“Good American Family” creator Katie Robbins knew she wanted to inject as much empathy and humanity as possible when she signed on to turn the story of Natalia Grace into a limited series. The stakes grew considerably when a television legend signed on to star as Natalia’s abusive mother.

Based on a real-life case that previously inspired a hit docuseries, “Good American Family” follows the story of Kristine and Michael Barnett after they adopt Natalia Grace, a 7-year-old girl with dwarfism. But as the new family dynamic begins to go south, the parents start to wonder if they might be getting swindled by someone who is much older than she appears. Ellen Pompeo leads the cast — in her first TV lead role outside of “Grey’s Anatomy” — as matriarch Kristine Barnett. Mark Duplass (“The Morning Show”) plays her husband Michael, and breakout star Imogen Faith Reid embodies Natalia Grace.

The...