These shows excel by contrasting massive external stakes (billion-dollar empires or life milestones) with intimate, painful psychological warfare between siblings and parents.
[ The Patriarch / Matriarch ] (Control & Tradition) | +---------+---------+ | | [ The Golden Child ] [ The Scapegoat ] (Perfection Trap) (Target of Blame) | | [ The Enabler ] [ The Lost Child ] (Defends Abuse) (Invisible/Silent) -WORK- Maniado 2 Les Vacances Incestueuses -2005
The antagonist must believe they are protecting the family. A controlling mother should act out of a distorted desire to keep her children safe from the mistakes she made. These shows excel by contrasting massive external stakes