Margo’s Money Struggles: Insights from the Cast and Creators on the Emotional Spoiler Scene in the Penultimate Episode
SPOILER ALERT: This article contains details about episode seven of Margo’s Got Money Troubles, titled “Lariat Takedown.”
In a gripping moment from the seventh episode of Margo’s Got Money Troubles, viewers are confronted with the shocking sight of Jinx (Nick Offerman) unconscious in a running bathtub, a heroin needle protruding from his arm. This scene is the culmination of meticulous stunt planning and choreography.
The episode intensifies Margo’s (Elle Fanning) ongoing legal struggles over custody of her son, Bodhi, ignited by the character Mark (Michael Angeleno). As Margo and her roommate Susie (Thaddea Graham) realize their father has been locked in the bathroom for an extended period, it becomes clear that Jinx has relapsed into drug use, prompted by an aggravated back injury earlier in the season.
Earlier in the show, Margo had expressed concerns about Jinx moving in with them, despite his reassurances about staying clean. He argued that living with roommates would give him a reason to "perform sanity."
"It’s heartbreaking, but also it’s heartbreaking because of Nick Offerman and how he has played Jinx up to that point, and the humanity that he brings to that character,” said Fanning regarding the poignant plot twist. “What’s so interesting about this show and all the characters is, they’re so flawed, they’re trying to have a second chance at life. They’re also all judged in their own way by society.”
Jinx returned to Fullerton primarily to check on Margo after her repeated attempts to inform him of her pregnancy and birth. While he hoped to reconnect with Margo’s mother, Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer), she was recently married to Kenny (Greg Kinnear).
Fanning noted, "In Jinx’s case, it’s so delicate. The way that Nick played him in threading that needle up until episode seven, where you see it slightly just unraveling… was one of the heavier days on set." The series balances its heavier themes with moments of levity, reflecting the complexities of real life.
Leading up to his relapse, subtle indicators of Jinx’s struggles are depicted through his red eyes, retreating behavior, and his approach to decorating a Christmas tree.
Writer Kelley hopes the audience reacts similarly to executive producer Eva Anderson, who expressed shock upon encountering this pivotal moment in Rufi Thorpe’s book, the series’ source material. "It’s pretty tough stuff at that point, especially coming from a series that is now leaning a bit comedic,” he observed.
As the narrative unfolds, it is Susie who ultimately persuades Margo to consider asking Jinx to leave their home. Graham explained, “In that moment, number one, it’s, ‘Is he alive? Can we help you?’ And the second is then this protection and this love for Margo. There is a child in the house, and I love this man endlessly, but we also have to figure out other things. That devotion to your friend and to say the hard thing is true friendship.”
