The mother-daughter relationship is one of the most important relationships in human society. The mother is the most important female influence in every child's life. For better or worse, she has the power to either destroy her child's self-esteem, as Hayley Smith once argued, or to build up a child innumerably.
A relationship dynamic often fraught with tension, the mother-daughter relationship, when good, is often very good. When bad, it is tragic. The bad ones, unfortunately, are filled with abuse, neglect, and sorrow. The good ones, on the other hand, are filled with joy, companionship, and celebration.
Negative: Lori-Ann & Kimmy Schmidt
Underneath the campy, bright colors of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt lies a dark story that left Kimmy traumatized for years. Kidnapped as a child and forced to live in an underground bunker by a sociopath, Kimmy spends nearly two decades of her life trapped by "The Reverend". It is later revealed that Kimmy's mother, Lori-Ann, was partly to blame for Kimmy's kidnapping.
A teenage mother, Lori-Ann was unable to take care of Kimmy as she ought, neglecting her daughter significantly. When Kimmy is rescued from the bunker, she attempts to reconnect with Lori-Ann, who tells her that she refuses to take the blame for anything that happened.
Positive: Moira & Alexis Rose
The Moira-Alexis Rose mother-daughter bond is particularly special because it shows how relationships need work to thrive. Alexis and Moira start out with no personal relationship at the beginning of the series. They both try to avoid being alone with each other.
However, as the series progresses, the two air out their differences and work harder on their relationship. This leads to a very close mother-daughter bond by the series' end. Moira shows her love for Alexis by consistently putting her daughter first, and supporting Alexis through everything.
Negative: Sylvia & Donna Noble
Donna Noble was the tenth Doctor's companion in Doctor Who. One of the most beloved companions of the Doctor, Donna is kind, compassionate, and loud. She makes the ultimate sacrifice to save the entire universe and challenges the Doctor constantly with her blunt tongue.
Although a great character full of personality, Donna suffers from low self-esteem. Doctor Who reveals that this is due to her verbally abusive mother who constantly puts her daughter down, never saying a kind word to her. The Doctor, angry and frustrated, would later shout at Sylvia for her inability to be kind to her daughter.
Positive: Hippolyta & Diana Prince
There is no doubt that Hippolyta loves Diana. Queen Hippolyta of Themyscira, saddened by her lack of a child, prayed to the goddesses for a daughter. After molding the child from clay, the goddesses would give life to the figure. Hippolyta raises Princess Diana, who would leave Themyscira, the land of Amazons, to become Wonder Woman.
Gifted by the goddesses with strength, speed, and wisdom, Diana is wise and empathetic enough to lead and protect Earth as part of the DC Trinity: Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman.
Negative: Lucille & Lindsay Bluth
When Lindsay was a child, her mother Lucille would call her a "pig fat enough to be eaten". After an entire childhood of name-calling and taunting, Lucille would continue to verbally abuse her daughter into adulthood, consistently calling her fat, and unattractive.
As a result, Lindsay would suffer from debilitating low self-esteem and an obsession with seeking validation for her appearance. Once Lindsay finds out that she is not related to her mother, having been adopted, she is incredibly jubilant not to be a Bluth.
Positive: Rita Owens & Khadijah James
Rita and Khadijah share the perfect mother-daughter relationship. So much so that Khadijah's best friend, Regine, along with her mother, would mock the two for having what they deem an unnatural relationship. Rita is Khadijah's best friend and confidant.
When Khadijah is suffering from mental fatigue, Rita is able to convince her daughter to see a therapist. Khadijah is also incapable of telling her mother a lie, with both unable to stay mad at each other for more than a few hours. Theirs is one of the best mother-daughter relationships on television.
Negative: Miriam & Helga Pataki
Miriam Pataki may be a horrible mother, but viewers are forced to sympathize with her plight. Hey Arnold! is a show for children that does not hide from telling uncomfortable truths about life. In the case of Helga, her mother, Miriam, suffers from alcoholism. Miriam tries to be present for her daughter, but fails constantly, because of her addiction.
Consequently, Helga has no respect for her mother and is forced to become distant, to shield herself from Miriam's never-ending letdowns. Miriam also never protects Helga from her husband, Big Bob, who also neglects Helga.
Tanya & Raven Baxter
Raven Baxter has an enviable life. She lives in a big, beautiful home with incredibly loving parents, a brother, and two best friends. The family never struggles for money, and Raven spends her teenage years having crushes, playing dress-up, and partaking in general teenaged shenanigans.
Notably, Tanya Baxter is a pillar in this ideal Disney-magic world. She is a mother who is constantly smiling, singing, kissing, and hugging. She is nice, but firm, and is always there to help Raven through tough times. She is, essentially, the magical, wonderful mother that audiences wish they had.
Negative: Carly & Tracy Beaker
The Story Of Tracy Beaker follows a young girl sent to live in an orphanage by her mother, Carly. The popular British children's TV show, produced by the BBC, showed Tracy adjusting to a maladjusted life at the orphanage. Every week, Tracy waits for her mother who promises to visit her but never shows up.
Her mother gave her up to the orphanage after Tracey's birth. Nevertheless, Carly is shown to be careless with Tracey's feelings, putting her daughter last in everything she does. Eventually, Tracey stops believing in her mother and moves on without her.
Linda & Tina Belcher
Tina is Linda Belcher's "little baby". She is her "tinie-Tina". Linda undeniably loves Tina and is Tina's biggest supporter. She talks Tina through all her problems and nurtures her when she is down. When Tina does not read a book in time for her school presentation, for example, Linda coaches her all night on the art of lying when you haven't done the work.
To show her full support, Linda shows up the next day to hide in the bushes, to proudly watch her daughter lie her way through life.