“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” opened SXSW at the Paramount on March 12th, with three episodes screened and most of the principal cast onstage. Afterward, showrunner David E. Kelley appeared and insisted that Rufi Thorpe, author of the novel that inspired the series, stand for applause. As a writer myself, and someone who knows how often writers go unrecognized, that moment felt genuinely refreshing.
The series, which premieres on Apple on April 15th, follows recent college dropout and aspiring writer Margo (Elle Fanning), daughter of an ex‑Hooters waitress (Michelle Pfeiffer) and an ex‑pro wrestler with addiction issues (Nick Offerman). Pregnant after an ill‑advised relationship with her literature instructor, Margo chooses to keep the baby and ends up repeating the cycle of single motherhood her own mother lived. The early episodes handle the mess, chaos, and bodily fluids of new motherhood with an honesty and humor that reminded me of Marielle Heller’s “Nightbitch” , minus the turning‑into‑a‑dog part.
CAST & DIRECTOR
The cast is excellent. Fanning, also a producer, is terrific. Pfeiffer, Offerman, Greg Kinnear, Marcia Gay Harden, Nicole Kidman (not in the first three episodes), and a strong supporting ensemble round things out. Directors Dearbhla Walsh and Kate Herron bring sharp pacing and tone; Walsh’s IFTA‑winning work on “Fargo” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” shows here.
From what we were shown, this belongs on my “must‑watch” list. Offerman’s character appears to be sticking around as Margo’s roommate; Margo is about to try OnlyFans for quick cash; Pfeiffer’s Shayanne is engaged to über‑Christian Kenny (Greg Kinnear); and Margo’s cosplaying roommate continues to be a steady presence in her life.
The mother‑daughter relationship looks poised to become the emotional core of the series. As Walsh quipped in her lilting Irish accent: “If it’s not one thing, it’s your mother.”
Billed as a story about courage, optimism, and taking charge of the narrative of your own life, it hit home for me as a mother of two who has lived parts of this struggle. I strongly recommend checking it out when it premieres next month.
