In Netflix’s No Good Deed, Margo Starling, played by Linda Cardellini, is the kind of neighbor everyone dreads, deceptive, manipulative, and utterly obsessed with living a life of luxury. Her cunning ways take center stage when her connection to Jacob Morgan’s mysterious death comes to light. But what makes Margo’s story so shocking?
Margo Starling is the stylish but sinister neighbor of Paul and Lydia Morgan. Married to JD Campbell, a soap opera actor (played by Luke Wilson), Margo hides her true colors behind her obsession with expensive handbags, jewelry, and high-end real estate. While she appears to live the dream, her life is built on lies, manipulation, and dangerous schemes.
As it turns out, Margo’s real name is Luann. She and her brother were con artists, working together on elaborate schemes to climb the social ladder. Marrying JD was just another step in her plan.
Margo hoped to secure her wealth by staying married to JD long enough to bypass their prenuptial agreement. However, her extravagant spending left JD nearly broke, and her grand plan crumbled.
Lydia and Paul pieced together the truth about Jacob’s death, thanks to Leslie Fisher, who uncovered key details from the autopsy report.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers. Readers’ discretion is advised.
Jacob Morgan’s death
Jacob, the Morgans’ son, was killed in what initially seemed like a tragic accident. He had been stealing luxury items from neighbors and gifting them to Margo in a misguided attempt to win her affection. One night, while wearing a ski mask, Jacob broke into his own home, leading to a fatal series of misunderstandings.
Emily, Jacob’s sister, mistook him for an intruder and fired her gun. But the shot didn’t kill him. Another bullet from a different gun did.
Years later, Lydia and Paul uncovered shocking evidence, two bullet casings from the night Jacob died. This discovery made them realize that Emily’s gun wasn’t responsible for his death.
Jacob fled to his home to escape Margo, still wearing his burglar “uniform.” Inside, Emily, unaware that the masked figure was her brother, fired a shot. At the same moment, Margo pulled the trigger. Her bullet killed Jacob.
When she saw Emily blaming herself, Margo quickly left the scene, leaving the Morgans to clean up the mess.
Margo didn’t just lie about Jacob, she also fabricated her past. She claimed her brother had died in a fire caused by a space heater. However, JD later discovered her brother, Bobby, alive, and living on their boat.
What happens to Margot after the story ends?
After the events of No Good Deed, Margo Starling’s life falls apart completely. JD, her husband, discovers all her lies and schemes. In a dramatic turn of events, JD burns down their house, which symbolizes the destruction of everything Margo had worked to build through manipulation and deceit.
With no home, no wealth, and her web of lies exposed, Margo is left with nothing. Her reputation is ruined, and her carefully constructed life of luxury vanishes. She is essentially abandoned, with no one left to rely on.
The story ends without giving a clear picture of what happens to Margo next. However, it’s evident that her downfall is complete, and she’s unlikely to recover the glamorous life she once had. Margo’s choices ultimately leave her isolated and with no way to escape the consequences of her actions.
Margo Starling’s story in No Good Deed is a cautionary tale about greed, deception, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets. Her actions didn’t just destroy her own life, they left a trail of pain and chaos for everyone around her.
You can watch No Good Deed on Netflix.
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