Margo’s Got Money Troubles Episode 7 Review: Lariat Takedown

Critic’s Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

4.5

Brutal. Simply and heartbreakingly brutal. Margo’s Got Money Troubles Episode 7, “Lariat Takedown,” is an hour of television that showcases its talented cast.

From the top of the call sheet to the final credits, this is a somber march of inevitable consequences where each and every performer holds the drumbeat steady with their commitment to their role.

It pulls no punches, stuffing the Face while feeding the Heels, and clotheslines the audience with the worst possible outcomes for Margo and her family.

As the penultimate episode of the series, it leaves me in a state of real apprehension over these characters who I’ve grown to care about deeply.

Lariat Takedown

There’s a danger on a show so preoccupied with adult choices around adult problems, that the baby central to the narrative gets forgotten.

But when there’s a very real possibility of Bodhi being snatched away from Margo, the claws are out for justice.

There is no justice in Mark being deemed the more fit parent just because he has money and Margo doesn’t. He’s a disgusting human being, an unethical educator, and clearly an unfaithful husband.

He had no interest in being part of Bodhi’s life and never offered to help with the financial or emotional tolls of caring for a newborn.

Now that Margo’s found a way to support her child financially, Mark wants to crucify her on moral grounds? That’s a heavyweight belt level of horse poop, right there.

Of course, some of his extreme weeniness can be laid at the altar of his mother, Elizabeth. Part of me suspects Gable the Elder purposely baited Shyanne into hitting her.

A shattered jaw? Without condoning the violence, good on Shyanne. The Gable family really should investigate why their bones are so brittle.

Also, how about that Kenny? That’s two episodes in a row where he’s surprised me with his reaction to the situation. I’m really starting to love him, too.

Shyanne: I guess you got more with me than you thought you were signing up for.

Kenny: I got everything I signed up for.

Mother, Dearest

Margo’s style of motherhood has always been one of pivot and triage.

The unplanned pregnancy, the forced exit from college, two of her three roommates abandoning her, and the complete lack of childcare and employment options or financial support from Mark meant she needed to latch onto any opportunity that presented itself.

The optimistic opportunism she learned from Shyanne. Her creative, open-minded approach to options is probably Jinx’s legacy.

Something baked into her, as the child of both her parents, is that facing challenges head-on is the only way through them. She doesn’t run or hide. Like her mother, she stands up to bullies.

In an ideal world, the mediator will see right through Mark’s mealy-mouthed malarky, and the Social Services team will recognize Margo’s doing a great job as a mom.

Unfortunately, things don’t look ideal. Recognizing that society hasn’t evolved to where sex workers don’t face every biased, discriminatory judgment that Mark spews at Margo across the mediation table, losing Bodhi is a very real possibility.

My money is on “bestie” Becca calling in the complaint to Social Services. Because if, in fact, Mark did it, it might completely blow up his case with the mediator, which I’m totally okay with, as well.

Jinxed

Again, in that ideal world that I like to daydream about, Jinx wouldn’t feel guilty about harassing and injuring Mark, attracting legal action and repercussions that are spilling over onto Margo and Bodhi.

That guilt wouldn’t drive him into depression and leave him desperate for escape into his addiction. He wouldn’t relapse and nearly die in Margo and Susie’s bathtub.

But the fact is, he is an addict, and addicts are always addicts. Sure, he had his method of staying grounded and sober. But cleaning and audiobooks can’t replace professional support and therapy.

In all the time he’s lived with Margo and Susie, he’s never called a sponsor or attended a meeting. The warning signs might’ve been there as early as the day he helped Shyanne pick out her wedding cake.

Shadowheart

Interestingly enough, it’s Susie, the star-struck wrestling fan, who has the most clarity on why Jinx has to leave the apartment.

While we’re considering the awesomeness that is Susie, do we know if she has a job outside of cosplay design? Is she in school?

I love that she’s there to care for Bodhi (and Jinx), but how does she cover her share of the rent? Guardian angel work must pay okay. She’s clearly got those skills down pat. Probably has an appropriate costume somewhere, too.

At the other end of the support system, Lace plays a similar role, speaking truth to power and the powerless alike.

She exudes confidence and competence wherever she is, in the office or the wrestling ring. She’ll fight for her clients but doesn’t sugarcoat what they’re facing in their fight with the Gables for Bodhi’s custody.

If there’s one lesson to take away from Margo’s Got Money Troubles, it’s that, in a world full of Marks and Elizabeths, find yourself a Lace. Or even a Kenny. And a Susie.

Boss Fight Time

So where will the finale take us? Can Margo overcome the Gables’ cruel maligning with her parents’ violent reactions on the record?

Who will ride to the rescue? Wangmangler99 and Rose? Or maybe Kenny, backed by the church ladies of St. Augustine?

It would be worth any ticket price to see WangMangler99 and Rose take down Mark and Elizabeth. Or maybe they come up with an OnlyFans episode that shows them for the hypocritical, entitled jerkwads they are.

Or can The Hungry Ghost set things right in her signature, creative, and uncanny manner?

What will it take to save Baby Bodhi from the horror of life as a Gable, Fanatics? Hit our comments with your “ideal world” scenario!

TV Fanatic is searching for passionate contributors to share their voices across various article types. Think you have what it takes to be a TV Fanatic? Click here for more information and next steps.