The highly anticipated new adaptation of Little House on the Prairie has finally arrived on Netflix, taking up the mantle from Michael Landon's iconic 1970s series. The show boasts a talented cast, including Luke Bracey as Charles Ingalls, Crosby Fitzgerald as Caroline Ingalls, and Alice Halsey and Skywalker Hughes as daughters Laura and Mary.
The series attempts to tackle the complexities of the original book series and TV show, grapple with the bigotry of the time, and offer a forward-thinking take. However, it ultimately leaves viewers with the existential question: What are we trying to do here? The Ingalls family arrives in Kansas, fleeing their troubles back home, and builds a new life in the ramshackle town of Independence, which serves as a time capsule for the attitudes of this period.
Despite the efforts to preserve the attitudes of the time, navigating a compelling modern adaptation for a new generation of children is a minefield. The show features a nice chemistry between the family, with all four putting on a solid performance, including the youngest Laura, who is the fiery heart of the whole show.
The storyline involving the Mitchell family and the Osage is a highlight of the series, with producers making a real effort to correct the stereotypes of the original book series and TV show. The casting of the Mitchell family, including William (Meegwun Fairbrother), White Sun (Alyssa Wapanatâhk), and Good Eagle (Wren Zhawenim Gotts), as a direct parallel to the Ingalls is a commendable move.
However, the show's attempt to make us sympathise with the Ingalls despite their role in the horrors they're portraying is unsettling. The show invites us to see the full picture, but then can't handle the weight of it, resulting in tonal shifts that are all over the place. By committing to meaningful representation, Netflix has undermined the very characters we should be getting behind.
The show's verdict is clear: there's a lot of powerful storytelling in this new adaptation, but Little House on the Prairie was the wrong vehicle to tell it with. With one iconic interpretation already existing, it would have been better to use the books as inspiration to focus entirely on the Osage, with the Ingalls as side characters, or create an entirely new show.
In the end, the show leaves viewers with a sense of: You can't have your cake and eat it. There's no easy answer when it comes to handling modern adaptations of problematic period texts. Little House on the Prairie is available to stream on Netflix now.
The show's portrayal of the Osage is a powerful and poignant aspect of the series, with Fairbrother's research and commitment to honouring Osage culture shining through. The negotiations around the land treaty are a highlight of the show, with the Osage people's mourning song haunting the picturesque landscapes and heartwarming sequences of friendship.
The show's failure to fully immerse itself in the Osage perspective and instead forcing a Little House on the Prairie remake is a missed opportunity. It's a reminder that when it comes to handling modern adaptations of problematic period texts, there's no easy answer, and accepting the fact that the heroes of our childhood might actually be the villains is a difficult pill to swallow.
