Not all messy families are complex. A purely villainous parent (cruel for cruelty’s sake) or a saintly martyr child is a cartoon. Complexity requires :

: A classic narrative catalyst where an estranged family member returns to confront old scars and buried tensions. Found Family

While drama makes for great entertainment, living through it is another story. Complex family relationships require a delicate balance of empathy and self-preservation.

A mother does not say, "I am disappointed you didn't become a doctor." She says, "That’s a lovely hobby you have there." A father does not say, "I was a failure." He says, "Don't make the same mistakes I did," and then refuses to explain what those mistakes were.