Apple TV’s newest series “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” is a show made for women, by women and should be moved to the top of every college girl’s watchlist.
The show is about Margo, whose mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) is an ex-Hooters waitress and whose father (Nick Offerman) is an ex-professional wrestler. Margo is a recent college dropout and aspiring writer, whose life takes a sharp turn when she finds out she’s pregnant with her former professor’s baby.
The plot is quietly refreshing, yet so grounded. Oftentimes in media, the choice of a woman to get an abortion is depicted as powerful, but this show recognizes that deciding to keep the baby and become a mother is equally empowering.
Elle Fanning plays Margo in a way that feels exquisitely natural. A lot of her performance comes through in the small moments of hesitation, exhaustion and trying to cope when things start to spiral. You can physically feel the gap between who Margo thought she’d become and where she finds herself ending up.
One of the greatest strengths of the show is how it captures the strength of female friendships. It recognizes that they’re not perfect and are sometimes uncomfortable but are still crucial and something every woman has been a part of.
It also takes on more serious topics, especially in the power dynamic between students and professors and how easily it can be taken advantage of. The relationship at the center of the story isn’t romanticized at all. Instead, it shows how easily those situations can become complicated and harmful, especially when one person is much more powerful than the other.
The creative team behind the series is largely female, with executive producers like Elle Fanning, Dakota Fanning and Nicole Kidman helping shape the direction of the show. That influence is noticeable, as the story doesn’t feel filtered or generalized, but instead very intentional in how it portrays women’s experiences, relationships and challenges.
Additionally, the show is visually unique. The warm, softer color palette gives it a more intimate feel, which corresponds with how personal the story is.
Another thing the show does well is depict what it’s actually like to struggle financially. Margo’s situation feels constant and stressful in a way that’s very believable.
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” captures what it is to be a young woman and should be required watching for everyone.
Rating: 5/5