Netflix's reboot of Little House on the Prairie (LHOTP) is a precision-tooled machine that updates the 1970s classic for a modern audience. The series, which premiered on Netflix, retains the original name and core story but introduces nuanced characters and contemporary themes, all while maintaining the cosy, faith-filled vibe of the original.
A Modern Take on a Classic Story
The new LHOTP is based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's books, which recount her childhood moving across the American West in the 1870s and 80s. The reboot, set against the US's 250th birthday, keeps the historical setting but updates characterisation. Laura (Alice Halsey) is a realistic child—thoughtful, brave, and sometimes foolish—while her sister Mary (Skywalker Hughes) is a distinct personality. Laura often wears a cowboy hat and is skilled with a catapult, hinting at future possibilities for girls.
Ma (Crosby Fitzgerald) is a former schoolteacher who questions her decision to follow Pa (Luke Bracey) to the frontier. She has a backstory involving a father who drank himself to death, and she stands up to snobs and racists. Pa is motivated by grief over his brother's suicide, not greed, and he admits his mistakes. The family builds a log cabin, and Pa's carpentry earns them a church commission, allowing Ma to buy coffee again.
Inclusive Storylines and Emotional Depth
The reboot includes B-plots for Black, mixed-race, and Native American characters. The Mitchell family—William (Meegwun Fairbrother), Good Eagle (Wren Zhawenim Gotts), and White Sun (Alyssa Wapanatâhk)—offer perspectives on the settlement story. Neighbour John Edwards (Warren Christie), who lost his family to cholera, becomes part of the Ingalls clan, with his gradual integration bringing emotional weight.
The series solves most problems within one to three episodes, but it doesn't shy away from darker themes. Kansas features malaria, medicine-hoarders, and mentions of war. Yet the overall tone remains cosy, with peppermint sticks, handmade quilts, and at least three songs and dances around the campfire per episode. "It's exactly the revamp you would expect," the review notes, calling it a "precision-tooled and well-oiled machine."
A Cosy World of Faith and Family
The reboot balances modern sensibilities with the original's appeal. It offers a world where faith, hope, and the American way carry characters through challenges. The show is on Netflix, bringing the Ingalls family to a new generation. As one reviewer put it, "You may take that as a promise or a warning as you wish."
