This review is based on all 8 episodes. It might contain minor spoilers for Margo’s Got Money Troubles.
Apple TV+’s newest dramedy, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, is adapted from Rufi Thorpe’s novel of the same name. I haven’t read the source material so I will not be able to compare the series to the book. The show follows Margo, played by Elle Fanning, a college student whose life turns upside down after she decides to keep a baby conceived from an affair with her professor.
Fanning delivers what may be the best performance of her career so far in Margo’s Got Money Troubles. She imbues Margo with a mixture of vulnerability and stubborn determination that makes the character impossible to look away from. Every misstep, every small victory, and every moment of doubt lands with emotional weight because of Fanning’s charming portrayal. Margo is bright and capable but also impulsive, frightened, and often overwhelmed. That complexity makes her feel so authentic and loveable. In many respects, this performance even outshines Fanning’s work in The Great, which demonstrated her extraordinary versatility. She provides something quieter and more raw with Margo, and the result is captivating.
Margo’s parents, Jinx and Shayanne—played by Nick Offerman and Michelle Pfeiffer—are written with a surprising amount of nuance. Rather than existing as archetypal “difficult parents,” they are layered individuals whose past choices and unresolved emotions shape their relationship with their daughter. Shayanne carries lingering resentment from having raised Margo alone for years, a bitterness that occasionally surfaces in cutting remarks or emotional distance. Jinx, meanwhile, fights with his own demons, particularly an addiction that has left its mark on the family dynamic. Yet despite their flaws—and there are many—they ultimately function as a complicated form of support for Margo. Their love is inconsistent and imperfect, but it is unmistakably there.
Thaddea Graham as Susie, Margo’s roommate, has also became one of my favorite characters in the show. Susie injects warmth and humor into the series, acting as both a grounding presence and a quiet emotional anchor. Graham plays her with a natural charm that makes Susie feel like the kind of friend everyone wishes they had during their most chaotic moments. Her reactions to Margo’s increasingly complicated life are often both funny and touching, and she gradually becomes part of the show’s unconventional family structure. Susie’s obsession with Jinx also makes her fun to observe. In a story filled with emotional turbulence, Susie provides a sense of stability that balances the narrative.
What ultimately makes Margo’s Got Money Troubles so compelling is how committed it is to portraying people as complicated and contradictory. The characters here are rarely likable in the traditional sense; they make poor decisions, hurt one another, and carry unresolved baggage from their pasts. Yet the series approaches them with empathy rather than judgment. Someone who initially seems abrasive or annoying may show unexpected depth later on. The show understands that life rarely fits into neat moral categories, and that acceptance—of ourselves and of others—often involves acknowledging both the good and the bad.
One of the most thoughtful aspects of the series is its handling of Margo’s decision to keep her baby, Bodhi. The show treats it as a deeply personal decision with real consequences rather than turning the choice into a didactic political statement. Margo chooses to have Bodhi because it feels right to her, even though she understands it could derail her future. The show doesn’t shy away from portraying the difficulties that follow: financial instability, exhaustion, and the overwhelming responsibility of raising a child at such a young age. When Margo ultimately turns to OnlyFans as a means of supporting herself and her baby, the show refuses to sensationalize or condemn the choice. It is explored it with honesty, and acknowledges the complicated realities that push young women toward unconventional solutions. The series offers a rare kind of empathy toward women who monetize their bodies online. Sex workers and creators who sell explicit content are often stigmatized or reduced to stereotypes, and Margo’s Got Money Troubles insists on showing their humanity. It portrays Margo as someone doing whatever she can to build a life for herself and Bodhi. The show recognizes that behind every such decision lies a web of circumstances, pressures, and personal agency.
Other than its writing and performances, the series also stands out stylistically. The soundtrack is particularly memorable, packed with upbeat older tracks that bring an unexpected energy to many scenes. Meanwhile, the superb costume design subtly reflects the characters’ evolving identities. Margo’s wardrobe, in particular, mirrors her shifting sense of self—from a carefree college student to a young mother navigating adulthood faster than she expected. Every visual detail feels intentional and well-crafted, and contributes to the show’s grounded yet distinctive tone.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles succeeds because it refuses to simplify life’s messiness by showing that there should be compassion toward others and toward ourselves. Through its emotionally honest storytelling, the show reminds us that people are rarely defined by their worst decisions or their most unconventional choices.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles is a deeply affecting and surprisingly mature dramedy. Anchored by a career-best performance from Elle Fanning and supported by a stellar ensemble, the series balances humor, heartbreak, and social commentary with remarkable grace. It tells a story about struggle and resilience without romanticizing hardship. It presents its characters with empathy and complexity—qualities that make the show something truly extraordinary. It’s the kind of series that will make you laugh, cry, and worry for its characters in equal measure. For viewers willing to embrace its emotional honesty, Margo’s Got Money Troubles proves to be one of the most moving and thoughtful television experiences in recent memory.
