Netflix’s new Little House on the Prairie adaptation, created by Rebecca Sonnenshine, offers a modern, historically conscious take on the Laura Ingalls Wilder novels. By focusing on the Ingalls family’s initial year of illegal squatting on Osage Nation land, the series moves away from the 1974 NBC show’s romanticized version of the American Midwest to address the reality of settler colonialism.
Historical Realism and the Osage Nation
Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie prioritizes the perspective of the Osage people, a shift from previous iterations of the story. The series utilizes cultural consultants and features Osage actor Talee Redcorn, who portrays Paw-Ne-No-Pa-She, also known as Governor Joe.
The narrative mirrors the 1935 book Little House on the Prairie, depicting the Ingalls family’s arrival on Indigenous land. While the series softens some historical realities for a younger audience, it does not omit the forced displacement of the Osage Nation. The show’s climax reflects the actual historical timeline: the departure of Indigenous residents followed by the U.S. government’s eviction of the Ingalls family.
Diversifying the Frontier Narrative
The series expands the scope of the original source material by introducing inclusive storylines in the fictional village of Independence.
This approach draws a thematic line to the Netflix/CBC series Anne with an E, which similarly updated a classic literary setting with contemporary social perspectives. By including characters like Dr. George Tann—a Black physician featured in the original book—the show challenges the "myth of the rugged individual" often associated with frontier lore. As the character Dr. Tann notes in the series, "It’s a myth that men can make it out here alone."
Canadian Production and Creative Influences
While set in the American Midwest, the series is a significant Canadian production, filmed in Manitoba. The cast features numerous Canadian actors, including Warren Christie, Meegwun Fairbrother, and Alyssa Wapanatâhk.
The production’s aesthetic and tone have drawn comparisons to the 1980s and 1990s Kevin Sullivan adaptations of Anne of Green Gables and Road to Avonlea. This connection is cemented by a cameo from Megan Follows in the fourth episode. The show’s Canadian identity provides a distinct creative fingerprint, distancing it from the long-running NBC series while establishing a new visual language for the franchise.
Did you know? The Netflix series shares cultural consultants and acting talent, including Talee Redcorn, with Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon.
Future Projections for the Franchise
The first season covers the events of the third book in Wilder’s series, with a second season already greenlit. Future installments are expected to follow the Ingalls family as they move toward the homesteading era in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. The show aims to maintain its balance of family-friendly drama and critical historical education as the narrative expands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the new Little House on the Prairie a remake of the 1970s TV show?
No. According to show creator Rebecca Sonnenshine, this series is a fresh adaptation of the original Laura Ingalls Wilder books, specifically focusing on the 1935 novel Little House on the Prairie.
Does the show address the displacement of the Osage Nation?
Yes. The series explicitly covers the Ingalls family’s time squatting on Osage land and features storylines from the perspective of the Osage people, aided by cultural consultants.
Who plays the main characters in the Netflix series?
The series stars Luke Bracey as Charles Ingalls, Crosby Fitzgerald as Caroline Ingalls, Alice Halsey as Laura Ingalls, and Skywalker Hughes as Mary Ingalls.
Where was the show filmed?
The series was filmed in Manitoba, Canada, with the local landscape standing in for the American Midwest.
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