YMMV / Gracie's Choice

• Catharsis Factor:
  • Ordinarily, using someone's miscarriages as an insult against them would make someone a complete asshole, but after abusing, neglecting, and parentifying her all her life, and adding that she is currently attempting to kill her, Gracie mentioning Rowena's miscarriages while shaming her for only having kids to get welfare and then telling her to Get Out! before she calls the police is extremely satisfying, if heartbreaking in the moment.
  • Similarly, someone getting their parental rights terminated is extremely devastating, but after everything Gracie went through to get to that point, watching Rowena break down and leave the courtroom sobbing is a very happy ending.
• Harsher in Hindsight: Rowena's constant struggle with substance abuse becomes harder to think about after her actress, Anne Heche, died via driving under the influence.
• Iron Woobie: Gracie. She's been abused and parentified all her life, but it doesn't stop her from fighting for her siblings' livelihoods.
• Moral Event Horizon: After finding out Gracie's plan to adopt her siblings, Rowena has a meltdown, culminating in her assaulting Louella and Gracie, her own mother and daughter. In the latter case, she tackled Gracie to the ground and choked her. By the end of it, poor Louella is sobbing her heart out.
• Tear Jerker:
  • Any time the kids are threatened with/actually put through separation. Especially when they scream and cry for each other and beg to not be split up.
  • Louella fails to protect Gracie from Rowena, and breaks down crying by the end of the assault. After everything she's done and continues to do, seeing her own daughter treat her and her grandchildren in such a vile manner is nothing short of heartbreaking.
  • Louella's death and funeral, especially since Rowena couldn't be arsed to show up and only comes around when it's too late, and even then, she is extremely disrespectful.
• The Woobie: Every member of Gracie's family could qualify, but Louella in particular stands out. The poor woman has a abusive daughter and can't afford to look after her five desperate grandchildren.

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