Melissa Gilbert broke nearly two weeks of public silence on July 17th to explain why she had refused to weigh in on Netflix’s new Little House on the Prairie adaptation — and to outline what she believes any version of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s story must get right.
The Netflix series, which draws from the same frontier saga that made Gilbert a household name, launched its first season on July 9th. Gilbert originated the role of Laura in the classic television run that aired from 1974 to 1983 alongside Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, and Melissa Sue Anderson. Given that history, fans had been waiting to hear her reaction. She finally addressed it through her Substack.
Why Gilbert Stayed Silent
Gilbert offered two straightforward reasons for holding back. First, she acknowledged that her emotional connection to the original series made impartiality impossible. “Honestly, I’m afraid that I am unable to be fully objective because I am too deeply involved to weigh in without emotion,” she wrote. Second, she argued it simply wasn’t her call to make. “The audience’s reactions should speak for themselves. Critics and pundits be damned,” she added.
She also pushed back on viewers criticizing the Netflix version for historical inaccuracies, pointing out that the original series itself took considerable liberties with the source material. For anyone wanting a faithful account of Wilder’s life, Gilbert recommended the PBS documentary Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page. On the broader question of dramatized retellings, she was welcoming: “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.” What matters most, she said, is preserving the story’s core values — kindness, tolerance, family, faith, and gratitude for the natural world.
Gilbert’s Position Before the Premiere
Her July post was not the first time Gilbert had spoken carefully about the reboot. In a February 2025 interview with PEOPLE, she said she believed the new series didn’t need to replicate the spirit of the original, adding: “I’m hoping, and from what I understand, is that the remake will hew closer to the books than we did. There’s a lot of information and beautiful stories to mine from the actual writings of Little House.”
The Netflix series drew 6.4 million views within its first four days and currently holds a 79 percent critics score and a 68 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Netflix has already renewed the show for a second season.
