DuckTales is a very funny adventure series. Following the exploits of Scrooge McDuck’s extended family, the show has no end of wacky hijinks, whip smart one-liners, and truly some of the funniest premises on TV. However, when the show wants to get serious, it gets heartwrenchingly real. While much of the cast have faced some less comedic problems, the character of Lena has gotten the best and most true to life plot of them all. One that centers on abuse and trauma.

Lena was introduced early in the first season as the niece of infamous Duck villain Magica De Spell. Forming a close friendship with Webby, Lena was secretly working to infiltrate Scrooge’s family in order to get his #1 Dime and use it to free Magica. Over the course of the first two seasons Lena grew closer to Webby, betrayed Magica, found out she was a sentient shadow, became Webby’s sentient shadow, came back to life, and is now part of the extended Duck family.

All of that sounds wildly fantastical but, like many of the best plots on DuckTales, it’s all grounded in real life emotions. Magica’s treatment of Lena is abusive and the show treats Lena as a victim of that abuse. Magica verbally manipulates Lena, gaslighting and making her feel like a monster. Magica makes Lena feel like she’s nothing without her but when Lena does what Magica wants? Magica gives her nothing in return. It’s horrifying to watch because it’s so true to life.

Even when Lena escapes Magica that trauma doesn’t just go away. She blames herself for what she did and is wracked with horrible nightmares. She overcompensates and puts incredible pressure on herself to be “better,” afraid of doing anything bad. Lena’s worried she’ll become like her abuser. Thankfully Lena is slowly but surely working through what Magica did to her but it’s not easy. She still hates herself in a lot of ways and this won’t be something she just “gets over.” It’ll be a long process of healing.