How Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie Honors the Books and Pays Homage to the Wilders’ Past

Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie is one of the most anticipated series of this summer.

It recently dropped on Netflix and differed greatly from the original series, as this version honored the source material of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books and portrayed her actual life more closely.

If you’ve seen my other book-to-screen posts, you know my thoughts about adapting books for the screen.

Important character traits need to be preserved, and I’m thrilled that they highlighted Ma’s china shepherdess, Pa’s favorite fiddle tune, among other things.

Since the season had eight episodes, they were able to include many more chapters from Wilder’s third book, Little House on the Prairie, and added more details about the Osage.

Some changes are needed to help the series thrive, such as expanding the cast, especially in a series like Little House on the Prairie.

Otherwise, we would have watched only the Ingalls family and how they interacted with each other on Little House and their survival issues. That could have grown tedious.

Book lovers will notice that Mr. Edwards and Dr. Tann’s roles were increased in this series. Was that better, or did that take away from the Ingalls?

Let’s discuss how this adaptation honored the source material and whether the changes will alter the show’s future.

Fleshing Out The Ingalls Family History

An eight-episode season allowed the writers to flesh out the Ingalls family history, some of which was pulled directly from the books, while other elements merely made the Ingalls more interesting.

Laura was the official narrator and storyteller, often telling stories about the Big Woods, including the infamous Dance at Grandma’s and how they learned to go maple sugaring.

But it was so much more than that. Through the hallucinations that Caroline and Charles had when they were ill, we learned why they left the Big Woods.

We never knew much about Charles’s brother, George, in the books, except that he played a bugle, danced well, and was fun-loving.

This adaptation offered more context, including that George had PTSD after serving in the war, which made him a bit off. Charles no longer wanted him to travel with them, and George overheard.

After George committed suicide, the family became estranged, and the Ingalls felt they had no choice but to leave.

It clarified why Charles didn’t want to force Mr. Edwards to get help: he didn’t want to lose anyone else.

It’s also why Caroline was so attached to the china shepherdess. It was the final gift from her father and a reminder of home.

Those shepherdesses have been in every iteration of Little House on the Prairie and symbolize home and family.

Mr. Edwards Battled More Demons

I never knew this until recently, but technically, Mr. Edwards was a fictional character in Laura’s books. However, he was so beloved a character that the original series expanded his role beyond the books.

It looks like Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie Season 1 accomplished that, as well.

Initially, John Edwards (Warren Christie) blew up because Charles asked about his wife and children, not realizing they’d died from the fever.

Mr. Edwards was a good man who needed a chance. He grew fond of the Ingalls girls and felt like he had a family again.

But he still battled old demons. He often drank the whiskey he made as a way to push aside his grief. Many people gossiped about him, and Caroline opposed his drinking, especially in front of the children, so she pushed him away without telling Charles.

It may have been unintentional, but Caroline’s judgment made Mr. Edwards worse. The only good that came from it was that he sobered up at Lacey’s, but remembering his family hurt.

He wasn’t the lowlife drunk the town thought he was, but proving that took work. Charles showed again how much he loved his friend as he welcomed him into their family.

It was one of the best stories of brotherhood, and Laura Ingalls Wilder would have loved it.

The Birth of Carrie Ingalls

In Wilder’s books and the original series, baby Carrie was born in the Big Woods and was a toddler by the time the Ingalls arrived on the prairie.

However, in real life, she was born while the Ingalls were living on the prairie, and Laura and Mary were younger, only about 5 and 7 years old.

In the books, Laura and Carrie were close, whereas on the original series, Carrie was generally too young to be included in many stories.

If Carrie were born even later, and Laura and Mary appeared to be closer to 8 and 11 years old, how would that affect their relationship with their younger sister?

Mary had longed for a little sister whom she could dress up, read to, and teach how to sew, while Laura wanted a sister because a brother would take up Pa’s attention.

That was one of the most accurate nuances from the original story, and Carrie became a Christmas blessing. In a heartwarming twist, it was Mr. Edwards who shortened her name from Caroline to Carrie.

In the original series and the books, we only met Mr. Edwards, Dr. Tann, and Adam Scott. In Netflix’s adaptation, there was an entire town.

Part of what made survival on the prairie so challenging was the solitary life, and the show addressed that initially when the Ingalls arrived.

They didn’t know anyone, so they had no friends to help them build the house, and the work was too rough for a woman. It’s why Caroline got hurt.

But they learned to lean on their neighbors to complete their house and see the good in the community.

I don’t think the series could have survived without seeing other people’s points of view and place in town, even if it was inaccurate.

The Ingalls never had to worry about schooling, churches, or a women’s society when they were in Kansas. Those were things that came up in Walnut Grove, but it worked because the recurring cast was so strong.

Jenna James was the epitome of a female leader. She had her nose in every bit of gossip as she strived to impress the new reverend.

She’s the kind of character that you dislike one minute but admire the next. 

Her husband asked Charles to design the new church, and seeing the men come together to build it and defend Mr. Edwards was one of the best parts of Little House on the Prairie Season 1.

Even though women were often expected to behave in certain ways, some inspirational, strong women went against the grain. 

Emily Henderson and Lacey Aubert were both independent, working women who were scared to love again, but took a chance.

They inspired other youngsters like Laura and Mary to believe that it was all right to be different.

Expanding Dr. Tann’s role was a wonderful decision because he existed in the books and in real life.

The writers of the Netflix series expanded his role even beyond Wilder’s novel, in which he only appeared when the Ingalls got the fever, treating all the communities.

The Netflix series showed him to be the first friend the Ingalls made, and he had his own arc: wanting to help people, falling in love, and the war’s effect on him.

The Osage Were Fleshed Out — And Had a Voice

The books never portrayed Native Americans as evil. Yes, there was a pivotal scene where they invaded the Ingalls’ house, but it played out differently.

Laura and Jack entered the house together rather than Jack being tied up, and while Little Puma grated on me, he did stop his friend from taking everything and from hurting the Ingalls.

The Netflix series explored the crucial problem. The Osage felt like the white settlers came to their land and should pay a fee, which is why they stole things like cornbread.

On the other hand, Charles and the other men hated seeing their families terrified. Neither side was totally right or wrong. They were each defending their family.

I felt for William Mitchell. He was in a challenging spot. He’d grown to care for Charles and John Edwards, but he also had to stand by his Osage tribe.

It grew more challenging as his daughter and Laura grew close. They wanted to continue their friendship after learning so much from one another.

While the books and the original series touched on land ownership, the Netflix series explores it in detail, including how the government technically screwed everyone — Native Americans and settlers, included.

It’s heartbreaking but very relatable that it was all about greed, not protecting the Native American heritage.

That Cliffhanger — How Did Mr. Edwards Know the Olesons?

While I’m thrilled Mr. Edwards joined the Ingalls on their journey to Walnut Grove, that one took some work to believe.

In the books, Charles only ran into him once, years later, after they left Kansas. In the original series, he ran into Mr. Edwards in Mancato and brought him home.

Mrs. Oleson never liked Mr. Edwards, so it’s amusing that in this version, she’s his late wife’s cousin, and he’s the one who suggests they all move there.

That could change things in Little House on the Prairie Season 2, since the Olesons might not be as contentious, and Mr. Edwards might continue to heal surrounded by loved ones.

The icing on the cake would be if Lacey popped in for a visit. She was good for him, and she seemed fond of the Ingalls.

Over to you, Little House on the Prairie Fanatics.

Did you think this adaptation honored Laura’s life? What do you wish were different?

Let us know in the comments.

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