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Mixed Reviews for Hulu’s Limited Series Good American Family

The first two episodes of Hulu’s limited series Good American Family premiered on March 19, and they have sparked a diverse range of critiques from viewers and critics alike.

This drama, described by some as a “mad and messy saga” (Nick Schager, The Daily Beast), revolves around the life of Natalia Grace, portrayed by newcomer Imogen Faith Reid. Natalia, a Ukrainian orphan with a rare form of dwarfism, is adopted by a family in the Midwest, only to be abandoned a year later due to suspicions about her true identity. The project features Ellen Pompeo, known for her role in Grey’s Anatomy, who not only stars as Natalia’s adoptive mother, Kristine Barnett, but also serves as an executive producer. Mark Duplass, an Emmy winner for The Morning Show, plays Kristine’s supportive husband, Michael Barnett, along with a cast that includes Christina Hendricks, Sarayu Blue, and Dulé Hill.

With a diverse narrative perspective, Good American Family has garnered a rating of 40 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and a “generally favorable” score of 63 on MetaCritic, based on eight reviews. Critics remain divided on the show’s merit, with some expressing dissatisfaction with its pacing. Saloni Gajjar from The A.V. Club remarked, “The show drags out its run, finding salvation only whenever Natalia Grace confronts her past directly,” suggesting viewers might prefer to read about the trial than watch the lengthy build-up.

In contrast, Cristina Escobar of RogerEbert.com, adopted a more optimistic view, stating, “People can be both cruel and kind… making it a much more complicated show than its initial offering hints at. So watch to the end for a thoughtful meditation on guilt, justice, and redemption. It’s worth it.”

The series is created and executive produced by Katie Robbins, who collaborates with executive producer Sarah Sutherland. Pompeo produces through her company Calamity Jane alongside Laura Holstein. Additional executive producers include Andrew Stearn, Dan Spilo, Niles Kirchner, and Mike Epps. The pilot episode was directed and executive produced by Liz Garbus. New episodes of Good American Family will be released weekly until April 30.

Here’s a look at additional reviews:

Akos Peterbencze, Looper: “The shortcomings of how it’s told and what tools the writers use are undeniably present, hindering the viewing experience. A more straightforward approach could have effectively conveyed Natalia’s complex story without sensationalism.”

Kristen Baldwin, Entertainment Weekly: “Creator Katie Robbins synthesizes the myriad perspectives into a solid and engaging dramatization of this headline-grabbing saga.”

Megan Vick, Collider: “Good American Family does redeem itself in the latter half, but it’s a stretch to claim it justifies its existence, landing as just another true-crime title that fails to break new ground.”

Alison Herman, Variety: “While the entirety might fall short, Good American Family holds standout moments filled with sorrow and peculiarities, maintaining a gripping watch despite its flaws. Like many true-crime stories, it may captivate you for reasons beyond intent.”

Kelly Lawler, USA Today: This series adopts a half-hearted and hamfisted approach to storytelling, ultimately offering nothing fresh to its audience.

The series premiered on March 19 on Hulu. Fans are encouraged to share their thoughts on the show in community forums and stay tuned for further developments as new episodes unfold.

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