I've seen a lot of debate about this in fan circles! In 'Descendants,' Mal is actually not biologically related to Maleficent—she's her daughter in a mentor-like, found-family sense. The movie plays with the idea of legacy kids from Disney villains, but it's more about chosen bonds than bloodlines. Maleficent raises Mal as her own, and their dynamic is this chaotic, power-hungry duo with a weirdly affectionate undertone. It's fascinating how the franchise reimagines classic characters; Mal struggles with her 'evil' upbringing but carves her own path. The found-family theme hits harder because of their non-biological connection—it makes Mal's redemption arc even more satisfying.
Funny enough, I low-key prefer this setup. If Mal were literally Maleficent's daughter, it might’ve boxed her into a cliché 'evil by birth' trope. Instead, the writers gave her agency. Plus, the mother-daughter tension works because Maleficent's expectations clash with Mal's growing conscience. Their scenes together are some of the best—like when Mal stands up to her or when Maleficent begrudgingly shows pride. It’s messy and complicated, just like real family dynamics, even if they’re not related by blood.