Netflix’s Reboot of Little House on the Prairie Offers Heartwarming Viewing
Three stars out of four
At a time when Westerns are experiencing a resurgence, Netflix’s new adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s cherished, semi-autobiographical series Little House on the Prairie is a timely addition. (Season 1 debuted on Thursday, July 9, and a season 2 renewal has already been confirmed).
The original books were famously transformed into an iconic TV series in the 1970s. This latest adaptation, however, starts even earlier, chronicling the Ingalls family’s journey before their adventures in Walnut Creek, Minnesota. Across eight touching episodes, viewers join 7-year-old Laura (talented newcomer Alice Halsey) alongside her family — Pa Charles (Luke Bracey), Ma Caroline (Crosby Fitzgerald), and sister Mary (Skywalker Hughes) — as they venture westward to Independence, Kansas, facing the challenges of establishing a life from scratch.
The series effectively illustrates the daunting realities of pioneer life while balancing the hardships with the hopeful curiosity of a young child. In a thoughtful update, Netflix’s Little House devotes ample attention to the Native families — including Wren Zhawenim Gotts as Laura’s friend Good Eagle — who originally inhabited the land and understandably feel displaced as settlers arrive. The show shines when exploring the tension between these communities.
A fresh start means that viewers don’t need prior knowledge of earlier adaptations to appreciate this wholesome family series. This heartfelt reimagining pays tribute to the essence of the books, paving the way for future wilderness adventures for a new generation.
Here’s what other critics have shared about Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie reboot:
Time: “[Showrunner Rebecca] Sonnenshine’s intentions are noble in transforming Little House into a vision of frontier multiculturalism battling entrenched white supremacy, even if the show suggests a dubious moral equivalence between the Ingallses and the Mitchells. Its painterly exterior shots, all sun-dappled meadows and nights lit by campfire, surpass aesthetic expectations for Netflix fare. Halsey and Fitzgerald give their characters real energy and depth.”
The Guardian: “It is exactly the revamp you would expect. The new LHOTP is a precision-tooled and well-oiled machine. All children’s and most adult problems are solvable within a one-to-three episode arc. Kansas may contain malaria, medicine-hoarders and mentions of how hard the war was but ultimately the vibe is the one we recognise: faith, hope and the American way will carry us cozily through. There are peppermint sticks in the general store, handmade quilts on the snug cabin’s beds and at least three songs and dances round the campfire per episode. You may take that as a promise or a warning as you wish.”
The Hollywood Reporter: “Over eight episodes, most running under 50 minutes but never dull even in the longer installments, Little House on the Prairie captures a tumultuous year in the life of the Ingalls family, a year filled with danger, romance, heroism, and significant life lessons. While ‘wholesome’ and ‘earnest’ aren’t typically my favorite qualities in shows, I found myself engaged with Little House on the Prairie, and I’m glad Netflix has already renewed it for a second season.”
