Hulu’s latest true crime-inspired drama, Good American Family, has captured the attention—and ire—of viewers and critics alike. Based loosely on the bizarre and controversial real-life story of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian orphan adopted by an Indiana couple who claimed she was actually an adult posing as a child, the eight-episode limited series blends gripping performances, moral ambiguity, and media spectacle into a high-stakes family thriller.

Premiering in March 2025 and starring Ellen Pompeo (as Kristine Barnett), Mark Duplass (as Michael Barnett), and Imogen Faith Reid (as Natalia), the show is equal parts courtroom drama, psychological mystery, and social commentary. But while Good American Family succeeds in creating a compelling narrative structure and fostering debate, it doesn’t escape criticism for the liberties it takes with sensitive real-life material.

The True Story Behind the Series

The inspiration behind Good American Family lies in the internationally publicized story of Natalia Grace Barnett, adopted in 2010 by Kristine and Michael Barnett. Believing her to be a 6- or 7-year-old child with a rare form of dwarfism, the Barnetts soon began claiming she was much older—possibly even in her 20s. They alleged that Natalia exhibited violent, manipulative, and disturbing behavior, suggesting she was a con artist who threatened their safety.

In a legal twist, the Barnetts succeeded in having Natalia’s birth year changed from 2003 to 1989, effectively declaring her an adult. They then moved her into an apartment on her own and relocated to Canada, prompting child abandonment charges and a national media frenzy. Later, a genetic test would confirm Natalia was indeed a minor, and she was adopted by a new family in 2023.

This real-life story has already been explored in the ID docuseries The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, but Good American Family dramatizes the events, adding creative fiction and character arcs in a bid to present a more emotional and subjective perspective.

Story Structure and Top Moments

One of Good American Family‘s boldest creative choices is its multi-perspective storytelling format. The first half of the series is largely told from the Barnetts’ point of view—Kristine and Michael are shown as increasingly frantic parents unsure whether they adopted a vulnerable child or a master manipulator. Pompeo’s Kristine is a blend of maternal instinct and moral panic, while Duplass’s Michael vacillates between compassion and fear.

Everything changes in Episode 5, which flips the script and centers the narrative on Natalia’s perspective. Through this pivot, viewers are exposed to a completely different version of events—one marked by neglect, medical trauma, and desperate attempts at survival. The shift is jarring, intentionally so, and forces the audience to reassess everything they’ve seen.

Standout moments include:

  • A tense dinner scene where Natalia is accused of poisoning the family.
  • Kristine testifying in court with her mental stability unraveling.
  • The fifth episode’s reveal of Natalia’s experience living alone in an unfurnished apartment.
  • A quiet yet powerful monologue from Natalia about her longing for a normal life, delivered with stunning nuance by Imogen Faith Reid.

What the Series Gets Right

  • Performances: Ellen Pompeo and Imogen Faith Reid deliver powerful, emotionally nuanced performances. Reid’s portrayal of Natalia is particularly haunting, refusing to reduce her to victim or villain.
  • Narrative Complexity: The shift in perspective mid-series forces viewers to confront their own biases. It explores the dangers of media narratives, parenthood under pressure, and the societal treatment of disabled children and adoptees.
  • Thematic Depth: Rather than merely reenacting scandal, the show wrestles with themes of truth, identity, trauma, and how perception can become reality. It avoids tidy resolutions, instead immersing viewers in moral ambiguity.

Where It Stumbles

Despite its creative ambitions, Good American Family doesn’t entirely stick the landing—especially when it comes to handling such a charged real-life case.

  • Sensationalism Over Sensitivity: While the series avoids outright caricature, it still dramatizes traumatic events for entertainment, occasionally veering into sensationalism. This has led to accusations of exploitation from some viewers and media outlets.
  • Pacing and Balance: Dedicating four episodes to the Barnetts’ perspective before introducing Natalia’s side feels like a structural imbalance. Some viewers argue that this setup unintentionally reinforces harmful narratives before challenging them.
  • Fact vs. Fiction: Though the series opens with a disclaimer about dramatization, it walks a fine line. Critics and fans have voiced concern that it confuses viewers about what really happened, potentially misrepresenting all parties involved.

How Critics and Media Reacted

Media reaction to Good American Family has been divided and passionate. On Rotten Tomatoes, the show holds a middling 50% critic score and a 35% audience score, reflecting its polarizing reception.

Positive reviews highlight the show’s ambition and storytelling:

  • RogerEbert.com praised the series for evolving from a sensational story into a layered psychological drama, with Cristina Escobar commending its “refusal to handhold the audience” and strong cast performances.
  • Entertainment Weekly called it a “suspenseful, perspective-shifting saga that never fully lets viewers get comfortable.”

But not everyone was convinced:

  • Pajiba lambasted the show as “profoundly dishonest” and “exploitative,” especially in its early portrayal of Natalia.
  • The A.V. Club questioned whether the series added anything new to the discourse, calling it a “morally murky retelling of a story that already had its moment.”

What Fans Are Saying

Viewer feedback on platforms like Reddit and IMDb has been just as mixed:

  • Some praised the series for “not picking a side” and offering “a powerful commentary on systemic failures in adoption and mental health.”
  • Others found it “uncomfortable to watch,” citing the portrayal of Natalia in early episodes as “borderline abusive” and “deeply unsettling.”

A Reddit user summarized it best:

“It’s not that the show doesn’t make you think—it does. It’s that it makes you feel dirty for watching it.”

Still, others argued that this discomfort is the point—the show doesn’t seek to provide easy answers because there are none.

Final Verdict: Watch with Caution—and Context

Good American Family is a polarizing yet powerful series. It asks more questions than it answers and delivers standout performances that make it hard to look away. But it also demands that viewers watch it critically and cautiously, especially given the real-life people behind the drama.

For fans of true crime, legal thrillers, and character-driven dramas, it’s absolutely worth the watch—but with the understanding that reality and fiction are deeply entangled.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 for ambition, performances, and narrative structure; minus one star for ethical missteps and imbalance)