In a narcissistic family, the golden child is the so called perfect one but this keeps the golden child in the thrall of the narcissistic parent.

The scapegoat is blamed unjustly for the sickness of the family and is usually driven away. If the scapegoat can wake up, the scapegoat has a much better chance of having a fulfilling life than the golden child.

The golden child usually become a mook loser enforcer for the narcissistic parent. The golden child usually stays emotionally a child, just like the narcissistic parent did before him.