Melissa Gilbert defends Netflix Little House remake and recalls longtime Landon friendship

Actress Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls Wilder in the original NBC series, publicly defended Netflix’s new adaptation of *Little House on the Prairie*. In a Substack post she argued that no version can be completely faithful to the historical events or the original books, noting discrepancies in character ages and settings, and urging viewers to appreciate the creative work rather than debate accuracy.

Gilbert also reflected on her personal connection to the Landon family, describing how her on‑screen partnership with Michael Landon evolved into a lifelong friendship with his son Michael Landon Jr. The two were close as teenagers, briefly dated, and have remained part of each other’s lives for decades.

Both points were highlighted during the series’ 50th‑anniversary cast reunion in Simi Valley, California, where Gilbert signed autographs for fans.