A new Netflix adaptation of “Little House on the Prairie,” featuring covered wagons and one-room schoolhouses, aims to connect the 19th-century frontier experience with contemporary notions of the American dream. Premiering Thursday, the series revisits the iconic Ingalls family as they settle the American frontier in the late 1800s.
The show follows Charles and Caroline Ingalls and their daughters, Mary and Laura, based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s semi-autobiographical books. This marks the latest adaptation, following the 1974 TV series starring Michael Landon as Pa and Melissa Gilbert as Laura. In the new iteration, Luke Bracey takes on Pa, with Alice Halsey portraying Laura.
Showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine asserts that the “frontier spirit” remains deeply embedded in American self-perception. “This idea of rugged individualism is the cornerstone of American mythos,” Sonnenshine explains. “It’s still manifesting in our lives constantly … We’re real go-getters.” She suggests this drive for land and opportunity, seen in the Ingalls family’s westward journey, continues to define the national character.
However, Sonnenshine also highlights a crucial historical blind spot: the settlers’ limited understanding of the broader political landscape. “There was no CNN or up-to-date newspapers, telling you” what was truly happening, she notes. “They did not understand the politics of land ownership or these treaties that have been made or these reservations.” The new series explores this, showing Charles Ingalls beginning to grasp these complex politics, particularly through encounters with the Osage Nation. Sonnenshine clarifies this initial ignorance was “not out of malice, exactly” but a consequence of how “knowledge did not flow as freely as it does now.”
Writers made keeping key events from originals a priority
As the Ingalls family builds their new life, we’re introduced to various neighbors who help them do it. That includes an Osage family adjusting to their own new way of life as settlers claim parts of their land. Laura strikes up a friendship with an Osage girl, and there’s a mutual respect among Charles and the Osage family patriarch.
“A lot of what this show is about is getting to know people that are not like you, all kinds of different people, because once you get to know people, that’s where all the change happens,” said Sonnenshine.
Mr. Edwards, a fan favorite from the books and series, helps Pa build the family’s cabin. He’s a rugged Civil War veteran with a heart of gold — grieving the loss of his own family, finding a new one in the Ingalls.
Staying true to characters like Edwards and including key events from the source material was a priority for Sonnenshine. She and her writers made a list of “iconic moments” with a checklist to follow. “We just crossed them off as we went along. ‘OK, we’ve found a way to incorporate this’ or ‘Ma gets a chair,’ which is very important, or ‘great Pa builds a door.’” Building a door, says Sonnenshine, is “a whole chapter in a book.”
Trip Friendly, whose father Ed co-created the series with Landon and was an executive producer, controls the overall rights to the Laura Ingalls Wilder stories. He’s an executive producer on the remake, and Sonnenshine says Trip is “very passionate about telling the story of the books.”
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Pa is good but not perfect
Stepping into the boots of one of television’s most beloved fathers, Luke Bracey takes on the iconic role of Pa in a new adaptation, approaching the character with a fresh perspective. The original portrayal by Michael Landon established Pa as a devoted family man with strong morals and compassion, making him arguably one of the most popular TV dads in history.
Bracey, however, deliberately avoided watching the original series, a choice he believes was beneficial for crafting his own interpretation. “I didn’t feel that burden,” Bracey explained. “The intimidating factor has come after making it. When I’ve told people what I’ve done, and I’ve been told how important it is to them. That’s where it’s got intimidating.”
The actor found it refreshing to embody a genuinely good person, albeit one who makes mistakes. “There’s very few really good people in television and movies. I feel lots of times they have to have a dark secret or a checkered past or whatever,” he noted.
Crosby Fitzgerald, who plays Ma, attests to Bracey’s real-life embodiment of the character’s goodness. “Working with Luke is incredible. He actually is like Pa in person. Just really lifted me up all the time. It’s impossible to work on a set like this, especially with this legacy, and not be uplifted by the vibe.”
Sonnenshine highlights that the first season also delves into Laura’s journey of understanding that neither of her parents are perfect, particularly Pa. She comes to realize that “he does make mistakes and that’s OK.’ And even Charles talks about that. I think that’s a more honest portrayal of fatherhood.”
Second season will add Laura’s rival
Screenwriter Sonnenshine, whose resume includes the explicit series “The Boys” and the hit film “The Housemaid,” is now tackling a markedly different project: an adaptation of “Little House.” She also penned the adaptation for “The Housemaid,” starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, and is writing its upcoming sequel.
This stark shift in tone has been notable for Sonnenshine. “This is the first time I’ve ever written without using any curse words,” she revealed. “I’ve usually done, like much darker material. So I always say, well, I’m in my family era right now.”
Filming for the show’s second season is currently underway. Netflix recently confirmed the addition of another popular character from the originals, with Willa Dunn cast as Laura’s rival, Nellie Oleson, whose father owns the general store.
“She’s here and she’s acting up a storm,” Sonnenshine said. “It’s really fun. People love that character. I think we’re doing a slightly different take on the character, which is also really fun. The book is our sort of touchstone and then building upon that for her and her family brings a new dynamic to the Ingalls family.”
