A curious thing happened when The Curious Case of Natalia Grace premiered on ID on May 29. The three-night event docuseries was a hit. So much so it’s merited a sequel, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks.
Which maybe isn’t all the curious (or surprising), considering ID usually produces great true crime documentaries. (They are the leading true crime network, after all.) But it also helped that the shocking subject matter was like a real-life case of the horror movie Orphan. (Sort of.)
But what is surprising is just how much it resonated with viewers. When the first episode premiered on May 29, it ranked as the #1 non-sports cable show in the 9-11 pm time period among viewers in the P25-54 (P = People) and women 25-54 demographic. As a result, the docuseries is pacing as the network’s highest-rated limited series in over three years among those same demographics.
With results like those, it’s no wonder a sequel is coming!
About The Curious Case of Natalia Grace
The main question The Curious Case of Natalia Grace explored was, “Who is Natalia Barnett?”
When Kristine and Michael Barnett adopted Natalia in 2010, they believed she was a six-year-old Ukrainian orphan with disabilities. In addition to hearing and vision issues, she suffered from spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, a rare bone growth disorder that can result in skeletal abnormalities.
However, it wasn’t long before the Barnetts leveled shocking allegations against Natalia. They claimed she was an adult masquerading as a child and that she intended their family harm.
In 2013, Natalia was found living on her own. Was she really just nine years old at the time, or much older? Without immediate proof to the contrary, authorities arrested her adoptive parents.
The docuseries included “exclusive bombshell interviews with members of Natalia’s adoptive family, including father Michael Barnett and brother Jacob Barnett.” But others interviewed included “relatives, friends, legal experts, and neighbors of Natalia and the Barnett family.”
The docuseries also offered “a never-before-seen glimpse into the Barnett family, Natalia’s identity, Michael Barnett’s October 2022 trial, as well as key insights into new theories and evidence.”
But did you notice who was missing from the list of interviewees? Maybe it was on purpose because ID always planned a follow-up. (?) Possibly. Either way, it’s happening, so let’s look at what we know about it so far.
About Natalia Speaks
As the name suggests, Natalia Speaks features Natalia Barnett’s side of the story. Something she hasn’t been able to share due to a gag order resulting from the legal proceedings surrounding the 2019 arrest of her adoptive parents.
Well, that she hasn’t been able to share until now. She’ll address what really happened in the Barnett family home, and she’ll address the allegations against her.
An exact release date hasn’t been specified yet. However, on the trailer ID notes it’s “coming later this summer.”
Natalia Speaks Trailer
For More Info
All episodes of The Curious Case of Natalia Grace are streaming now on Max and discovery+.
Follow ID social on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for exclusive videos, articles and conversations around the series. Engage on social using #NataliaGrace.
Check-In
If you haven’t seen The Curious Case of Natalia Grace yet, does learning it spawned a follow-up doc make you want to?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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I always like to hear all sides of an issue, so I’d like to hear from Natalia. I guess it’s the Libra in me.?
Oh for sure the Libra in you. Love that it makes you so diplomatic! But really, hearing all sides is the way it should be. Sometimes that’s hard (at least for me) to remember to do.