This post contains details from the first three episodes ofHulusGood American Family.
But, as co-showrunner Sarah Sutherland warns, no one should jump to conclusions just yet.
DEADLINE: What interested you about Episode 3, specifically, that made you want to write it yourself?
Good American FamilyDisney/Ser Baffo
SARAH SUTHERLAND:I love this episode.
The big theme of this episode is about how terrible the unknowable is.
How did you tread into all of those different perspectives to form a full picture of the situation?
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SUTHERLAND:So the first step was a tremendous amount of research.
It was a huge part of our writing process.
We had an incredible researcher who was actually on the ground in Indiana as the trials were going on.
Because its a very salacious, kind of wild, specific story that happened.
We wanted to find a way to figure out whats the human story here.
So we really focus in on [the idea that] this is a show about bias.
Its about these questions of, Who do we believe?
Who do we not believe?
The elusive nature of truth.
DEADLINE: How did your own perspective on the situation shift as you were making the show?
SUTHERLAND:Well, so, Katie Robbins created the show.
She started in 2020.
So, at that point, there was no documentary.
The trials hadnt happened.
So she was just using the internet, and seeing all these articles.
Shed read one, and it would seem like, Oh, this is the story.
Then shed read another, and Well, no, thats the story.
This question of Natalia was its own Rorschach test, basically.
So she had the idea to do the Rashomon-style structure.
The answer would be different depending on who you ask.
What was the balance like to still keep it authentic?
for do that, the first four episodes, people really have to relate to the Barnetts.
They have to feel like theyre a part of that story.
But also, to show that youre not watching a totally real dramatization there.
There is some fiction there.
In this episode, you start to see some of the cracks in the marriage that will come back.
This episode is basically setting bread crumbs that will then get paid off in the end.
Theyre worried about their childs safety.
Yet, how to have these moments where you catch them in sort of some fallibility.
He denies, denies, denies.
She always assumes the worst.
So the two of them really conflict.
You have these two people who are experiencing something unusual and yet dont know quite how to handle it.
People are very quick to jump to conclusions based on limited information.
How did you reflect on that while working on this show?
SUTHERLAND:One of the most insidious things about bias is that its so often unconscious.
We think its benign.
DEADLINE: Is there a scene in the episode that was particularly impactful to you?
I think that was just extremely fun to write and to see.
DEADLINE: Can you talk more about seeing Mark, Ellen and Imogen bring this episode to life?
This is also Ellens first big foray outside ofGreys Anatomy.What was the process with the three of them like?
SUTHERLAND:It was really rewarding.
So Ellens like this titan of television who also is somehow a really good time.
Everybody wants to be Ellens friends.
Shes just so charming, so real, and so experienced.
Then he shows up for his scene, and its as if hes the center.
I dont know how he pivots so well.
It was, to me, like a career highlight to watch her in action.
DEADLINE: Had you cast Imogen when you started writing?
There are so many moments that are highly dependent on her performance.
The show is actually green light contingent on casting a Natalia, because its a very niche role.
Her capacities had to be incredible.
Before I saw her audition, I was very nervous about it.
How is someone going to pull this off?
How old are they going to be?
Can they handle this?
As soon as I saw it, I felt like, Oh, okay, she just has it.
Shes got that skill.
I mean, Ive genuinely never seen somebody with this little experience be this incredible.
She works really hard for it.
Did you have any questions about that?
How did you reflect on that?
SUTHERLAND:Yeah, youre speaking to my inner monologue.
This was a challenging show.
We all approached it with this kind of big question mark of, should we be telling it?
How to tell it properly?
DEADLINE: After Episode 3, what should audiences look forward to from the rest of the season?
We think that what were saying and doing makes sense, that within our own minds it does.
