When Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass step into the roles of Kristine and Michael Barnett in Hulu’s new limited series Good American Family, they’re not just playing characters—they’re stepping into one of the most disturbing adoption stories in modern American history. The eight-episode drama, created by Katie Robbins, premiered on March 19, 2025, with the first two episodes dropping at once, followed by weekly releases. The series, which also streams on Jio Hotstar in India, centers on the real-life case of Natalia Grace Barnett, a Ukrainian orphan with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, portrayed by Imogen Faith Reid. What began as a heartwarming adoption turned into a legal nightmare—and now, a TV show that’s dividing critics and viewers alike.
The Real Story Behind the Drama
In 2010, the Barnetts, a middle-class couple from Indiana, adopted Natalia, then believed to be six years old. She had the physical appearance of a child due to her rare genetic condition, which stunted her growth. But by 2012, the Barnetts began insisting she was actually an adult—possibly in her twenties—faking her age. Their claims led to a 2013 court case where a judge, based on questionable medical assessments and psychological evaluations, allowed them to change her birth year from 2003 to 1989. Overnight, Natalia became a legal adult. The Barnetts then abandoned her at a hotel in Michigan, leaving behind a suitcase, a few hundred dollars, and a note saying she was "too old" for them.
Natalia, now in her mid-twenties, has since spoken out in documentaries like The Curious Case of Natalia Grace (2022) and Natalia Grace: A New Life (2023), insisting she was a child when adopted. She says she was never given proper medical care, was isolated from other children, and was pressured into signing documents she didn’t understand. The case sparked national outrage, with child welfare advocates questioning how a court could validate such a drastic age reclassification without conclusive evidence.
How the Show Tells the Story
Good American Family doesn’t take sides—at least not overtly. Each episode opens with a legal disclaimer, but unlike standard disclaimers, these vary per episode, hinting at shifting truths. The narrative is told from multiple perspectives: the Barnetts’ version, Natalia’s memories, and the testimony of social workers, doctors, and lawyers who were involved. It’s a technique that mirrors real-life ambiguity, but critics are split on whether it adds depth or just confusion.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that the series "leans into the unsettling gray area," while Variety called it "disappointing," criticizing Pompeo’s performance as overly restrained and the pacing as sluggish. AV Club’s Saloni Gajjar bluntly labeled it "vexing and completely unnecessary," arguing that the real story is already shocking enough without dramatization. Meanwhile, RogerEbert.com offered a more nuanced take: "It’s a layered show about responsibility, how ‘good’ people can do terrible things, and the intoxicating power of narrative."
Why This Story Still Matters
The case isn’t just about a strange adoption—it’s about systemic failures. How did a child with a rare medical condition slip through the cracks of international adoption protocols? Why did no one push back when the Barnetts demanded a birthdate change without clear forensic proof? And why did the legal system, which exists to protect the vulnerable, become a tool for their erasure?
What’s especially chilling is how easily narrative can override facts. The Barnetts built a public image as victims—concerned parents misled by a manipulative child. Natalia, meanwhile, was labeled a liar, a fraud, a threat. The media, then and now, has struggled to reconcile these conflicting versions. The series doesn’t resolve the debate—it amplifies it. And that’s exactly what makes it uncomfortable to watch.
Public Reaction and Ratings
As of March 22, 2025, the series holds a 5.7/10 on IMDb, with viewer comments ranging from "I can’t believe this really happened" to "Why is Hulu profiting from this trauma?" The Times Now News review by Sonal Pandya called it "complex but biased," noting the show "skews in favour of the adults." Meanwhile, Forbes’ Monica Mercuri, who also covered the series for The Hollywood Reporter, published a detailed background piece titled The Unbelievable True Story Behind Hulu’s Good American Family, highlighting how the Barnetts’ legal team used outdated growth charts and speculative psychological profiles to justify their claims.
There’s also a quiet, growing movement among adoptees and disability advocates calling for a public apology from the Barnetts and a re-examination of the court’s decision. Natalia’s current legal team is exploring options to restore her original birth records and potentially reopen the case under new state laws that now better protect adoptees from age manipulation.
What’s Next?
The final episode of Good American Family airs on May 7, 2025. But the story doesn’t end there. In April 2025, a nonprofit called Adoptee Rights Initiative announced plans to petition the Indiana legislature to create a new law requiring independent medical verification before any adoptee’s birthdate can be altered. A hearing is scheduled for June.
Meanwhile, Natalia is working as a youth advocate in Chicago, mentoring other adoptees. She recently told a local news outlet: "I didn’t ask for a TV show. But if it makes people question what they’re told—then maybe it’s worth it."
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Natalia Grace actually an adult when adopted?
Natalia Grace has consistently maintained she was a child when adopted in 2010. Medical experts who reviewed her case—including those from the University of Michigan’s pediatric genetics division—confirmed her condition, spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, causes severe growth retardation, making her appear much younger than her actual age. The court’s 2013 decision to change her birth year to 1989 relied on disputed growth charts and unverified psychological assessments, not DNA or bone-age scans, which are the gold standard for age determination.
Why did the court allow the Barnetts to change Natalia’s birthdate?
Indiana courts at the time permitted birthdate changes if "clear and convincing evidence" of misrepresentation was presented. The Barnetts submitted testimony from a pediatrician who claimed Natalia’s development was inconsistent with a child, but no independent forensic evaluation was conducted. The judge, facing pressure from the couple’s legal team and lacking access to international adoption records, approved the change. This loophole has since been closed in Indiana under new legislation passed in 2022.
How has Natalia Grace been doing since the abandonment?
After being left at a hotel in 2013, Natalia was taken in by a foster family in Michigan and later reunited with her biological sister in Ukraine through a humanitarian effort. She moved to Chicago in 2020, where she now works with adoptee advocacy groups. She completed her GED in 2023 and is studying social work. She has spoken publicly about her trauma but avoids sensationalism, focusing instead on systemic reform in adoption practices.
Why is this story being turned into a TV show now?
The timing reflects a broader cultural reckoning with how vulnerable populations—especially international adoptees and people with disabilities—are treated by institutions. Documentaries released in 2022 and 2023 reignited public interest, and with Hulu’s rise in true-crime dramatizations, the case became a prime candidate. But unlike shows like The Act or My Favorite Murder, this series avoids villainizing either side, instead forcing viewers to sit with uncomfortable ambiguity.
Are the Barnetts still in the public eye?
Michael and Kristine Barnett largely disappeared from public view after 2015, though they occasionally appear in interviews defending their actions. In 2024, Michael gave a brief statement to a local Indiana paper, saying, "We did what we thought was best." They have not apologized to Natalia. Their two biological children, now adults, have not publicly commented on the case. Legal experts say they’re likely protected from civil liability due to the statute of limitations and the court’s prior approval of the adoption change.
What’s being done to prevent this from happening again?
In 2022, Indiana passed Senate Bill 317, requiring independent forensic medical evaluations before any adoptee’s birthdate can be altered. The bill was directly inspired by Natalia’s case. Similar legislation is now being drafted in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. Advocacy groups are also pushing for federal oversight of international adoption records to prevent document tampering. Natalia has testified before state committees, urging lawmakers to treat adoptees as people—not problems to be solved.