanne might actually be turning into a good character, she does something to make you mad again. I’m all for complex characters, but there’s a difference between being complex and making the wrong choice every chance you get. Viewers will likely eventually understand that she loves her daughter and grandson deep down in spite of the flaws she has, but I can’t help but also feel that her arc is very unearned. You shouldn’t be rewarded for doing a few things right in the end when you’ve spent tons of time being a major thorn in the side of our protagonist. 

With that being said, everything else about Margo’s Got Money Troubles is excellent, with Elle Fanning leading the way. Her performance, much like the show itself, is the perfect balance between comedy and drama. She digs deep to show us the pain and joy of being a mother throughout. Because you see so much emotion in her eyes, vocal variation, and body language, Fanning makes it easy to root for Margo as she works to figure out who she is while providing for her baby. Her performance will stir your soul and have you constantly cheering for Margo.

Fanning’s performance almost goes hand in hand with Nick Offerman’s work as James “Jinx” Millet. Jinx’s arc largely centers on redeeming himself as a father after being estranged from Margo. Unlike with Shyanne, he actually makes the effort over and over again to make things right with his daughter in spite of his ex-wife trying to undermine him at every turn. You can see the regret on Offerman’s face from the minute he appears and that never leaves him, even when Margo accepts Jinx back into her life. He’s such a fascinating character, because Jinx has been through hell and is doing everything he can to be better, but there’s always a question of if he’ll pull it off in the end or will his trauma and pain be too much.

Offerman showcases a real fatherly warmth and as always, he’s hilarious, but his most powerful moments in Margo’s Got Money Troubles come when he has to convey Jinx’s agony and total disappointment in himself. You’ll grow to love him, so much so that he’s going to make you cry multiple times over the course of eight episodes. With all due respect to everything else he’s done, this is Nick Offerman’s greatest performance. 

As a sort of cherry on top, you’ve got Nicole Kidman playing a supporting role as Lace, a professional wrestler who worked with Jinx and is also a lawyer. Kidman knocks it out of the park as she plays the perfect mix of kind and brutal. Her character adds to this series perfectly without taking away from the leads, but I’d never say no to more of her if we get another season. 

Margo’s Got Money Troubles is a profoundly moving, hilarious series featuring extraordinary performances from Elle Fanning and Nick Offerman. From its story to the cast to these incredibly memorable characters, especially Margo Millet, just about everything is perfect here. If you haven’t heard about this show or are on the fence, I can’t recommend it highly enough, though I’d have some tissues on standby in case you need them.  

The three-episode season premiere of Margo’s Got Money Troubles will be available to stream on Apple TV on April 15, 2026. The rest of the series will be released weekly, with the finale airing on May 20.

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