Melissa Gilbert Issues Bold Response to ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Reboot
What To Know
- Melissa Gilbert, original star of Little House on the Prairie, responded to the Netflix reboot.
- She highlighted numerous historical and narrative inaccuracies in both adaptations, urging viewers to recognize the use of dramatic license.
- Gilbert encouraged fans interested in the real Laura Ingalls Wilder to watch the PBS documentary Prairie to Page.
Melissa Gilbert just issued a bold response to the Little House on the Prairie reboot series.
On Substack, the former child actress — who played Laura Ingalls Wilder in the original Little House on the Prairie — shared her reaction to the reboot, which dropped on Netflix on July 9. The new show stars Alice Halsey as Laura, and it has been met with mixed reactions from fans of the OG series.
“I have remained silent since the release of the new version of Little House on the Prairie,” Gilbert, 62, explained. “For two reasons. Honestly, I’m afraid that I am unable to be fully objective because I am too deeply involved to weigh in without emotion. Second, I really don’t think it is my place to weigh in. The audience’s reactions should speak for themselves. Critics and pundits be damned.”
Still, Gilbert said she felt the need to speak out on an “issue I am seeing run rampant on social media and in articles”: whether the original and new show are historically accurate.
“The short answer is no, neither are entirely accurate to the times nor the books,” she pointed out. “For example, unlike on the new show, Laura Ingalls Wilder didn’t spend much real time in Independence, Kansas, until she was sixty years old and on a road trip with her daughter, Rose. Unlike the original show, the real Ingalls family only lived in Walnut Grove, Minnesota for a short while, not years and years.”
Additionally, Gilbert pointed out several other historical inaccuracies. “Mary Ingalls never married. Carrie Ingalls was born in August, not on Christmas Day,” she listed. “There was no Albert Ingalls, or James or Cassandra for that matter. 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 continued, “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. So rather than getting all twisted up in what’s real and what’s dramatized, maybe just sit back and go for the ride the creative minds behind these shows want to take you on. If you like it, stick with it. If you don’t, you don’t have to watch.”
Finally, Gilbert urged those interested in learning more about the real Laura to watch the PBS documentary Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page. It is available to stream on the PBS app and Kanopy, and for rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV.
“I hope this helps to clarify things a bit,” she concluded. “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.”
The original Little House on the Prairie series aired for nine seasons from 1974 to 1983. In addition to Gilbert, it starred Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Melissa Sue Anderson, Victor French, Katherine MacGregor, Richard Bull, Jonathan Gilbert, Kevin Hagen, Alison Arngrim, Dean Butler, and others.
Little House on the Prairie reboot, streaming on Netflix; original Little House on the Prairie, streaming on Peacock
Conversation38 Comments
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M
I'm about the same age as MG (Gen X) and watched the 1974 series as it aired. I enjoyed it very much and still occasionally watch when it's on. I am nearly finished with the 2026 series and am really enjoying it. I've watched several versions of Little Women, too, for example, and liked each as a separate entity from each other. That's what these are, each their own show/series. It's just not that hard.
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G
For the record, Melissa Gilbert is a baby boomer. Gen X is 1965 and 1980, she was born 1964
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A
I was about to say the same thing.
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M
For my record why is it you guys anybody for that matter labels people Gen x baby boomers etc? We are what we are we're just people and being an older lady I am just that an older lady I don't have a label for that. It's just stupid and no it's not my opinion it's a fact that it's stupid.
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C
Its just how the different generations are identified. Not a big deal.
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M
Says a person born in the times of labelling us.
I totally agree with Mary.
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P
I like the new series…I liked the original series..I loved the books…I can appreciate each thing for what it is
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G
Even if it is not completely accurate it is family friendly and lot better than some other shows that I wouldn't want my children to watch.
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B
Her answer was just what I thought it would be. Thx Ms Gilbert for not destroying it for the new generation. Nothing stays the same. Let the new generations decide for themselves without comparing to what we thought. I won’t watch it, but my grands will probably be looking for Michael Jackson or someone to start dancing. They not like us! 🤣
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S
she is absolutely right, but boggles my mind is that in our generation, we cannot come up with new shows new ideas the little house in the prairies Charlie’s Angels repeats from the past- in our generation today do we not have any creation no new ideas if the old shows were great then just rerun them I do not understand why they do that. Get creative come up with new shows new names.
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M
I liked the new series for what it was but it was nothing like the old series or the books so it was basically on its own series to me it was totally redone and not anything like what I remember as a kid I grew up watching this series. So that being said it is totally a new series for a new generation only because all of us that watch the old one won't like it. I think it was well done and the acting was great and all that but it was nothing like what it was.
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L
I watched them both and I love them both.. I can’t wait for the next season for the new ones. I keep the Little House on the Prairie channel (Roku😁) on throughout the day WFM and night. I absolutely love that Edwards ain’t shown as an ugly drunk in the new and the actor is so handsome Thank you😜.
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S
Well I tried to watch the new series with my grandchildren ages 4 to 18 ( i have 10 ) and none of us like it so we returned to the original little house on the prairie, the favorite in my family and will be for years to come guess ya can say we are hopelessly devoted.
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G
I watched it and it’s a good show in itself… however, nothing evokes the emotions that the original did. Michael Landon had a way of tugging at our heartstrings every episode. I feel much less invested in these new characters.
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Y
Sorry but i rather watch the original Little House on the Prairie I seen bits and pieces of the new one, not interested
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T
I agree. Recognize creative license in both pieces. My children and I were fact- checking the episodes as we watched. We have read books and watched the original shows.
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P
And don't forget they did not blow up their town after ten years to thwart the railroad.
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M
I didn't care for it i am a little house fan I watch the original little house on the prairie every day for about 6 or 7 hours a day love Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert as Laura nothing can compare
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K
Im a year younger. I grew up with Little house in the prairie. I still love it. Michael Landon was like my dad the way he was on the show and it felt like I was Laura but I'm shy like Mary.. But I was my Dad's favorite. Great show
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F
The original Will live on forever in my heart. The new one has no cast chemistry and is difficult to watch. I’m an OG and prefer the original❤️
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K
I really enjoyed the new one. I was confused at first because it was set in independence and not Walnut Grove but then I realized the Ingalls were in independence before Walnut Grove and the season finale was a lead into them going to Walnut Grove. I was confused at first because there were no Olsens, lol.
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G
Sorry there are few shows I just think should not be remade - Gone w/the Wind, Roadhouse Godfather, Little House on the Prairie to name a few!! Appreciate what Melissa Gilbert said - as someone who used to read like crazy & love history & historical accuracy - knew what she commented in! Oh well that's my 2 cents!😉
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S
Don't like the show and don't watch
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M
I for one loved it and I am not down either one because they are both very good shows. In a time where iys God awful sit comes or reality tv. Im just glad something different and something very nice and beautiful to watch. And no political bs involved. also its just good old fashion tv for a change and plus you can stream the old show also.
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R
Loved the Little House series. Why try to remake great! After 2 episodes of new one I couldn’t swallow another one
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T
Exactly what I thought! I loved those books and read them over and over. This new series doesn't resemble them!
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J
I don't think the new show is bad but the original is definitely better.
My issue however is that Netflix promoted this as being drawn more from the books than the Original show.
However I found that to be untrue within the first two episodes where there was 10 inaccuracies that the original show got right
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S
I really like the reboot more than the original. I love the actress that plays Laura, Pa, Ma and Mary. Mr Edwards not so much. I think people should give it a try. They will be surprised.
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J
Good morning y'all, I have to agree with Melissa Gilbert on the matter, if y'all love history and love the original Little house on the Prairie and the history behind it and have research yourself on the real people that actors are playing and years later others want to redo and not stick with the facts and the ture history behind it, then please don't watch the New Show Es.\n Pecially if you love the original actors that played those real people's plays in our history, I will not nor do I plan to watch the new because I continue to this day. Watch on occasion 1 through 9A little house on the prairie, because I love the history behind it. And I love the real people. I myself have done research on the people that Are playing and I have to say those angle , families have gone through a lot and for these new Do not care about the history behind the little house on the prairie and the family Ingles, so I will not be watching it.They can go suck it , god bless
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M
The original little house isn't by the book but it can't be remade better in any form period there is nothing that will or can ever compare period! The new one is good but should have named it anything else and not used the little house to pop from. I do like the new show as a perspective of back then times but never ever little house sorry
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J
I only watched the first episode, and I didn’t hate it. But it really put me off that Laura had a different dress on every day which is just annoying because of course they did not have that many clothes during that time, and the fake wolves. What was up with the fake wolves we couldn’t find real ones or find better computer generated ones?
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K
I think the Disney one is the best . It looks more like the time frame.
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W
Sounds like jealousy to me. Bothe were good no matter what.
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P
Also, an African American doctor would never be permitted to be the town's doctor during that post civil war era. The Jim Crow laws were firmly established by then.
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D
Dr. George A. Tann existed. He cared for the Ingalls family when they were down for days with malaria. Whether he was the "town doctor" or not is irrelevant. He lived near Independence and cared for the settlers and others who needed him.
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D
I might add, yes he was an African American.
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G
Thought she'd have other things to worry about.
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P
I suspect a lot of people have been asking her. So she answered. Then she went on with her life.
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