The fictionalized series "Good American Family," based on the real-life case of Natalia Grace and her adoptive parents, has concluded, leaving viewers with strong reactions to its portrayal of the events. The show, available on Hulu and Disney+, presented the complex story from various viewpoints, culminating in a dramatic seventh episode that aired ahead of the finale.
The limited series centers on the 2010 adoption of Natalia Grace by Kristine and Michael Barnett in Indiana. Natalia, who was born in Ukraine with a form of dwarfism, became the subject of a widely publicized dispute after the Barnetts alleged she was not a child but an adult masquerading as one.
The Barnetts petitioned a court to change Natalia's legal age, successfully altering her birth year to 1989. They later moved to Canada with their three biological sons, leaving Natalia in an apartment in Indiana. Natalia consistently denied being an adult and maintained she was a child at the time of the adoption and subsequent events. Medical evidence later supported her claim, and her original birth year of 2003 was restored in 2023.
The show explored the conflicting accounts from the perspectives of the adoptive parents and Natalia herself. The penultimate episode notably brought these narratives together, particularly through the character of a fictional detective.
In the show's seventh episode, the fictionalized Michael Barnett character confessed to the detective that he and Kristine Barnett knew Natalia was a minor when her age was legally changed. He also made allegations of abuse by Kristine. This fictional confession mirrored elements of the real-life legal case that followed.
Real-life charges were brought against the Barnetts in 2019, including neglect of a dependent and conspiracy to commit neglect. An Indiana judge initially dismissed the case based on Grace's legal age, but new charges related to neglect involving Grace's disability were later filed. Michael was acquitted in October 2022, and all charges against Kristine were dismissed in March 2023.
Viewer reactions to the show's unfolding narrative were intense, particularly after the seventh episode. Many expressed emotional distress over the story's complexity and the perceived actions against the child protagonist.
Some fans found the show's shifting perspectives confusing, questioning which version of events presented in the series was intended to be seen as true.
The creators and cast of "Good American Family" have stated their intention was to challenge audience biases by presenting the story from multiple points of view.
Ellen Pompeo, who plays the fictional Kristine Barnett, said the team used the real story as a framework but wanted to challenge viewers. "What we’re asking the audience to do with this show is ask yourselves why you believe what you believe, what biases we hold, and why do you watch something and I watch the very same thing and we both come away with two completely different opinions."
