If Ellen Pompeo were to embark on a fresh journey, venturing beyond her two-decade-long tenure as a series staple on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," the role she sought had to resonate profoundly. And in Hulu's "Good American Family," she believes she's found her calling as a supermom whose life crumbles into chaos. "I was yearning for a genuine creative leap," she reveals. "This role presented me with an unparalleled chance to fully immerse myself, disappearing into the skin of another." "Characters like these are rare gems," she adds.
"Good American Family" weaves a fictional tapestry inspired by the real-life saga of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian-born orphan with dwarfism, adopted by an American family who later question her identity, suspecting she might be a troubled adult posing as a child. Pompeo embodies the adoptive mother, a renowned speaker and author celebrated for nurturing a son with autism, yet now standing at the precipice of despair amidst Natalia's complexities, a strained marriage, legal entanglements, and a shattered reputation.
Creator and co-showrunner Katie Robbins, who also brought "Sunny" to life and penned episodes for "The Affair," shares, "We took our extensive research and amplified or adjusted moments for dramatic effect, ensuring they packed a punch." "The core objective was crafting a narrative that hooks viewers and keeps them glued. Yet, ultimately, the utmost priority was to tell this story with emotional authenticity, respecting those involved."
This case has been the subject of numerous TV shows, podcasts, and documentaries over the years, notably Investigation Discovery's "The Curious Case of Natalia Grace." However, if viewers anticipate clarity on the heroes' side, "Good American Family" will disappoint. Instead, it recounts the tale from varied perspectives, flashing forward and backward, crafting a multifaceted family drama infused with thriller elements.
"Paying close attention to the narrator's voice is crucial," underscores Robbins. "Employing diverse perspectives not only offered a fresh storytelling angle but also allowed us, as narrators, to lead viewers on a journey that challenges their ingrained biases in surprising ways."
The series unfolds from the vantage point of the adoptive parents, with Mark Duplass portraying the husband who, eventually, turns against their newest family member. However, the narrative subtly shifts its focus to Natalia, expertly embodied by Imogen Faith Reid, who gradually shatters any preconceived notions the audience might have harbored upon entering this intricate tale. "Each individual approaches this story with a unique perspective," elucidates Sarah Sutherland, the co-showrunner and executive producer. "It's akin to a Rorschach test, and I found the discomforting nuances of this dynamic incredibly intriguing."
The eight episodes, premiering on Wednesday, artfully intertwine shadows with light, depicting moments of familial levity juxtaposed against scenes of sheer terror, as Natalia inches closer to her parents' bedside, armed with a knife. "Regarding tone, I firmly believe that life itself is a blend of genres," muses Robbins. "The happiest moments in my life have often been tinged with tragedy, while amidst the saddest, I've discovered absurd humor. Therefore, in everything I write, I strive to encapsulate this tension, for it embodies the essence of being human."
At its heart, "Good American Family" delves into how we are nurtured and how these influences reverberate through generations. It reveals how Pompeo's character was treated by her mother and how Natalia's upbringing lacked the warmth of familial love, setting the stage for an inevitable confrontation. "We're exploring how parenting styles cascade down, impacting how one becomes a parent themselves," explains Robbins. "This transformation shapes one's perception of the world, and I find it a fascinating theme that runs throughout the series."
Pompeo perceives a broader implication—how in today's world, everyone possesses their definitive version of events, viewing them through their unique lens. "Even when you know you're wrong, it requires an extraordinary degree of humility to admit it," she remarks. "It's far easier to cling to one's ego and insist, 'I wasn't wrong.'" She continues, "We witness this in our country's current climate. People are willing to fight tooth and nail before conceding their mistake. Regardless of what we observe, right? We see things with our own eyes, yet people assert something else, and we choose to believe their words over what we witness. This, my friends, is the human condition."
