Ellen Pompeo’s New Series: Is It Better Than Natalia Grace’s Docuseries?

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I’m thrilled that the initial episodes of “Good American Family” are airing on the 2025 TV lineup, and I can hardly wait! As a devoted fan of “Grey’s Anatomy,” I was eager to see Ellen Pompeo stepping into this fresh, captivating character, which is quite distinct from Meredith Grey. Since the show was announced, there have been two-and-a-half years, and during that time, I watched a documentary about the same topic – “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace” – and now that I’ve seen both, I find myself preferring the Hulu series. It leaves me wondering if that’s a positive or negative thing.

It’s worth mentioning that the Hulu series “Good Witch American Family” is not connected to the 2009 horror film “Orphan,” which revolves around a woman with dwarfism deceiving a family by pretending to be a child, only to terrorize them later. Instead, this Hulu series focuses on Natalia Grace, portrayed by Imogen Faith Reid, who was adopted by Kristine and Michael Barnett (played by Pompeo and Mark Duplass). After viewing all three seasons of the documentary series, I feel cautious about the fictionalized account that’s coming up.

What Is Ellen Pompeo’s New Series Good American Family About?

The captivating story of Natalia Grace garnered broad attention due to its numerous turns and the lack of consensus about what truly transpired. To provide a brief summary, the Barnetts adopted Natalia, a young Ukrainian girl with dwarfism, in 2010. They later grew suspicious that she was older than she had stated, leading to her birth year being legally amended from 2003 to 1989.

Kristina and Michael Barnett became worried about Natalia’s actions and believed their household wasn’t secure with her present. Since she had been legally reclassified as an adult due to being “re-aged,” they placed her in her own apartment in Indiana, and themselves moved to Canada in 2013. It was later discovered that Natalia’s original birth year had been incorrectly adjusted following medical tests, revealing she was just ten years old when left alone in a house unsuitable for her disability.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I’d express it like this: “Over three captivating seasons, the intriguing saga of Natalia Grace unfolds for me, with ‘Good American Family’ skillfully portraying her time spent with the Barnetts. This heartrending narrative served as the main thread in Season 1 of the documentary.

Ellen Pompeo And Mark Duplass Are More Tolerable Than Their Real-Life Counterparts

The Barnetts’ relationship with Natalia Grace remains somewhat mysterious, given that the charges of neglect against them were dropped. However, considering the facts at hand, it is challenging to feel much empathy for them. Kristine declined to cooperate in “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace,” which Michael exploited to portray his former wife as a joint monster with himself – an image he painted even after their separation in 2014.

Ellen Pompeo presents a more tender aspect of Kristine Barnett than the Investigation Discovery documentary depicted (which requires a Max subscription for streaming). As I’ve only watched the initial two episodes of Good American Family, I can’t predict how harsh the character might become, but at this point, the series seems to give her more depth and humanity.

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Regarding Michael Barnett, one could argue that if Mark Duplass portrayed him in line with his real-life behavior on “The Curious Case“, audiences would find it hard to believe. Michael’s actions were excessively dramatic and erratic, frequently resorting to shouting and tears to express himself.

In a more relaxed rephrasing, the character portrayed by Michael in The Morning Show seems less harsh, making him appear as a father eager to connect with his adopted daughter during the first two episodes. If this involves keeping her up late for video games and indulging her in extra treats (which understandably upsets his wife, given their already strained relationship), he appears willing to accept it.

viewing these two appealing actors playing the roles of the Barnetts certainly makes them more appealing, but is that necessarily a positive aspect? It seems somewhat questionable to seek common ground with Kristine and Michael Barnett given the details of the case and allegations about how they treated their disabled child.

The Hulu Series May Address Questions Left Unanswered In The Doc, But How Much Will Be Truth?

One aspect that left me perplexed about “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace” was its presentation of various viewpoints without definitively establishing what was accurate and whose interests were at stake. Although Ellen Pompeo’s series appears to feature the perspectives of Kristine Barnett, Natalia, and others, it’s essential to remember that Good American Family should not be accepted as absolute truth.

That’s made clear right at the beginning, with a disclaimer that reads, in part:

This show presents various contrasting perspectives, often in a dramatic manner, without endorsing any one version as entirely accurate. Some characters, situations, dialogues, and incidents are fictionalized, exaggerated, or fabricated to enhance the storyline.

The series isn’t being criticized here, as it’s important to note that Good American Family isn’t simply regurgitating facts, but rather weaving a complex tale of contrasting versions of events. While this may enhance the viewing experience and provide a more complete picture, it’s unlikely to help us discern the truth.

I believe it’s clear that no one truly understands what happened when the young girl came to live with the Barnetts, but this uncertainty is my main concern about the show as a whole, given that Kristine, Michael, Natalia, and others all appear to have experienced some form of trauma as a result.

It Feels A Little Gross To Find Entertainment Value In This Family’s Situation

Regardless of whether the truth is distorted or each person’s account is valid, this is undeniably a heart-wrenching tale. A family formed through adoption was shattered, a union ended. A child with disabilities was left behind. These are all genuine individuals, and the occurrences portrayed – be they factual, fabricated, or a blend of both – are not ancient history.

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This tale is undeniably captivating, yet it revolves around a woman who, at present, is only 21 years old. Even after the Barnetts departed, she struggled to secure safety, as portrayed in Seasons 2 and 3 of “The Curious Case“. Frankly, I’m not entirely comfortable delving into this narrative for its entertainment value.

For my personal viewing preference, the ID docuseries was quite challenging to watch, and following two episodes of “Good American Family,” it appears that this series seems more palatable compared to the previous one. However, I find myself questioning whether such a situation should be so easily enjoyable.

To check out Ellen Pompeo’s latest series, “Good American Family,” you can stream the initial episodes available right now on Hulu. A fresh installment will be uploaded every Wednesday.

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2025-03-19 22:40