Fascinating, oftentimes maddening, and occasionally overdramatic,Good American Familyis thoroughly addictive television. Like its limited-series cousins,The Act,Adolescence,andMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,the Hulu seriespresents a seemingly harmless child—or family—that are not who they appear to be. Or maybe they are. Either way, the tension builds to such a degree that you want to reach inside the screen and shake some of the characters you’re watching.
That’s a good sign that we’re in for a gripping ride here in a story starring Ellen Pompeo (Grey’s Anatomy), Mark Duplass (Creep, The League), and Imogen Faith Reid.Creator/executive producer Katie Robbins(Sunny, The Affair) shares showrunner credit with executive producer Sarah Sutherland in a tale (told from different perspectives) that is inspired by the mind-bending real-life events of Ukrainian orphan Natalia Grace Barnett, who was thrust into the public eye when her adoptive parents claimed she was not a child, but an adult. It was the inspiration for a much spookier project,Orphan.
The story is one of the most bizarre cases in history and one ripe for telling. Natalia, who has a rare form of dwarfism, was adopted by Indiana couple Kristine Elizabeth Barnett (Pompeo) and Michael Barnett (Duplass) back in 2010. At that time, the Barnetts, already parents of three boys, were having marital challenges after another adoption fell through. When Natalia entered the picture, the couple believed she was about seven years old — the entire adoption process was sketchy, you see, and before long, momma Kristine quickly becomes suspicious of Natalia. Must have had something to do with the child clutching a knife like a mad killer.
Somebody Needs a Hug
Good American Family
Before each episode, a title card informs viewers thatGood American Familyportrays various allegations by the individuals involved, including court proceedings. It attempts to dramatize several conflicting points of view, like a true crimeRashomon. The front half of the series presents events alleged by the Barnetts. By Episode 5, it’s Natalia Grace’s turn, and by that point, viewers no doubt will have formed their own opinions about the child, whose temper tantrums, destructive acts, and other manipulations certainly don’t win viewers over. But maybe Natalia’s not that kind of girl at all.
Every TV Series Coming to Hulu in March 2025
As always, Hulu will have a plethora of choices for viewers of all ages to enjoy next month.
The creative device works in this series' favor, flipping the script to allow us to come to our own conclusions. Most episodes begin around 2019, before leaping back to 2010 when all the madness began and moving forward from there. The Barnetts are a wonderfully middle-class family. Father Michael works at a Circuit City store (remember them?). Mother Kristine is eager to expand her own career as a child expert in addition to launching an autism foundation as a way to honor the couple’s boy-genius son, Jacob (Aias Dalman), who’s autistic.
When a sudden opportunity arises to adopt Natalia, the couple agrees, but within the very first week of bringing the seemingly sweet child home, Natalia’s outbursts — from the Barnetts' view — become worrisome. Michael has a better connection with Natalia. Kristine, on the other hand, is having some trouble… like awakening to find the girl standing by her bed holding a knife and a stuffed animal she apparently wants to carve up.
10 Best Detective Series Based on Real Cases
There have been countless shows over the years that have utilized real stories and top acting talent.
What wicked “entertainment” this suddenly becomes. A mystery emerges around Natalia’s age and background. At one point, Kristine walks into the bathroom only to find Natalia shrieking upon her arrival. Back on the other side of the door, Kristine frets, telling Michael, “She has hair — down there! I don’t think she’s a child.” As the story moves along, Kristine becomes vigilant about defending the family from the daughter they’ve grown to believe is a threat. But hold on, folks. This crazed tale is just getting started.
Who the Hell Did They Adopt?
It’s refreshing to see this series told from multiple points of view. The biggest surprise, perhaps, is that the showrunners take their time before showing viewers anything beyond the Barnetts' allegations. It would have been easy to alternate perspectives every other episode, so it’s a real treat — if not a brain twister — once we get to Natalia’s side. From there, it’s anybody’s guess what really went down. However, if you look close enough, you may find what could be a throughline of truth.
On the acting front, it’s an adjustment to see Ellen Pompeo not as Meridith Grey fromGrey’s Anatomy,especially when she’s narrating so much of the story (as her character does on that show). But once the first episode finds its mid-point, Pompeo creates a believable character in the ever-frustrated Kristine. It’s great fun, in fact, to watch Pompeo’s Kristine become unhinged, barking out criticisms to her beleaguered husband. She and Duplass have great chemistry on screen, even though most of the scenes might find them at odds with far too many things.
The Most Controversial Part of Ryan Murphy’s True-Crime Shows Is Also the Best Thing About Them
Whether it’s the Netflix series ‘Dahmer’ or the critically acclaimed movie ‘Downfall,’ humanizing evil is essential to understanding it.
Pompeo and Duplass do a fine job, too, of showing parents who aren’t on the same page about raising a child (and most other things, for that matter). There are also good turns from recurring guest stars Dulé Hill, Christina Hendricks, Sarayu Blue, and Jenny O’Hara.It’s Imogen Faith Reid who steals the show, however, and rightly so. The actress is a true chameleon, able to trigger anger and frustration in viewers only to win us over and evoke compassion in later episodes when we see another kind of Natalia. What a puzzle box this series becomes.
Lots of Soapy Drama
As we move into the last few episodes ofGood American Family,prepare for an emotional showdown that ultimately plays out in the courtroom and in the tabloids. These kinds of scenes tend to be melodramatic and there’s some of that here, despite the need for it. Another question lingers throughout: do the Barnetts really love Natalia? It’s a bit too rushed from the audience’s perspective; so many gushy “sweety” lines right after adoption without a sense of really understanding their emotional connection.
Nonetheless, the series has that must-watch vibe, especially for true-crime fans, and allows a different audience to explore this story (as opposed to horror fans, who had theOrphanmovies). That is, if you didn’t just watch Investigation Discovery’s docuseriesThe Curious Case of Natalia Grace, which dropped in February. Yes, the story is well-known and well-told by now, but this is a great addition for a whole new audience. So dive in and lather up in this trippy, soapy delight.Good American Familypremieres on Hulu March 19. Watch it through the link below:
