‘Little House on the Prairie’ series review: Modern, moving take on beloved book series

When one first meets the Ingalls family — Ma, Caroline (Crosby Fitzgerald), Pa, Charles (Luke Bracey) and their daughters, Mary (Skywalker Hughes) and Laura (Alice Halsey) — one might be in for a little shock at this rather modern looking and talking family.

Pa seems to be a millennial man, a carpenter, musician (he plays a mean fiddle), poet and trapper. Ma is even more modern as she crossly tells Pa to get his own meal.

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s nine Little House books are semi-autobiographical stories of her family’s struggle to lay down roots in the frontier between 1872 and 1894. The children’s books, published between 1932 and 1971, are told from Laura’s perspective. The show meanwhile, while keeping Laura as a central character, has expanded its scope to give backstories to several other characters.

Based on the third book in the series, also called Little House on the Prairie, the series follows the Ingalls family who leave their family and home in Wisconsin, as it has become “too crowded” for Pa to move to the small town of Independence, Kansas. Pa sees a flyer about free land waiting to be claimed (the Homestead Act rears its ugly head).

After a perilous river crossing, where the faithful family dog Jack is washed away, the family reaches the place outside Independence where they decide to build their house.

Once you are able to look beyond the differences from the book, (where are the food descriptions?) and the shoehorning of modern sensibilities willy-nilly, Little House on the Prairie is quite moving, in its depiction of young love (between Mary and young Caleb at the grocery store) as well as the great romance between Ma and Pa. A case is made for second chances at love as well. The Christmas episode with baby Carrie (yes, also different from the book) is quite moving.

A still from ‘Little House on the Prairie’
| Photo Credit:
Netflix

Independence does not yet have a post office, a school or the all-important land office where Pa can stake his claim. As the Ingalls build their house with the help of their neighbour and Civil War veteran, John Edwards (Warren Christie), they become acquainted with the other residents of Independence.

The doctor, George Tann (Jocko Sims), shares an engaging storyline with grocery store owner Emily (Barrett Doss). Railroad man Eli James (Michael Hough) and his wife, Jemma (Mary Holland), are city folk whose apparent helpfulness may conceal their own agenda.

Having an Osage cultural consultant, Julie O’Keefe, on the show ensures the other side of the story is told as well. The Ingalls family finds a mirror image in the Mitchell family and, through them, the Osage people.

Mitchell (Meegwun Fairbrother) is a successful farmer and works as a translator trying to ensure the best for his people. His wife, White Sun (Alyssa Wapanatâhk), is a little more cynical and guarded. Their daughter, Good Eagle (Wren Zhawenim Gotts), is as curious and intelligent as Laura and the two girls become fast friends. White Sun’s brother, Little Puma (Xander Cole), is hot-headed and feels deeply for his community.

The production design lovingly recreates the storybook look and feel of Wilder’s novels. From the Ingalls’ log house, with its colourful quilts and warm light, to the handmade dolls on the top shelf of the grocery store, every detail brings Wilder’s world alive. The costumes, from those of the settlers to the Osage people have a lived-in feel. The detailing has been maintained in the costumes with White Sun’s handmade costumes being draped by O’Keefe.

The show has been renewed for a second season and at the end of Season 1, the Ingalls and faithful Jack are all set for Walnut Grove, Minnesota. Whether you would wish to hitch your wagon to this particular star depends entirely on how you like your history served.

 Little House on the Prairie is currently streaming on Netflix

Published – July 17, 2026 12:00 pm IST