The Little House on the Prairie reboot is finally here.
The Netflix series, based on the popular books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, premiered on the streamer today (Thursday, July 9).
Luke Bracey, Crosby Fitzgerald, Alice Halsey, Skywalker Hughes, Warren Christie, Jocko Sims, Meegwun Fairbrother, Alyssa Wapanatâhk and Wren Zahewenim Gotts all star as series regulars.
The additional key cast list includes Rebecca Amzallag, Kowen Cadorath, Xander Cole, Thosh Collins, Barrett Doss, Michael Hough, Ryan Robbins, Maclean Fish and Mary Holland.
Here’s a synopsis:
Part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West, this fresh adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s iconic semi-autobiographical Little House books offers a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier.
But what do people think so far of the show? Find out what critics are saying inside…
Little House on the Prairie commands an 85% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
TV Guide gave it 7.5 out of 10, writing: “For the most part its wholesomeness is endearing.”
RogerEbert.com says: “The result is a pleasant enough eight-episode drama that more than looks the part, without ever really challenging its audience or complicating its own depiction of life on the American frontier all that much.”
The Guardian gave it 3 out of 5, writing: “There are peppermint sticks in the general store, handmade quilts on the snug cabin’s beds and at least three songs and dances round the campfire per episode. You may take that as a promise or a warning as you wish.”
Decider says: “Little House on the Prairie is an addictive family drama full of stunning visuals, sweet storylines, and a vivid sense of realism. It’s also a loving adaptation of books that mean a lot — good, bad, and in between — to people. Netflix’s Little House might not feel like your Little House, but it sure felt an awful lot like Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House to me.”
Time says: “Although it’s been updated for the streaming era with a serialized plot and revisionist overtones, this Little House suffers from the same cloying excesses as its predecessor.”
Variety says: “Overall, for those who loved the original show and books, and for viewers being introduced to the Ingalls for the first time, Little House illustrates the beauty of community, the horrors of encroachment and displacement, and the cost of being an American.”
THR says: “Rebecca Sonnenshine’s adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s timeless Little House on the Prairie series isn’t as fully realized as The Baby-Sitters Club, but the things that the eight-episode first season accomplishes are similar. It’s an honorable interpretation that’s accommodating of Wilder’s books and their spirit, sincere in purpose and respectful in execution.”
IndieWire gave it a B+, writing: “Little House on the Prairie can feel too neat-and-tidy in its pretty presentation of pioneer life, which, in turn, can make certain plainspoken scenes come across as spurious when there’s no friction to their emotional register. But its insistence on seeing the birth of a nation as a dangerous endeavor requiring persistent, even arduous, generosity proves enchanting.”
The Daily Beast says: “Its intentions are noble, but its execution is messy, with situations and dynamics resolved via the most even-handed and comforting solutions available—a process akin to smoothing out a tablecloth’s creases.”
TheWrap says: “Even though the production feels like a Hallmark movie with the lessons neatly delivered and the storylines tidily resolved, the series does make good work of centering women and minorities in a way that the original didn’t.”
TV Insider says: “If some of the acting is wooden and the characters crafted from cardboard, many will find that a small price to pay for the creature comforts of an American classic revived for a new generation. Little House strikes a chord of nostalgia, not just for pioneer values but for a bygone era of TV when series like this and The Waltons prevailed, airing weekly with 22 or more episodes a season.”
If you missed it, the series has already been renewed for a second season!
Check out the new stills below…
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