Full spoilers follow for Margo's Got Money Troubles.
I can't believe that season 1 of Apple TV's brilliant new comedy has already ended. I've been glued to my screen following Elle Fanning's performance as Margo Millet, a single mother and college dropout trying to provide for her new baby, Bodhi, by setting up an OnlyFans account.
In my review of the series, I called it "addictive and surprisingly heartfelt", and the season finale only proves my point further. I'm very relieved that Margo's Got Money Troubles is coming back for season 2.
For the past few weeks, we've watched Margo struggle after an affair with her college professor, Mark Gable (Michael Angarano), who dropped her the moment he found out she was pregnant. Each week, I was disgusted at just how low Mark would go, especially when he made complaints that Margo was an "unfit mother" and wanted full custody of a child he barely acknowledged existed. You have to admit, Angarano plays a fantastic slimy character here.
So, with this in mind, how did the inevitable court case go? And what was up with that shocking betrayal in the final moments of the episode? Here's everything you need to know about the Margo's Got Money Troubles season finale.
Who won the custody battle for Bodhi?
Baby Bodhi found himself in the middle of an intense custody battle between Margo and Mark, with the latter pushed to gain full custody of his son by his overbearing mother, Elizabeth. Using Margo's sex work and complicated family dynamics against her, Margo was met with numerous challenges where she had to prove she was taking good care of her son.
Despite setbacks like her father Jinx (Nick Offerman) relapsing, her mother Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer) breaking Elizabeth's jaw, and having Child Protective Services (CPS) called on her, Margo won the custody battle. However, it's not an idealistic outcome at all, which sets up some serious drama for season 2.
The terrifying Superior Court judge has plenty of opinions about everyone involved, immediately launching into an incredulous attack on Mark for impregnating his student, making it laughable that he'd want the moral high ground here (an incredibly satisfying moment, I must say). The judge, highly strung as he is, does make fair comments about everyone involved because this is a messy scenario indeed.
Ultimately, he rules that Margo should have primary custody, but Bodhi should know his biological father, and will get to do so two weekends a month. It's debatable if this is an entirely happy outcome, but Margo seems glad to properly introduce Bodhi to Mark, who insists he's a good father, so it's good for now, and everyone celebrates.
I'm definitely expecting this decision to create some issues in season 2, now that Mark is in the picture. I still don't trust the guy, but hey, he has the chance to prove us all wrong. We'll have to wait and see how this plays out.
Who called CPS on Margo?
Now, this is a shocking one. We all assumed it was Mark, and I think we can be forgiven for that, given how he stopped at nothing to try to take down Margo before he was pacified in court. Or maybe you thought it was Elizabeth, who has resented Margo from day one for "catfishing" her son, as she puts it. It turns out the call came from someone much closer to Margo: a member of her own family.
But Shyanne's new husband, Kenny (Greg Kinnear), comes forward and admits that he called CPS after he learned of Jinx's relapse. He accuses Shyanne of loving both Jinx and Margo too much, so she would never have had the strength to do it.
Naturally, Shyanne is furious that Kenny would do this behind her back. We've left the couple in a very awkward, strained position for now, and I must admit I don't have a lot of hope for their relatively new marriage. They already seemed like two different people, because Kenny is a deeply religious man, which clashes with Shyanne's lifestyle.
I can't see this ending well, but it does seem like Shyanne is trying to cling to happiness and a fresh romance after being betrayed by Jinx. Nobody in this family can catch a break, honestly.
What's next for Margo's career?
Despite everything she's gone through, Margo is not letting anyone stop her. We've seen her online presence grow to new highs thanks to her two new friends, KC (Rico Nasty) and Rose (Lindsey Normington), and her long-supportive roommate Susie (Thaddea Graham).
We've followed the highs and lows of Margo's journey into adult content creation, and when we last saw her, she was preparing to take things to the next level. She is far more confident than earlier in the series, and we'll be following her progress throughout season 2, even if we have no idea about the plot details yet.
Season 1 ended on a positive note, with things seeming to calm down for Margo. But knowing this show, that won't last very long, and I'm super excited to see what happens next.
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