‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ Changed Shyanne’s Wedding Completely From The Book — And It’s Exactly What The Story Needed

I know that everyone on BookTok loses their mind when a popular novel is adapted into a TV show or movie, but Margo’s Got Money Troubles is proof positive that changes from the source material can be a good thing.

**Spoiler alert for Margo’s Got Money Troubles Episode 5, now streaming on Apple TV**

In the newest episode of the Elle Fanningcomedy series, creator David E. Kelley and executive producer Eva Anderson made the choice to depart from the way that Rufi Thorpe tackles Shyanne’s (Michelle Pfeiffer) wedding to Kenny (Greg Kinnear) in the book, which is more of a footnote than a tangible storyline. In fact, while Margo in the book is not even present to see her mom marry the kind and well-intentioned youth minister, the show takes the entire gang to Vegas for the nuptials.

Packing the car, Margo and Shyanne drive off in a convertible heading east toward Sin City, with Jinx (Nick Offerman) and Bodhi leading up the rear. Fans who read the book may be surprised as the episode, “Flamingoes,” dives deeper into this important storyline than the book does by far.

For Anderson, though, it made all the sense in the world to make a major change if it serves the storyline and the characters in the grand scheme of the series. In fact, the Vegas storyline and changes are one of the things the EP is most excited for fans to see, even though it is a major change from the book.

“I hope the fans love the Vegas episode. That’s something that happens off-screen basically in the book. Shyanne disappears to Vegas and we were not there with her. We kind of lose track of her,” she told DECIDER, adding that it meant a lot to keep Pfeiffer and Fanning’s characters close for such an important moment.

Photo: Apple TV

In the book, Margo and her mom have a falling out ahead of the wedding that leads to Margo being disinvited. For two people who have only ever had each other, though, the writers couldn’t stomach ripping them apart at a moment like that, or pass up the opportunity to take the whole gang out to Vegas to craft a slightly-altered but elevated storyline out of it.

“The fact that we went to Vegas and shot with our core, you know, Kenny, Shyanne, Margp, Jinx and Bodhi in these weird parts of Fremont Street and the Plaza Hotel, that was such a blast to shoot, and I hope the fans like seeing that kind of expanded part of the story,” Anderson said.

It may end up being a controversial choice with those who love the book deeply, but anyone who is a fan of a good story — even if it comes at the cost of following the blueprint step by step — it might end up being an all-time gold standard in how to depart from the OG and still make it worthwhile.

The first five episodes of Margo’s Got Money Troubles are now streaming on Apple TV. New episodes release Wednesdays.

Apple TV comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers and has just one ad-free streaming plan available for $13.99/month.