The person who left the family. They are often idealized by those who stayed ("Oh, your uncle was so brilliant") or demonized ("We don't speak his name").

A singular event forces the family together or tears them apart.

: An estranged family member returns home for a wedding or funeral, forcing everyone to confront the unresolved trauma that caused the rift years ago. Role Reversal & Caregiving

Characters in family dramas should rarely be villains. Give them sympathetic motivations for bad actions.