Melissa Gilbert revealed why she made an effort not to deal with Netflix’s recent adaptation of Little House on the Prairie.
“I’m sitting here at a farm in Pennsylvania attempting to enjoy my morning ritual. … I say attempting to enjoy my morning ritual but something is basically nagging at me this morning,” Gilbert, 62, recently wrote via Substack. “I actually have remained silent for the reason that release of the new edition of Little House on the Prairie.”
Gilbert said there have been “two reasons” she didn’t speak out in regards to the project.
“Truthfully, I’m afraid that I’m unable to be fully objective because I’m too deeply involved to weigh in without emotion,” she noted. “Second, I actually don’t think it’s my place to weigh in. The audience’s reactions should speak for themselves. Critics and pundits be damned.”
Based on the beloved book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie follows the Ingalls family, who survive a farm on Plum Creek near Walnut Grove, Minnesota, within the late 1800s.
Gilbert starred as Laura on the unique series alongside Michael Landon, Karen Grassle and Melissa Sue Anderson, a long time before the Netflix version introduced Alice Halsey, Luke Bracey, Crosby Fitzgerald and Skywalker Hughes.
Though she initially kept quiet, Gilbert wanted to hitch in on the conversation in regards to the latest tackle the childhood classic.
“Should you are like me and still crave the actual, real, 100% truth, then I suggest you watch, what I consider to be the definitive documentary with reference to Laura Ingalls Wilder,” she continued. “That documentary is PBS Laura Ingalls Wilder; From the Prairie to the Page.”
Gilbert urged fans of the series to form their very own opinions on recent versions of the story.
“I hope this helps to make clear things a bit. I really imagine there may be lots and a number of room for a lot of stories to come back out of the Little House universe for a long time to come back,” she wrote. “Possibly some day, someone will do a version that’s word for word and scene for scene the books Laura wrote. Possibly someone will take the entire thing in a special direction and in a special timeline. Who knows.”
She continued: “The necessary thing is that the core tenets of Laura’s stories proceed to resonate today. Those are, to be kind, to be charitable, patient, tolerant, open, curious, loving. To support those in need. To look after, nurture and love one’s family. To respect nature. and be thankful for her bountiful gifts. To like God and one another.”
Little House on the Prairie is streaming now.