The series kicks off with Kristine Barnett passionately addressing an audience about her journey as a parent raising an autistic child. Without prior knowledge of the real-life saga, I dove in blind, intrigued as the scene sharply transitions—Kristine is abruptly arrested mid-speech for child neglect. We're swiftly transported back to 2010, uncovering layers of family turmoil and hidden secrets.
Initially, the Barnetts endure a painful failed adoption of a child named Blanca, leaving visible cracks in their seemingly stable marriage. Mr. Barnett struggles openly, highlighting tension within the family. Kristine emerges as a capable child development specialist, ironically guiding other families while her marriage spirals silently.
Opportunity soon strikes again when Natalia, a young girl with dwarfism, is introduced by a shady adoption agency. Immediately, alarm bells ring—the agency appears rundown and disorganized. When Kristine informs Sandy, the social worker, that she does not have an accessible home and it would take time to make it so, she is suspiciously indifferent to Natalia's accessibility needs. Then, they brazenly pressure the Barnetts to pay past medical bills. They are discouraged when they tell Sandy they need to seek legal counsel first, as Natalia would be placed in a group home otherwise. The Barnetts reluctantly fork over thousands, making it feel less like an adoption and more like an underhanded transaction.
From the onset, Natalia's behavior issues begin. Her behavior escalates alarmingly—tantrums erupt during a family breakfast outing on the way from the agency. When she gets to her new home, she openly criticizes her new room for being "babyish." Things quickly spiral darker. Natalia's hostility toward Kristine turns sinister—shoving Kristine into a bathtub, wielding a knife and refusing to drop it when asked, and smiling ominously when no one else is watching. Predictably, Natalia has no issue cozying up to Mr. Barnett, deepening the psychological tension. Why is the issue always with the mom? It feels familiar.
In the next episode, we jump forward to 2019, where we see Mr. Barnett remarried and portraying Kristine as manipulative when questioned by a detective. Kristine, now cast as the villain, vehemently counters this accusation. The series plays with perspectives, never clarifying who the true antagonist is.
Further flashbacks amplify the drama. Kristine wakes from nightmares to find Natalia lurking suspiciously, sparking paranoia about hidden weapons. Natalia's troubling behavior continues, marked by unsettling events like the decapitated stuffed toy hidden beneath her bed. Suspicion grows when Kristine investigates the shady agency, uncovering potential child trafficking connections. The school suspends Natalia for intentionally harming other students, further complicating Kristine's position as both advocate and parent.
Episode two peaks dramatically, ending with Kristine's shocking suspicion that Natalia isn't a child at all. After knocking and having the knock unanswered, she walks into the bathroom and notices pubic hair, an unsettling twist reminiscent of films like "Orphan."
Though the acting is good enough, something about the narrative feels off, very Ryan Murphy-esque, where the actual victim is painted more like the villain. Real-life details get muddled with a 27-year-old actress being cast to play young Natalia which feels deliberate to sensationalize a situation that, in reality, clearly involved a genuine child.
Despite its performances, the series struggles with believability. Major plot points lack clarity—why didn't the Barnetts thoroughly vet this shady agency? Why blindly accept demands to reimburse questionable medical fees? The narrative is captivating, but credibility falters, resembling a thriller rather than a nuanced exploration of a deeply troubling real-life situation.
I'll stick around, hoping the narrative shifts to include Natalia's perspective, though my instincts tell me this won't happen. So far, it feels more like "The Waltons" meets "The Bad Seed"—intriguing but ultimately uneven.
Grade: C
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