Summary
Little House on the Prairie is a charming and beautifully crafted reboot series that will welcome a new generation to the Prairie universe through the good chemistry of the cast. It delivers a profound message of togetherness and community in a time of a politically complicated climate.
Rebecca Sonnenshine (The Boys, Archive 81) has taken on the task of reimagining Laura Ingalls Wilder’s classic, Little House on the Prairie, on Netflix. This is a huge task for any creator, as they are not only tackling a beloved 1970s TV show but also 9 classic novels too. Season 1 consists of 8 episodes, each 45-50 minutes long. My initial thoughts from episode one? “I need to reboil the kettle, make a cup of tea, wrap my duvet around me tighter, and watch the entire series today. Everything else for my day is now cancelled.”
Undoubtedly, I had to ask myself: does a story about a traditional family trying to survive on the American frontier work in a modern, politically divided society? Sadly enough, I think the answer is no. I would love to keep politics away from my reviews, but it’s seemingly impossible not to think in that direction during this current time. Though the series is charming, I am concerned that there is a huge audience on Netflix that will not appreciate Little House on the Prairie. However, it will be an absolute treat for those who dedicate their time and attention to it.
So, what makes this reboot so utterly cute? Everything. From the actors on the screen to the costume design and the cinematography, it is all quite perfect if you ask me.
First and foremost, though, I would give recognition to Alice Halsey (Lessons in Chemistry) as Laura Ingalls. Alice Halsey is only 11 years old during her debut as Laura and, to me, is the most wonderful aspect of the show. A showcase of her talent is specifically seen in Episode 4, where the town is facing a vicious case of the fever, and Laura is at the forefront of the episode, attempting to help her family and neighbours! It is my theory that original fans of the novels and TV show will be monumentally happy with her embodiment of Laura: a young, imperfect, and adventurous sister to Mary (Skywalker Hughes) and daughter to Charles (Luke Bracey) and Caroline Ingalls (Crosby Fitzgerald).
All four actors create a believable and heartwarming chemistry that could easily lead anyone to believe they are a real family surviving the American frontier. All of them deserve credit for their skills and commitment to the show.
Additionally, a wonderful aspect of the show is the perfect balance of visuals. Every single person involved in this series deserves credit, from the makeup artists to the directors of photography, costume designers, and editors. Everyone, clearly, has put their heart and soul into creating a beautiful-looking, modern rendition of Little House on the Prairie while maintaining the realistic details of what life would have been like for the family during that time of constant travel and living in naturalistic settings.
While the series tells the stories of the difficulties the Ingalls family faced, something I personally loved was how, at the very end, everything always worked out. And everything worked out because of the family unit, as well as the community surrounding them. It delivers the beautiful message of how important togetherness is. We are not here to undertake this world alone – the human species thrives when we all work together toward a united goal.
And thankfully, word along the prairie is that the series has been renewed for a second season. I am incredibly excited to see what the Ingalls family gets up to in the future. Rebecca Sonnenshine has done a marvelous job of creating a masterpiece that will keep original fans happy (I theorize) while welcoming a whole new host of fans to the Prairie universe.
Read More: Little House on the Prairie Season 1 Ending Explained
