Margo's Got Money Troubles (series)

Review by Dennis D. McDonald

This weird series has one of the best casts I have ever seen in a series. Somehow they make the characters in this bizarre story come alive with reality and humanity, despite the prurient nature of the underlying story: Margo discovers she is pregnant, she drops out of college, her mother and father (long divorced) reinsert themselves in her life, and she finds she can make a living by posting erotic images and videos on the web.

All does not go well: the baby’s father sues for custody; Margo’s father, a former wrestler, relapses to drug abuse; Margo’s mom (a former Hooters waitress) establishes a relationship and wedding with a holly-roller husband.

It all sounds ridiculous, but the story holds together. Margo wants to keep her baby, and she stumble into online sex imagery as a way to pay the rent.

I have to credit Elle Fanning with holding all this together. Her range as an actor is unmistakable: from Super 8 to Predator Badlands and Sentimental Value we see a young actor whose career if carefully managed will extend long beyond middle age. I’ll be interested in seeing her as a director.

Review copyright (c) 2026 by Dennis D. McDonald