3 Years After The Last Of Us, Nick Offerman Delivers A Performance That's Even Better

1 week ago 10

Published Jun 15, 2026, 11:15 AM EDT

Arielle Port started as a TV producer, developing content for Netflix (Firefly Lane, Brazen) and Hallmark (The Santa Stakeout, A Christmas Treasure) before transitioning into entertainment journalism. Her love of story went from interest to lifelong passion while at The University of Pennsylvania, where she fell in with a student-run web series, Classless TV, and it was a gateway drug. Arielle Port has been a Writer for Screen Rant since August 2024. She lives in Los Angeles with her boyfriend and more importantly, her cat, Boseman.

Nick Offerman became beloved in Parks and Recreation as Ron Swanson, the gruff Libertarian department head. The actor then showed a completely different side of his skill that blew critics and audiences away in The Last of Us season 1, episode 3, “Long, Long Time.”

Offerman plays Bill in HBO's hit video game adaptation, and in the course of just one episode, he shows a man opening himself up to hope and love. It’s one of the most heartbreaking and acclaimed performances of his career, and Offerman won an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in 2023.

However, Offerman recently starred in one of the best new streaming shows that nobody is talking about. Offerman plays James "Jinx" Millet, a former pro wrestler recently out of rehab who moves in with his daughter, Margo (Elle Fanning), after she dropped out of college following an unplanned pregnancy in Apple TV’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles.

Jinx is a remarkably layered character. He's a loving father, an unreliable mentor, and a deeply flawed man whose mistakes continue to shape his daughter’s life, giving Offerman ample opportunity to showcase both his comedic and dramatic strengths. Watching Jinx dote on his baby grandson is genuinely delightful, revealing a warmth and tenderness beneath his rough exterior. His lingering pining for his ex, Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer), meanwhile, gives the character a heartbreaking sense of regret.

Then, just when viewers think they understand him, the series follows Jinx to his lowest point, resulting in what is arguably the most devastating sequence in the entire show. Those wildly different emotional notes make Jinx one of Offerman's best roles, giving him the chance to deliver one of the most nuanced performances of his career.

Offerman accomplishes so much in just a single episode in The Last of Us, but Margo's Got Money Troubles simply gives him more to do and more time to develop. With a season-long arc and relationships spanning multiple generations of characters, he has far more opportunities to display both his comedic and dramatic range, making it an even better showcase for the Parks and Rec star.

Nick Offerman Isn't The Only Great Performance In Margo's Got Money Troubles

Nick Offerman is far from the only great performance in the show. Every actor in the cast of Margo's Got Money Troubles brings a level of depth and humanity that elevates material that could have easily felt sensationalized or melodramatic.

At the center of it all is Elle Fanning, who carries nearly every scene as Margo. The role requires her to navigate a remarkable emotional range, charting Margo's evolution from an overwhelmed young mother struggling to stay afloat into a determined woman willing to make unconventional choices to provide for her family.

Fanning never asks viewers to pity Margo, nor does she portray her as a flawless underdog. Instead, she embraces the character's contradictions, capturing both her confidence and her vulnerability with equal conviction. The result is a protagonist who feels like a fully realized person rather than a collection of hardships or quirks.

Michelle Pfeiffer is equally impressive as Margo's mother, Shyanne. At first, Shyanne appears distant and judgmental. However, as the series unfolds, Pfeiffer gradually reveals the insecurities and regrets driving her behavior. It becomes increasingly clear that Shyanne is judging herself more than Margo. Pfeiffer handles that evolution beautifully, bringing emotional complexity to a character who initially seems content to remain surface-level.

Producer Nicole Kidman has considerably less screen time, but she makes every moment count as Lace, a retired wrestler turned lawyer. Tough and direct, Lace tells Margo exactly what she needs to hear, regardless of whether she wants to hear it. Kidman brings a commanding presence to Margo’s Got Money Troubles, making Lace feel both intimidating and unexpectedly supportive.

The series tackles a complicated subject that could have easily been reduced to a simple morality tale, but the nuanced work from Fanning, Pfeiffer, Kidman, and Offerman ensures that every character in Margo’s Got Money Troubles feels authentic. Their performances in Margo’s Got Money Troubles transform a potentially slight story into something endlessly engaging and emotionally resonant. The show was so successful that Offerman and co. will return for a second season.