Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie Reboot Wins Us Over with History, Heart, & Found Families

Critic’s Rating: 4.4 / 5.0

4.4

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Netflix’s adaptation of Little House on the Prairie. I grew up with the original TV series, have rewatched it countless times, and have read the books just as often.

I’ve even collected Little House on the Prairie memorabilia and read several biographies, so it’s safe to say I’m a devoted fan.

Initially, I was wary of a reboot because the original is so cherished, but the more I learned about Netflix’s vision, the more optimistic I became.

Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie features greater historical accuracy than the original TV series, but it retains the warmth and heart that made me adore it.

Based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s semiautobiographical third book, Little House on the Prairie, this 8-episode season follows the Ingalls family on a hopeful journey as they aim to homestead on the Kansas prairie.

Expanding the story across eight episodes instead of a 90-minute pilot gives the narrative room to breathe and allows the writers to dig deeper into the relationships and character arcs.

While this adaptation focused on the Ingalls family, it’s more about people searching for a better life and how the prairie and the era’s traditions affected them.

A larger supporting cast and a stronger sense of community make this version feel richer than previous adaptations.

The New Laura is Fierce and Fiery – and I Loved Her Instantly

I’ve always enjoyed Alice Halsey from her time on Days of Our Lives. She made the perfect Laura Ingalls.

Laura has always loved fiercely, spoken her mind, and preferred exploring the outdoors to reading a book.

She wasn’t afraid of strangers and wanted to become friends with the Osage, as Charles had, whereas Caroline and Mary initially thought they should keep their distance.

She wasn’t a bad kid, but she wasn’t a stereotypical ladylike little girl, either. That was Mary (Skywalker Hughes).

I enjoyed seeing how different the sisters were and how they still cared for each other. They’re the epitome of sibling rivalry, and alone on the prairie, all they had were each other to play or fight with.

Laura was very much like Charles. She knew how to hunt at a young age and felt responsible for protecting her family when he was gone.

However, Mary preferred reading and sewing like Caroline, yet she seemed jealous that their parents seemed to prefer Laura at times.

The casting is one of the adaptation’s greatest strengths.

Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie Dissects the Ingalls Marriage in a New Way

It took me a bit to warm up to Caroline (Crosby Fitzgerald). Ma never wanted to move west in the books, and in Netflix’s adaptation, she made her feelings clearer.

Part of me understood her displeasure with Charles (Luke Bracey) because she left her sister behind and moved to a solitary place where she knew no one.

Back then, women were often expected to support their husbands’ dreams and follow them. I think Caroline tried, and Charles appealed to her because he was a handsome dreamer who loved her and the girls fiercely.

Things started to fall apart because Caroline didn’t really know anyone in Independence except for Jemma James, and she was scared of strangers.

Charles often went on business or hunting trips that kept him away, and Caroline discovered what it meant to survive on the prairie. I understood her anger that he was gone when wolves attacked, or the Osage invaded their house, but I didn’t appreciate how she almost threatened to leave him.

Should Charles have told his wife that the land sale hadn’t gone through yet? Sure. But he believed in that community and their deal and didn’t want to worry her.

He believed he was taking care of his family, whereas Caroline kept listening to her sister, who thought she should leave Charles and take the girls and their unborn child.

Their relationship grows stronger as they learn to trust each other rather than keep their fears hidden.

It only took all of them getting sick with the fever for them to appreciate each other more and dream of the past.

Independence Is a Place to Come Together

“Independence is about getting to know people who feel like family.” Laura’s speech said it all.

We’ve never experienced Independence with such a vibrant town before. In the books, only Mr. Edwards, Adam Scott, and Dr. Tann appeared.

These men were fleshed out more, and many other recurring characters became close friends with the Ingalls.

I’ve seen Warren Christie in several shows, and he nailed the emotional layers of John Edwards perfectly.

Mr. Edwards is such a beloved character, and I appreciated that this version kept his fondness for the girls while delving into his personal demons.

The Osage weren’t seen as the enemy. While some of them invaded the Ingalls home, others became close with them. The series excelled when characters listened and became who they were meant to be.

I grew to respect William Mitchell and how he honored his family and his friendship with the Ingalls. He was one of a kind.

Some of my favorite characters included Dr. Tann (Jocko Sims) and Emily Henderson (Barrett Doss).

There were many hints about how things would end up, and I enjoyed that this version also addressed caring for an orphan.

Single women didn’t often do that back then, but it showed what a massive heart Emily had and how fond she was of Caleb.

An Exploration of Womenhood

While the male characters have their screentime, especially in the scenes about dividing the land and creating the town, Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie focuses on how the women led the town.

Showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine strived to show a different perspective while honoring the books.

Caroline Ingalls was inspired by two different women and their roles in the community: Jemma James (Mary Holland) and White Sun (Alyssa Wapanatǎhk).

Jemma befriended Caroline almost instantly, and she meant well by including Caroline in the women’s society. She had big dreams and thought Caroline did, too.

However, Jemma reminded me of Mrs. Oleson from the original series because she believed everything had to be done a certain way and took credit for it, regardless of who completed it.

Her daughters resembled their mother, and initially the Ingalls girls tried to fit in, only to learn that those girls were mean and gossipy.

The Ingalls benefited more from getting to know White Sun (Alyssa Wapanatǎhk) and her daughter, Good Eagle.

Initially, Caroline and White Sun were both wary of each other and aimed to respect their boundaries.

But their daughters became close friends, and the mothers kept ending up in each other’s orbit and respecting each other more.

I loved how both mothers and their daughters learned about each other’s cultures. The writers excelled in researching the accuracy of the Osage and women’s rights during that time period.

Sometimes Hope Means Starting Over Again

All the iterations of Little House on the Prairie have focused on hope as long as the Ingalls family stays together.

Netflix’s adaptation also continued that trend, only it was harder for the Ingalls to leave because they had connected with so many new friends.

Laura made her first real friend, and Mary shared her first kiss with Caleb. The Ingalls girls were growing up.

They didn’t know where they were going, just that they couldn’t afford to stay in Independence.

I don’t want to spoil the ending for those who haven’t finished the series yet, but I loved how they chose Walnut Grove and who went with them.

Sometimes, best friends become family and continue the journey throughout the years.

I’ll always treasure the original series and actors, but Netflix’s version proved there is enough room for another reimagining of Little House on the Prairie.

Longtime fans may never stop loving the original, but this adaptation earns its place alongside it. New audiences will discover the Ingalls family for the first time, while older fans will appreciate how faithfully it captures the spirit of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s stories.

I’ll reevaluate those statements in Season 2 when we get to Walnut Grove.

Over to you, Little House on the Prairie Fanatics. Did you enjoy this new adaptation? What were your favorite parts, and do you wish they had been done differently? Let us know in the comments.

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