Netflix’s ‘Little House on the Prairie‘ reboot has sparked heated conversations ever since it arrived, and one topic keeps popping up across social media. Plenty of fans have questioned whether the new adaptation stays true to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved books and the real-life history behind them.
Now, someone closely connected to the franchise has finally stepped into the debate. Melissa Gilbert, who famously played Laura Ingalls in the original TV series, has shared her thoughts after staying silent for weeks. Instead of criticizing the reboot, she defended its creative choices and explained why viewers should not expect either version of ‘Little House on the Prairie‘ to be completely historically accurate.
Melissa Gilbert Defends Netflix’s ‘Little House’ Reboot Against Criticism
Netflix’s ‘Little House on the Prairie‘ reboot faced criticism even before it premiered in early July. Fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s semi-autobiographical books questioned the show’s historical accuracy. It was especially after the streaming platform promoted it as a fresh adaptation that stays closer to the original novels.
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Gilbert, who starred as Laura Ingalls in the original show, recently addressed the debate in a post on her personal Substack. She admitted she intentionally stayed away from commenting at first because she did not believe she could be completely impartial.
“I have remained silent since the release of the new version of Little House on the Prairie,” she wrote. She was not able to be “fully objective because I am too deeply involved to weigh in without emotion“. It did not feel like it was her “place” to influence viewers before they formed their own opinions.
Eventually, Gilbert decided to respond after seeing the conversation grow online. “All of that said, I do want to speak to an issue I am seeing run rampant on social media and in articles,” she wrote. “That is whether or not the new Little House and the original version are historically accurate. The short answer is no, neither are entirely accurate to the times nor the books.“
Gilbert Explains Why Both TV Versions Took Creative Liberties
Gilbert backed up her point by highlighting several differences between the original NBC series and real-life events. She reminded fans that many memorable storylines from the classic show were fictional additions rather than historical facts.
In case you missed it: The Biggest Differences Between Netflix’s ‘Little House On The Prairie’ And The Original
“Mary Ingalls never married. Carrie Ingalls was born in August, not on Christmas Day. There was no Albert Ingalls, or James or Cassandra for that matter,” she wrote. “There was also no Jenny Wilder. Charles Ingalls’ brother did not fight or die in the Civil War. Nellie Olsen didn’t marry a Jewish man and give birth to twins. This list can go on and on.”
Gilbert argued that both the original series and the reboot simply use dramatic license. “My hope is that folks realize that these are all perfect examples of dramatic license. Even the real Laura took dramatic license in writing her books. For example, in the book, Little House on the Prairie, all three Ingalls girls are older than they were in real life.”
Gilbert encouraged viewers to stop worrying about every historical detail and instead enjoy the storytelling. “Maybe just sit back and go for the ride the creative minds behind these shows want to take you on,” she wrote. “If you like it, stick with it. If you don’t, you don’t have to watch.”
She also recommended a resource for anyone interested in learning the real history. Gilbert pointed fans toward Emmy winner Mary Murphy’s PBS documentary ‘Laura Ingalls Wilder: From the Prairie to the Page‘.
Gilbert concluded, “I hope this helps to clarify things a bit. I truly believe there is lots and lots of room for many stories to come out of the Little House universe for decades to come. Maybe some day, someone will do a version that is word for word and scene for scene the books Laura wrote. Maybe someone will take the whole thing in a different direction and in a different timeline. Who knows.”
Rather than comparing every scene to history, she believes there is room for different versions of the Ingalls family’s story. Judging by her support, the Netflix reboot is simply the latest chapter in a franchise that can keep evolving while still honoring the legacy.
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