Life is strange. As you grow up, you realize that sometimes things are so off the rails in the most peculiar ways that you just have to laugh. There’s no rule book in this game, which means we all have to figure it out with whatever and whoever is around us. Margot’s Got Money Troubles is a depiction of a life that took a completely unexpected turn, with all the tears, shit, and laughter that come with it. There’s something special to the family dynamics in this show, with superb performances by everyone in the ensemble cast. It’s as complicated as life can be with a mixture of charm, laughter, sobbing, sex, and all those other messy things that make us human.
Margot’s Got Money Troubles, an adaptation of the novel of the same name written by Rufi Thorpe, follows recent college dropout and aspiring writer, Margot (Elle Fanning), the daughter of an ex-Hooters waitress (Michelle Pfeiffer) and ex-pro wrestler (Nick Offerman), as she’s forced to make her way in life with a new baby, a mounting pile of bills, and a dwindling amount of ways to pay them.
While I find myself spacing out with most shows I watch with the intention of reviewing, I couldn’t help but watch all of Margot’s Got Money Troubles in one go. An episode would end, leaving me an emotional soup depending on how the episode went but I couldn’t stop myself from hitting next.
Every single member of the cast has crackling chemistry together. While there has never been a doubt that Michelle Pfeiffer and Nick Offerman are powerhouses of talent, everything they do in Margot’s Got Money Troubles serves as a strong reminder. Pfeiffer’s performance as a woman and a mother who is hiding so much about herself in her new relationship is magical. Subtle glance and jeers towards her daughter in moments of nearly blowing her cover are hilarious. But on the flip side, she is a character who doesn’t want to see her daughter take the same path she did as a single mother. The manifestation of this in her interactions with the baby lead to some really emotionally charged moments. She carries a fine line of wanting to be there for her daughter but also not being able to handle everything going on with herself. And the tension she has with her former lover/father of her child played by Nick Offerman? It’s so palpable you’d need a sword to cut through it.
Nick Offerman has the greatest laugh know to mankind. I need to say that before I get into how well portrayed and painful it is to watch him as a man struggling with addiction. There is a level of tact that he brings to really powerful things like his mantra and balancing himself. For a majority of the show, you just want to see him get better but it’s so clear how much pain he is in emotionally and physically. But that’s where the laugh comes in. When he holds his grandchild and laughs, it’s the most purely authentic vision of wanting to be better for the people you love. It’s demonstrated so much throughout the show, especially with Margot’s roommate Sudie (Thaddea Graham), who is a huge fan of his wrestling career. Graham’s performance especially when interacting with Offerman is a highlight of the show. She brings so much to the messy family dynamic built throughout the show.
Elle Fanning. Dear god, Elle Fanning. Being able to have some of the wittiest and well delivered lines while simultaneously being a character whose life quickly became a dumpster fire is incredible. She balances being gushingly likable, messy, and resilient in her performance. She carries herself in such a way that she can make the character sexy and in the next completely vulnerable as she sifts through life. I don’t want to get into too much detail so as to not give away spoilers but she made me tear up nearly every episode. Even in moments where she’s putting on a strong face, you can see how tired and raw she is from everything going on to her or around her. It’s a performance well worth the subscription price of Apple TV.
David E. Kelly’s writing is sharp, witty, and makes the absurd seem like commonplace in Margot’s Got Money Troubles world. I’ve only had the chance to watch Big Little Lies of his prior work, but this is the kick I need to finally watch Ally Mcbeal. The way he writes characters gives them so much humanity while avoiding making them larger than life, only more relatable. You see these situations and it all feels real thanks to the tight script and consistent throughline of every character.
Directors Dearbhla Walsh, Kate Herron, and Alice Seabright capture the world of the show brilliantly in each of their episodes. There are a few sequences that could feel out of place if not handled correctly but they’re just perfectly slotted into the show. There are some exquisite B-movie style choices in the show that I won’t spoil because it’s integral to the art of it all.
When I watch shows about families who seem to have everything tied together with a nice bow, I just call bullshit. I can’t get into something where the characters aren’t messy. There are no perfect people, only people trying to do their best. Margot’s Got Money Troubles tangoes with so many things like art, showmanship, and other big concepts but nails them all. Every actor is giving the most to their performance, making these characters come to life on the screen in all of their achy and tired glory.