Elle Fanning is giving it her all in Margo’s Got Money Troubles and it has nothing to do with the fact that she’s showing all! Okay, it might have something to do with that.
**Spoiler alert: This article contains details about the first four episodes of Margo’s Got Money Troubles**
In her new Apple TV comedy, the recent Oscar nominee is bold and unburdened as she steps into the role of Margo Millet, a young mom who turns to OnlyFans after a tryst with her married professor (Michael Angarano). Based on the eponymous book by Rufi Thorpe, the show explores themes of exploitation, power dynamics, and class struggles in capitalism, all while somehow managing to keep the audience laughing. It has everything to do with its all-star cast — including Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nick Offerman, and Greg Kinnear — as well as its breakneck pace and whipsmart writing.
It also, of course, doesn’t hurt that the show is sexy as all get out. To my surprise, the scandalous affair between Margo and her professor is shown pretty graphically as the two spend the first chunk of Episode 1 going to town with eye-crossing hookups in Margo’s apartment, much to the dismay of her roommates. Little did we know that this unexpected appetizer was nothing more than a tone-setter for more wildness to come.
Opting to keep her pregnancy and become a mom (how hard can it be, she thinks), things quickly go sour as Margo loses her regular day job as a waitress and turns to OnlyFans where she realizes just how profitable her wit could be. While it doesn’t initially start with full-frontal — hilariously, Margo’s first money making endeavor on the app is assigning Pokemon to men based on how their penises look — things quickly evolve into the sexy and unfiltered mess that the show is intended to be.
Enlisting her cosplaying roommate, Susie (Thaddea Graham), Margo decides to go all-in on becoming an E-Girl, one with a very particular selling point in the fantasy space. How quickly things go from Susie taking nearly-nude pictures of her in her bedroom to doing a full-blown photo shoot in an NSFW Zelda costume. Elf ears, fairy wings, the whole nine yards.
Getting all too comfortable, Margo even makes a remark about how she could see herself making “a real living” off this whole situation, which she isn’t wrong about, but it’s the first sign that things are going too smoothly. If I’ve learned one thing from all my years of TV, it’s that you should never get too comfortable.
After posting blurred out pics of her in the Zelda-esque, writing “I’m horny in Hyrule. Subcribe to see nips,” as the caption, Margo does a quick change into another scantily clad look, this time, boobs out but covered by pasties. Another look that is equal parts fun and sexy and a snapshot into the vibe of the show.
That fun and sexy vibe is immediately dashed, however, when the comedy part of the series creeps in as Margo’s dad (Offerman) walks in on her and Susie mid photoshoot. It was fun while it lasted.
The good news is that we know there is still much more to come. And hey, it wouldn’t be right for an article talking about this show to do more than just give a little tease, right?
The first four episodes of Margo’s Got Money Troubles are now streaming on Apple TV. New episodes release Wednesdays.
Apple TV comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers and has just one ad-free streaming plan available for $13.99/month.