The complicated true story behind the performance of 'Good American Family': The bright screen of Hulu's Natalia Grace drama

Hulu's Good American Family officially premieres, bringing the bizarre and polarizing true story of Natalia Grace to the small screen. Starring Ellen Pompeo as Christine Barnett, Mark Duplass as Michael Barnett and newcomer Imogen Faith Reed as Natalia Grace, the eight-episode limited series has already sparked intense discussion with its first two episodes. From shocking scenes to shifting perspectives, here's the latest real-time update on Good American Family, its complicated true story and why it's one of this year's most talked-about releases.

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Hulu's Good American Family premiere: An entertaining start

Good American Family, which launches on Hulu today, March 19, 2025, dives into the mysterious case of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian orphan with dwarfism who was adopted by Indiana couple Christine and Michael Barnett in 2010. Created by Katie Robbins, the series promises a multi-perspective narrative that explores prejudice, trauma, and truth. The first two episodes were released this morning, and subsequent episodes will air weekly until April 30, in what critics are already calling one of the strangest TV sequences of 2025.

Posts on Axe and Interrupted reviews highlight an incredible moment in Episode 1: Christine Barnett (Pompeo) gives Natalia (Reid) a bath and is shocked to see signs of puberty — pubic hair and signs of menstruation — leading her to suspect that Natalia is not the 7-year-old girl she claims to be. This disturbing scene, based on real-life allegations, has viewers and critics discussing its provocative tone.

The true story behind the Good American Family

The real story of Natalia Grace's life is as exciting as it is complicated. Born in Ukraine in 2003 with a specific form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, Natalia was adopted by the Barnetts after a former American family abandoned her. After initially being welcomed into their Indiana home with their three biological sons, Natalia's integration soon fell apart.

Christine and Michael Barnett alleged that Natalia displayed disturbing behavior - threatening their family with knives, attempting to poison Christine and displaying adult characteristics such as menstruating. In 2012, they succeeded in petitioning a court to change her legal birth year from 2003 to 1989, declaring her an adult at age 22. They then moved her to an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, and moved to Canada with their other children in 2013, where Natalia was left behind.

However, Natalia says she was a child at the time she was abandoned and abused by the Barnetts. A 2023 DNA test presented in The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks supported her claim, estimating she was approximately 8 years old when she was abandoned. The Barnetts faced neglect charges in 2019; Michael was acquitted in 2022, and the charges against Christine were dropped in 2023. Christine says Natalia was an "anti-social" and denies all allegations of abuse.

Good American Family review: A well-crafted, polarizing tale

Early reviews of Good American Family have been unanimous. Critics have praised its ambitious structure – the narrative is divided between the perspectives of Christine (episodes 1-4) and Natalia (episodes 5-8) – and the acting, in particular Imogen Faith Reed's haunting portrayal of Natalia. The 27-year-old British actress, in her first leading role, captures innocence and ambiguity, while Pompeo's Christine oscillates between maternal warmth and paranoia.

しかしながら, Some, like The Hollywood Reporter, call it "dull" in comparison to its shocking premise, arguing that it fails to add new insight to a story already analyzed in Investigation Discovery's The Curious Case of Natalia Grace docuseries. Others, like Looper, consider it "entertaining but manipulative", and accuse it of leaning too heavily on sensationalism. Posts on X reiterate this divide, with viewers drawn in by the premiere's eerie tone yet questioning its necessity after the extensive documentary coverage.

Extraordinary scene: One of the strangest moments of 2025

Episode 1's shower scene has already been declared one of the year's most colorful TV moments. As Christine examines Natalia's body, the camera lingers on Pompeo's stunned expression, further accentuating the real-life claim that sparked the Barnetts' suspicions. It's a stark introduction to the series' exploration of perspective — Christine's anxiety versus Natalia's vulnerability — setting the stage for a narrative that rejects easy answers.

Where are they now?

• Natalia Grace: Natalia, now 21, lives in New York with Nicole and Vince DePaul, a couple who attempted to adopt her in 2009. Suffering from reactive attachment disorder, she is rebuilding her life after fleeing the Manns family (who adopted her after the Barnetts) amid abuse allegations in 2023.

• Christine Barnett: Since her 2014 divorce from Michael, Christine has remained elusive, avoiding docuseries interviews but supporting Good American Family and doing interviews on social media, hoping to tell the "truth."

• Michael Barnett: Cleared of the charges, Michael has opened up against Christine, apologizing to Natalia on Natalia Speaks and calling his ex-wife the real "monster."

How to watch Favorable American Family on Hulu

The series is streaming exclusively on Hulu, with episodes 1 and 2 available starting today, March 19, 2025. New episodes drop Wednesdays at 12:01 AM PDT. Internationally, it will arrive on Disney+ on May 7, 2025. For the full true story, pair it with The Curious Case of Natalia Grace on Max.

Why The Good American Family Matters? Whether an 

unprecedented drama or an exploitative reenactment, Good American Family has reignited the debate over the saga of Natalia Grace. Its Rashomon-style story—featuring conflicting accounts from Christine, Michael, and Natalia—challenges viewers to question the truth. As posts on X fill up with responses, this Hulu series is set to dominate water

cooler conversations in 2025.