The first episode of the American drama limited series Good American Family aired on Hulu on March 19, 2025. Over the course of eight episodes, the show explores the controversial and emotional tale of Natalia Grace, a child with dwarfism who was adopted by Kristine Barnett (Ellen Pompeo) and Michael Barnett (Mark Duplass). At first, the story of a family taking in a child in need is heartwarming. But quickly, it turns into a web of doubt, suspicion, and betrayal. As the Barnetts start to wonder about Natalia’s real age and intentions, the story is told from different points of view, leaving viewers to figure out what is true.
Detective Brandon Drysdale played by Dulé Hill, is at the center of this intense drama. Drysdale leads the viewers through the complicated Barnett case by looking into the family’s and Natalia’s claims and counterclaims. But there is still one question: Is Brandon Drysdale based on a real detective or is he made up?Let’s get into the specifics.
Is Brandon Drysdale Based on a Real Detective?
Good American Family is based on the true story of Natalia Grace—a Ukrainian orphan that the Barnett family adopted in 2010. The show looks into the complicated parts of the case—like the Barnetts’ shocking claims that Natalia wasn’t a child, but an adult pretending to be one and Natalia’s claims that she was abused and left behind. A lot of what happens on the show is based on real events, but some parts have been made up to make the story easier to follow on TV. The character of Detective Brandon Drysdale is one of these.
The show introduces Drysdale as the detective whose job it is to look into the Barnetts after they are charged with neglect in 2019. He plays a key role because he talks to important people, finds problems with their stories, and puts together the evidence to figure out what really happened. There are different stories and points of view in the show, but Drysdale’s character acts as a narrative anchor and helps the audience make sense of them all.
But Detective Brandon Drysdale is not based on a real person, even though he plays a major role in the show. Apparently, TV Insider says that Drysdale is a made-up character that represents the work of all the detectives who worked on the real case. In reality, more than one police officer worked on the investigation into the Barnetts, and each played a role at different points. From the first interview with Michael Barnett to the arrests of both Kristine and Michael, everyone worked together on the real-life investigation.
The show’s creators decided to combine these efforts into a single character for the sake of the show. This choice was made to make the story easier to understand and give the audience a more focused view. By giving Drysdale a big part, the show lets viewers see the investigation through his eyes, which makes the story feel more personal and interesting.
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The Role of Detective Brandon Drysdale in the Series
The character of Detective Brandon Drysdale in Good American Family is shown to be smart, caring and determined. He is introduced early in the series but his role in the case matches the real-life timeline of events—which led to the Barnetts being investigated by the law in 2019. As Drysdale talks to the Barnetts, Natalia, and other important people about the case, his investigation becomes the lens through which the audience looks at it.
One of Drysdale’s most important jobs in the series is to point out the problems with the different versions of what happened. He learns that everyone has a very different account of what happened, which makes it hard to figure out what is really going on. This way of telling a story is similar to how viewers feel when they watch the show—they are given different points of view and are left to decide who to believe.
In the show, Drysdale’s character also acts as a moral compass. He does his job as a professional and objective investigator but he can’t help but feel the emotional weight of the case. Especially his interactions with Natalia show how caring he is and how determined he is to see justice done. This gives him more depth as a person, making him more interesting and relatable.
In order to make a fictional detective—like Brandon Drysdale, the writers of the show selected this option. As complicated and multifaceted as Natalia Grace’s case was—with multiple detectives and years of investigation—it would have been hard to show how each person contributed without making the story too long. The writers were able to keep the story clear and unified by combining these efforts into a single character.
Drysdale’s character also lets the show go into more detail about how investigations work. People who see things through his eyes can understand; how hard it is to put together a case where so many accounts are at odds with each other. His presence also builds tension and suspense in the story, as people eagerly wait for him to find out what happened and what the ending will be.
Dulé Hill’s Portrayal of Detective Drysdale
A lot of people have said nice things about Dulé Hill’s performance as Detective Brandon Drysdale. Hill is known for his roles in The West Wing and Psych. He gives the character a quiet intensity that balances Drysdale’s professionalism with his empathy. His performance shows how determined the detective is to find the truth and how frustrated he is with the problems he faces along the way.
The show is more moving because Hill gets along so well with the other actors, especially Imogen Faith Reid (Natalia Grace) and Mark Duplass (Michael Barnett). Drysdale and Natalia become close as he fights for her, and his scenes with Reid are especially moving because they show this.
The show not only looks at the facts of the case through Drysdale, but it also looks at bigger ideas like trust, truth, and justice. His character shows us that to find out what really happened in a world where everyone has their own story, we need to be patient, understanding and determined. And for Natalia Grace, that truth is hard to find and breaks my heart.
Good American Family is an interesting drama that makes people think about what they think they know and see things from different points of view. And while Detective Brandon Drysdale may not be based on a real person—the fact that he is in the show shows how stories can bring even the most complicated truths to light.
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