THE STORY – A young mother finds herself struggling to make ends meet. When her estranged father offers help, she starts an OnlyFans account using his advice from the pro wrestling world. Though successful, she wonders if internet fame comes at too high a cost.
THE CAST – Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nick Offerman, Thaddea Graham, Greg Kinnear, Michael Angarano, Nicole Kidman, Marcia Gay Harden, Lindsey Normington & Rico Nasty
THE TEAM – David E. Kelley (Creator)
While it is often looked down upon as a viable career path, where would we be without entertainers? Where would we be without people who make sacrifices every day to bring others’ fantasies to life, who break their bones or suffer countless insults with a smile, or jeopardize their futures to do so? Pro wrestlers, waitresses, and yes, OnlyFans creators are all fundamentally storytellers. These people craft narratives they know their audiences want to hear, even if doing so makes their lives that much harder. “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” is by no means a ringing endorsement of these occupations; it appropriately depicts the reasons one may go into these lines of work, the consequences one may face as a result, and the rippling effects they have on those around them. But with its heartfelt storytelling and a wise grounding as an earnest family dramedy despite its colorful cast and unique concepts, “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” is an absolute delight.
Margo Millet (Elle Fanning) is the titular character with a mountain of bills to pay, spurred on by the decision to have a baby in the midst of her first year at college. Unable to land a job as a single mother, Margo turns to OnlyFans, where she applies her penchant for writing in increasingly impressive ways. It is easy to fall into the trap of commending or condemning teen pregnancy, but again, what this show does exceptionally well is portray difficult subject matters with humanity. Margo is no stereotype of a woman who abandons her career because she realizes her true calling is being a mother; rather, the show makes it clear throughout how important family is to her. She is especially close to her mother, Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer), a Hooters waitress who had to raise Margo all by herself and is horrified that her daughter seems to be following in her footsteps. Meanwhile, her estranged father and former wrestler, Jinx (Nick Offerman), reappears in her life to help take care of her son after a stint in rehab. Rounding out her inner circle is her cosplayer roommate Susie (Thaddea Graham), who is more than happy to help out a friend who has been abandoned by practically everyone else in her life. What follows is a story that largely plays as a slice-of-life, where this odd assortment of characters navigates Margo’s newfound motherhood, with an overarching narrative of how Margo’s deeper entrenchment in OnlyFans has affected her loved ones and surprisingly dramatic beats that take a scalpel to these characters’ flaws.
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” is a compelling show from top to bottom. However, the reason you need to see this series is the trio of fantastic performances at its core. Elle Fanning is remarkable as our protagonist, balancing the humor and heart with ease. She glues the entire show together, with a wide variety of characters popping up throughout. Her bond—or lack thereof—with each person gives a cohesive throughline to even the wackiest parts of this story. But while much of her work is impressive for how seamless her tough job is, Fanning has a scene where her intense laughter morphs into a heartbreaking sob that absolutely floored me.
Nick Offerman, meanwhile, delivers a gut-punching performance that both wisely plays to his strengths and reveals a new side to his capabilities. He has funny moments, but it is in the quiet guilt and suffering of this character that he truly shines. Offerman’s physicality tells us so much about who this man is, down to how gently he postures himself. Jinx’s parallel with Margo, two entertainers whose work has dire consequences for their personal lives, is one of the most fascinating parts of the story, and watching his connection with his daughter deepen is oh-so-bittersweet. It is an unexpectedly soft turn from one of our most iconic comedic actors, and Offerman truly works wonders here.
But to me, it is Michelle Pfeiffer who steals the show. Shyanne has this completely self-possessed aura to her, a confidence that we can tell was built out of necessity. Yet when the cracks show in her peppy demeanor, the pain and anger she cannot hold inside any longer, Pfeiffer absolutely floors you. What I found most compelling about the show was the mother-daughter dynamic between Shyanne and Margo, because it felt so authentic, portraying the special kind of friendship only a mother and daughter can have while exposing the strains that come only from being mother and daughter. Even though our personalities and backgrounds are completely different, I saw my own relationship with my mother reflected in this dynamic, and I think that is the highest form of praise I can give it.
As much as I love this show for its heart, I do think the climax of the season leans a bit too much into melodrama. Was I moved? Undoubtedly! But it does stretch believability a bit, which works against it when its realistic nature was one of its biggest strengths. I do not entirely fault it since it gives our talented cast remarkable material to work with, but the writing near the end cannot help but cheapen the overall story.
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” is a stylish, smart show that excellently dives into the world of OnlyFans with an impartial curiosity rather than harsh judgment. The character dynamics are the show, as it is ridiculously easy to get invested in this odd family when their relationships with one another are so complex and contradictory. Their shared experience of relying on fiction in their lives, and their best attempts to show up for one another, make their dynamics so tender and real. Perhaps it veers too much into sentimentality at times, but I cannot help but love how much “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” wears its heart on its sleeve.
THE GOOD – Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nick Offerman are phenomenal individually and dynamite together. The writing is full of pathos, examining its sensitive subject matter with grace and humor.
THE BAD – The climax is a tad sappy and undermines the show’s realism.
THE EMMY PROSPECTS – Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series & Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
THE FINAL SCORE – 8/10
