Margo’s Got Money Troubles Episode 6 Review: People Are The Worst

Critic’s Rating: 5 / 5.0

5

It truly never rains but it pours. On Margo’s Got Money Troubles Episode 6, “Grudge Match,” Margo’s hitting her stride creatively, but the expected blowback hits at the same time.

Additionally, Jinx has to ‘fess up to visiting Mark and shaking his hand. That brings Nicole Kidman’s Lace back into the picture, so no complaints here.

Finally, Kenny. Who would’ve thunk that he’d be the standout character… ever? His response to Margo’s truth is so beautifully kind and honest. Shyanne’s got some golden horseshoe luck with men, it seems.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles, “Grudge Match”

Maybe it’s because we’ve only ever seen Kenny through Shyanne or Margo’s eyes, or maybe it’s because we’ve made assumptions about him based on his background and reactions to Vegas, but the truth of his character burns bright on here.

Against every instinct in Shyanne’s bones, Margo lays out the facts of her situation for Kenny after her Hungry Ghost online persona and her real life identity are linked.

Instead of judging or condemning her, Kenny treats Margo with more empathy and understanding than her own mother.

“Margo, this is your personal business. And I’m so sorry, truly, that you’re going through this, and somebody’s tried to hurt you. And if there’s anything that I can do to step up, and help you, and protect this family, I’ll do it.” — Kenny

It’s such a contrast to how Becca and Margo’s other peers react to her OnlyFans activities, that I was in just as much shock as Shyanne and Margo.

Hungry Ghost Blows Up

Of course, it’s only after @IAmHungryGhost’s collaboration with Rose and WangMangler99 goes viral and starts to really gain traction that Real Life takes a dump on Margo’s success.

Again, Margo’s never been good at anticipating the consequences of her actions. (That’s probably partly Jinx’s legacy — more on that later.)

She did take precautions to protect her identity, but she probably never expected to be recognized IRL by people she went to school with.

Which highlights some enormous hypocrisy within the whole publicizing of her online content. Only people who have followed the links to her OnlyFans account would’ve known about her spicy stuff.

So why does she gets persecuted for producing the content, when her harassers aren’t shamed for frequenting porn and porn-adjacent sites?

No, seriously. What’s with that? The inherent, accepted misogyny is infuriating. Which is probably the point, but it really wrecks my calm.

Is Hungry Ghost is the New Heisenberg?

In a lot of ways, Margo’s whole story is a commentary on the lack of social supports for new parents, specifically mothers.

It actually shares a root problem with Breaking Bad where Walter White turned to cooking meth to secure his family’s financial security in the face of his imminent death due to lung cancer.

White, as Heisenberg, eventually lost sight of the good intentions he started out with. That’s always the danger with good guys who cross the line. One would hope that with her familial supports and Baby Bodhi, front and center, Margo won’t lose her way.

A Firm Handshake

Jinx is, as always, a guiding star.

When he’s served with the restraining order, he accepts that he might’ve made an error. Sort of.

Jinx: This is a hysterical overreaction.

Margo: Dad, what did you do?

Jinx: I might’ve visited him. Said some things. Uh, broke some small bones in his hand.

He immediately takes next steps by seeking out advice from Lace. Knowing him well, Lace gets him to admit that it wasn’t a one-off

I love the relationship between Lace and Jinx. It’s the perfect balance of affection, respect, and nostalgia. They have both a professional and a personal history, but they’re at peace with everything that has gone before.

(In contrast, Shyanne can’t seem to let go of anything.)

Jinx’s other moment of crisis is when Margo’s in the first wave of dealing with being doxxed. He clearly wants to do something physical to relieve his tension. Hit something. Hurt someone. It’s a natural urge when a parent sees their child suffering. He’s done it before.

Instead, he masters that impulse. He pulls the car over to take a moment to literally touch grass. Margo sees it as a troubling sight, knowing her dad’s feeling the situation so intensely he can’t even speak.

But, really, it’s an indication of how far he’s come and how much he cares for her. Saint Jinx fills me with hope for humanity.

Owning Her Path

Marcia Gay Harden’s range as an actress is unquestionable. Her accolades are legion. And I don’t think I’ve ever disliked one of her characters as much as I dislike Elizabeth Gable.

Every micro-expression she tweaks. Every inflection in her speech. That Cruella de Vil streak in her hair. She should be cartoonish, but instead she embodies a level of toxicity that exceeds imagination.

She is the evil that Margo must battle. Hungry Ghost’s nemesis isn’t The Heels. It’s the vile and malicious malevolence embodied by Elizabeth Gable and people like her.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles Episode 6, “Grudge Match,” sets up a showdown between the forces of good and evil. I’m personally hoping to see Lace bodyslam Elizabeth.

Unlikely, I know, but I’m not happy with the status quo at the moment so forgive me a moment of fantasy.

What do you want to see next, Fanatics? Who deserves some comeuppance? How should it be delivered? Drop your idea of justice into the comments and let’s vent together!

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