The new Netflix adaptation of Little House on the Prairie tries to modernize the classic story by addressing its problematic history, but the result is a mixed bag that leaves viewers questioning the show's purpose. The series, which premiered on July 8, 2026, marks 90 years since Laura Ingalls Wilder's books were first published and 43 years since the original TV adaptation.
A Story of Illegal Settlement
The Ingalls family arrives in Kansas to build their idyllic home, but the narrative is complicated by the fact that they are illegally settling on Osage land. The original books contained racist sentiments, including the phrase 'the only good Indian is a dead Indian,' and refused to acknowledge Indigenous people as 'people.' The new series attempts to reckon with this by creating a parallel storyline featuring the Mitchell family, an Osage family played by Meegwun Fairbrother, Alyssa Wapanatâhk, and Wren Zhawenim Gotts.
The showrunner, Rebecca Sonnenshine, has made a concerted effort to honor Osage culture, with Fairbrother noting the extensive research into language and customs. The Mitchell family serves as a direct counterpoint to the Ingalls, highlighting the dispossession and trauma of the Osage people. In one poignant scene, Little Puma (Xander Cole) declares, 'Leaving this land means we leave our ancestors, our history, and a part of ourselves behind.'
Mixed Success in Execution
Despite these efforts, the show struggles with tonal shifts, oscillating between tense political drama and wholesome Christmas episodes. The Ingalls are portrayed as allies to the Osage, with Laura (Alice Halsey) befriending Good Eagle and Charles (Luke Bracey) standing up for them during land negotiations. However, this does not fully address the underlying atrocity. As one reviewer noted, 'By committing to meaningful representation, Netflix has undermined the very characters we should be getting behind.'
The cast delivers solid performances, including Bracey as Charles, Crosby Fitzgerald as Caroline, and Halsey as Laura. However, some viewers may find the 21st-century sensibilities of the characters disconcerting, as if they are 'cosplaying' historical figures. The show's eight episodes, each approximately 55 minutes long, attempt to balance family drama with historical reckoning, but the result is uneven.
A Missed Opportunity
The reviewer suggests that the series might have been better served by focusing entirely on the Osage perspective, with the Ingalls as side characters, or by creating an entirely new show. Instead, the adaptation leaves viewers with the feeling that 'you can't have your cake and eat it.' The show invites audiences to see the full picture but cannot handle the weight of it, ultimately undermining its own central family.
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary under President Trump, the show's attempt to sympathize with the Ingalls feels particularly unsettling. The series is available to stream on Netflix now.
