Good American Family (which you can find on the streaming platform Hulu) is a show based on the true story of Natalia Grace – who suffers from spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a rare form of dwarfism – and her adoptive parents Kristine and Michael Barnett.
Natalia, at the start of the show, is seen to be 8 years old. However, Kristine was convinced through a series of events that she was actually around 22 years-old.
Kristine and Michael have three sons, one with autism which is the basis of Kristine’s success in the show, with her daycare, and her book about autism. In the beginning Kristine and Michael are shown with a rocky marriage, and when Kristine finds Natalia and introduces her to Michael, they think it could be what it takes to fix their marriage.
Kristine and Michael happily scrape together what money they have to go and adopt Natalia. When Natalia is first introduced, she walks in with a walker and seems shy, but Kristine and Michael are happy to see her. And she asks, “Are you going to be my new mommy and daddy?” Kristine and Michael open her into their arms happily.
Natalia’s behavior starts getting more suspicious to Kristine, and as Kristine’s success grows, so do her suspicions of Natalia’s age. Kristine takes Natalia to the doctor, where it is shown her age could relate to that of a 22 year-old. After a series of attacks on Kristine, Michael opens his eyes and realises how if he wants to keep his wife, they have to do something about Natalia.
They legally change her age, and force her to live by herself. When she gets herself in trouble trying to return to them only to find out they have moved to Canada. Kirstine is forced to come back and move her to another house, and force her to go to school where she will get her GED.
In Natalia’s new house is where she meets Cynthia and Antwon Mans. They take her in as one of their own, and Cynthia takes her to the doctor for her feet, which causes her walking problems. The doctor discovered that Natalia’s growth plates are not that of a 22 year-old, but an 8 year-old.
After that is discovered, Natalia, Cynthia, and Antwon take action, even getting the FBI involved all in hopes to help Natalia. Detective Drysdale helps Natalia build a case against Kristine and Michael, and in the end, she ends up losing the case to Michael’s charges being found not guilty.
This show is packed with suspense, foreshadowing, tension, and mystery around every corner. The writers manage to keep you over the edge of your seat the entire time. I found this to be a good show to watch because the characters were on point and great at acting, there was suspense and plot around every corner, the only thing I would say I disliked was the flashbacks at the beginning of the episodes. After all, “Everyone loves a good American family.”
