Good American Family

Years ago I watched Kendall Rae cover this case on her YouTube channel and was blown away by the entire story. The first two episodes of GAF have hooked my interest in much the same way.

Ellen Pompeo never disappoints and is playing her part meticulously well, but I'm also impressed with Imogen Reid's depiction of Natalia Grace. The fluctuations between vulnerable, innocent child, seeking love, and unhinged (potentially older) woman seeking to cause relational rifts in the family, are enough to give the viewer whiplash.

I also want to give kudos on the casting of Jacob (Aias Dalman), an actually autistic actor, who is playing his role superbly too. As an autistic person myself, I love to see autistic actors getting these opportunities.

At two episodes in, I am most certainly committed to the rest of the series. Knowing the case, I have some idea of how things will go, but I'm sure there will still be surprises. I'm looking forward to seeing this unfold.

Wanted to like this. For the most part, I'm unconvinced by the characterizations, which are in need of nuance. I was hoping to see a fresh role for Pompeo, but her delivery is similar to her longtime performance in "Grey's Anatomy". Same voice, similar expressions, and convenient charms. Some of the emotional transitions for Duplass feel rushed and formulaic. Considering that I'm having challenges early on, I'm reminded that this series will endure for 8 episodes. The script feels flimsy, and it's disappointing because the real life story is intriguing. It's hard to know what really happened behind closed doors in the Barnett household after they adopted Natalia Grace. As a result, we're presented with some scenarios which don't ring true. Finally, a quick tech note: the score for this series is heavy handed. When the production wants the viewer to feel threatened or sentimental, the music works overtime to make sure we get the gist.

I was hesitant to check this show out because of the reviews, but I'm so glad I did. It is suspenseful, heartfelt at times, and you can't help but feel for all parties involved.

Ellen Pompeo is great in her role and so is Mike Duplass.

Imogen Faith Reid is fantastic - she is convincing in her role. At first you want to feel bad for her, then you are afraid of what she is going to do next.

I have read that this is loosely based off of a true story. I think a lot of people are trying to focus on the inconsistencies between the series and reality. Since I don't know much about the real story, my advice is to watch this show without comparing it against what it is loosely based off.

"Good American Family" is a gripping American drama-thriller series, inspired by the true story of Natalia Grace and her adoption by Kristine (Ellen Pompeo) and Michael Barnett (Mark Duplass).

Natalia, a child with dwarfism, is abandoned by the Barnetts after displaying strange behavior. Sound familiar?

It echoes a plot twist from the 2009 horror film "Orphan," which was based on the real-life case of Estonian imposter Barbora Skrlová. The unsettling premise taps into our darkest fears, but this series dives deeper into a much more twisted narrative.

While the story begins in 2010, the truth unfolds in a shocking series of revelations.

What initially seems like a straightforward tale quickly morphs into something more complex, shedding light on a deeper, far darker reality. After the success of a popular docuseries, the inevitable narrative adaptation has arrived.

If you're unfamiliar with the details of the Grace case, it's best to dive in blind-this show is a masterclass in twisting allegiances and testing your judgment.

The first episodes might make you cringe, but as Natalia's character shifts from antagonist to protagonist, the story evolves into something much more than just a rehash of Orphan.

It's a mix of crime drama-thriller, and satire, with a he-said-she-said dynamic that keeps you hooked, episode after episode.

If you're ready for a binge-worthy, mind-bending rollercoaster, "Good American Family" is not to be missed.

I will say, I started off agreeing with all of the other comments and reviews, however my perspective is starting to change following episode 5. I am not sure what they are doing and how they will continue to present this storyline, but I am VERY intrigued.

Initially it starts off following Ellen Pompeo's perspective as the mom, but now I think it's turning and starting to following Natalia Grace's perspective. It's an interesting state of production though because you really can't tell what's perspective and what's real life- I guess that's true for everything and this story is doing an excellent job of creating that!