7 Must-Watch Shows To Enjoy While You Wait for ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Season 2
After long (and careful) anticipation, Little House of the Prairie has returned in the form of Netflix’s latest re-imagining. The streaming series has already been renewed for a second season, so while we await the return of the Ingalls family once more, there’s no reason that you can’t hop on over to another show in the meantime. Whether you prefer period dramas based on popular literary classics or Western-adjacent tales about love and family, we’ve put together several shows that may just tickle your Americana fancy.
The Little House books, of course, were penned by Laura Ingalls Wilder as a semi-fictional/semi-autobiographical look at her own upbringing on the Midwestern prairies. Her youthful, childlike view of the Old West is a refreshing one compared to many interpretations of the genre, and while Netflix’s new adaptation offers that in part, it doesn’t shy away from some of the dangers the Ingalls faced either. Still, while you await the return to Independence, give these other programs the old pioneer try.
‘Anne with an E’ (2017–2019)
Gilbert (Lucas Jade Zumann) Anne (Amybeth McNulty) in Anne with an EImage via Netflix
Admittedly not the most accurate adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s famous Anne of Green Gables novel and subsequent sequels, Netflix’s Anne with an E has its merits. Amybeth McNulty plays the titular red-haired heroine who is adopted by Avonlea siblings Matthew (R. H. Thomson) and Marilla Cuthbert (Geraldine James). It follows her life on Prince Edward Island, her destined romance with Gilbert Blythe (Lucas Jade Zumann), and her friendship with Diana Barry (Dalila Bela). In addition to covering much of the material from the book, the three-season Anne moved into some darker territory beyond the works of Montgomery by exploring Native American issues, class discrimination, and racism. Again, Anne with an E is considered a loose adaptation for a reason. If you’re looking for something a little more true to the novel, don’t sleep on the 1985 Anne of Green Gables miniseries with Little House guest star Megan Fellows.
‘Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman’ (1993–1998)
Joe Lando and Jane Seymour in Dr Quinn Medicine WomanImage via CBS
A heartfelt Western drama in the same vein as Little House, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman was immensely popular in the 1990s, thrusting Jane Seymour into the television limelight. As “Dr. Mike” moves from her East Coast home to Colorado Springs, she befriends a Cheyenne man named Byron Sully (Joe Lando) and soon finds herself the adoptive mother of three children. Things change quickly for Quinn, who must roll with the Old West punches and prove to the townsfolk her ability to practice medicine. Created by Beth Sullivan, the series ran for six seasons and two follow-up made-for-TV features, but fans couldn’t get enough of the Colorado melodrama. Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman is certainly one of those shows where the pilot is the worst episode, only getting better over time. It’s one of those comfort shows that just feels good to revisit, making it perfect for Little House fans of all walks of life.
‘Joe Pickett’ (2021–2023)
Michael Dorman and Julianna Guill in ‘Joe Pickett’Image via Paramount+
A little off the beaten trail from Little House, Joe Pickett is a neo-Western mystery drama about the titular Wyoming game warden and his family. As Joe (Michael Dorman), Marybeth (Julianna Guill), and their daughters navigate the new normal found in the small town of Saddlestring, they find themselves wrapped up in some strange conspiracies involving local hunters, lawmen, and former military people. While a bit more action-heavy than Little House, many of the same familial themes cross over. This two-season Western series is a perfect weekend binge that you won’t want to pull away from. Based on the popular mystery novels by C.J. Box, Joe Pickett was canceled way too soon, but deserved another chance. Folks looking for a further reason to watch after Little House should note that Mary Ingalls actress Skywalker Hughes plays Joe and Marybeth’s oldest daughter Sheridan.
‘Little Women’ (2017)
March Family in Little Women 2017Image via BBC
Of all the most recent adaptations of Louisa May Alcott’s famed novel, the 2017 miniseries adaptation of Little Women has become a favorite of many. Featuring Maya Hawke, Willa Fitzgerald, Kathryn Newton, and Annes Elwy as the March sisters, the three-part take on the literary classic is perfect for Little House fans, especially since it’s set only a decade or so before. For one thing, it’s a great alternative if you’re looking for more than one of the four movie adaptations. Although the setting is considerably different, the bond between these four sisters — and the struggles they endure along the way — echo some of the same themes explored with the Ingalls girls on Little House. Fans of Wilder’s novel are likely already familiar with Alcott’s — after all, both are brilliant pieces of American literature. Although made by the BBC, it can also be found on Netflix, making it as simple as a skip down the streaming road once you finish up with the Ingalls.
Collider Exclusive · The Sorting Hat Awaits
Which Hogwarts House Are You?
Gryffindor · Slytherin · Hufflepuff · Ravenclaw
Four houses. One destiny. The Sorting Hat has considered thousands of students — now it’s your turn. Answer honestly and discover where you truly belong at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Gryffindor
Slytherin
Hufflepuff
Ravenclaw
PLACE THE HAT →
01
What quality do you value most in yourself?
Answer as honestly as you can — the Hat always knows.
ACourage — I act even when I’m afraid, because what’s right matters more than what’s safe.
BAmbition — I know what I want and I have the drive and cunning to get there.
CLoyalty — I show up for the people I love, no matter what it costs me.
DWisdom — I think before I act and I’m always hungry to understand more.
NEXT QUESTION →
02
A friend is being treated unfairly. What do you do?
How you protect others says everything about who you are.
AStep in immediately and confront whoever is responsible — I won’t stand by.
BWork out the best strategy to address it — a smart move beats a rash one.
CBe by their side, support them, and help them through it however they need.
DAnalyse what’s actually happening and find the most reasoned, fair solution.
NEXT QUESTION →
03
What does success look like to you?
What you’re working toward defines who you’re becoming.
ABeing remembered as someone who fought for what was right, whatever the odds.
BAchieving the goals I set for myself — influence, status, and earned respect.
CA life where the people I care about know I was there for them, always.
DMastering my field, contributing something meaningful, and never stopping learning.
NEXT QUESTION →
04
What is your greatest fear?
Fear is the most honest thing about a person.
ABeing a coward when it mattered — looking back and knowing I did nothing.
BMediocrity — fading into obscurity without making my mark on the world.
CLosing the people I love or letting them down when they needed me most.
DIgnorance — being wrong and not knowing it, or never reaching my potential.
NEXT QUESTION →
05
The rules say no. Your gut says go. What do you do?
Every institution has rules. What you do with them is a choice.
ABreak the rules — if it’s the right thing to do, no rule should stop me.
BFind a way to get what I want without getting caught. Rules are guidelines.
CProbably follow the rules — but I’d find a way to help within them if I could.
DThink it through carefully — is the rule unjust, or is my gut just impatient?
NEXT QUESTION →
06
What kind of friend are you?
Who you are to the people you love is who you really are.
AThe protector — I will go to the ends of the earth for the people I care about.
BThe strategist — I give sharp advice and I’m the one who figures out how to fix things.
CThe constant — I’m always there, always reliable, and I never make it about me.
DThe guide — I help people think things through and see perspectives they’ve missed.
NEXT QUESTION →
07
You look into the Mirror of Erised. What do you see?
The mirror shows the deepest desire of your heart.
AYourself standing victorious, having faced the greatest challenge and won.
BYourself at the height of your power — respected, successful, and in control.
CYourself surrounded by everyone you love, whole and happy and together.
DYourself with all the answers — every book read, every mystery solved.
NEXT QUESTION →
08
The Sorting Hat pauses. It whispers: “You could do well in any house. But what matters most to you — truly?”
This is your tiebreaker. The Hat always listens.
ABravery. I want to be the kind of person who acts when others won’t.
BGreatness. I want to leave my mark and be more than ordinary.
CBelonging. I want to be part of something good and never let my people down.
DUnderstanding. I want to know the truth of things and keep growing forever.
REVEAL MY HOUSE →
The Sorting Hat Speaks
Your House Has Been Chosen
After careful deliberation, the Sorting Hat has made its decision. This is the house your values, your instincts, and your particular way of being in the world were made for.
Gryffindor Tower · Scarlet & Gold
Gryffindor
You have nerve. Not the reckless kind, but the deep, quiet courage that shows up even when you’re terrified — especially then.
Gryffindors don’t act because they’re fearless — they act because they understand that some things are worth being afraid for.
You stand up for people when it would be easier to look away.
You charge toward what’s right even when the odds are terrible.
Harry, Hermione, Ron — the heroes of Hogwarts’s greatest chapter — all called the tower with the scarlet and gold home. And now, so do you.
Slytherin Dungeon · Emerald & Silver
Slytherin
You are driven, sharp, and utterly clear-eyed about what you want and how to get there.
Slytherin has long been misunderstood — painted as the house of villains when it is, at its best, the house of those who refuse to accept limits placed on them by others.
You are resourceful, strategic, and you play the long game.
You know your worth. You protect your own fiercely.
The dungeon common room with its view of the Black Lake is yours — and the ambitions that will take you further than anyone expects are yours too.
Hufflepuff Basement · Yellow & Black
Hufflepuff
You are the kind of person that makes the world genuinely better just by being in it.
Hufflepuff is not the “safe” house or the “leftover” house — it is the house of those with the greatest heart and the most unwavering integrity.
You show up. You work hard. You don’t need glory or recognition — you do what’s right because it’s right.
Your loyalty never wavers, even when tested.
Nymphadora Tonks, Cedric Diggory, Newt Scamander — some of the wizarding world’s finest. And now you join them.
Ravenclaw Tower · Blue & Bronze
Ravenclaw
Your mind is your greatest gift, and you’ve always known it.
Ravenclaws are the thinkers, the questioners, the ones who find a puzzle irresistible and a good book better company than most people.
Ravenclaw is not merely about intelligence — it’s about the love of learning, the pursuit of truth, and the rare courage to admit you don’t know something yet.
You see the world with unusual clarity and depth.
Luna Lovegood, Filius Flitwick, Rowena Ravenclaw herself — all extraordinary, all original. And so are you.
↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ
‘Heartland’ (2007–Present)
The original ‘Heartland’ cast, including Graham Wardle as Ty Borden, Jessica Amlee as Mallory Wells Anderson, Shaun Johnston as Jack Bartlett, Amber Marshall as Amy Fleming, Chris Potter as Tim Fleming, Michelle Morgan as Lou Fleming, and Nathaniel Arcand as Scott Cardinal.Image via CBC
For something family oriented that also explores more mature themes, Heartland is probably the show for you. The horse-themed drama follows sisters Amy (Amber Marshall) and Lou Fleming (Michelle Morgan) in the aftermath of their mother’s death. As they seek to turn their family ranch into a horse rescue and sanctuary, the Fleming girls — aided by their grandfather Jack (Shaun Johnston) and hired hand Ty Borden (Graham Wardle) — build a new life for themselves as they come of age. Based on the book series by Lauren Brooke, Heartland is still going strong at 19 seasons and counting. As one of the best Canadian shows finding an audience outside Canada, there’s nothing else currently on television quite like Heartland. Fans of Little House will flock to the Fleming sisters the same way they do with the Ingalls family.
‘The Other Bennet Sister’ (2026)
Based on the novel by Janice Hadlow that itself was inspired by Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, The Other Bennet Sister follows, well, the other Bennet sister not typically highlighted by Austin adaptations: Ella Bruccoleri’s Mary Bennet. As Mary lives the events of Pride and Prejudice from her distinct point of view, her story extends beyond that of her sisters as she pursues romance in its unlikely forms. Across 10 episodes, Mary learns to stand up for herself and pursue her own interests apart from her mother.
The Other Bennet Sister is a unique take on the Bennet tale that, much like the new Little House series, offers a different perspective on otherwise familiar events. Though set in England rather than America, Little House fans will likely find plenty of similarities between these seemingly distinct programs. The BBC One series was so well-received that a three-part Christmas special is in the works!
‘Little House on the Prairie’ (1974–1983)
Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson) and Laura Ingalls (Melissa Gilbert) in the ‘Little House on the Prairie’ episode “Country Girls”Image via NBC
Frankly, there’s no better show to dive into while waiting for the next season of Netflix’s Little House adaptation than the original Little House on the Prairie series. Admittedly quite loose in its adaptation of Wilder’s books, the nine-season drama set the tone for all other future takes on the Ingalls family, with a brilliant cast that includes Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert and plenty of memorable episodes that you’ll find yourself revisiting again and again. It may not always be accurate, but it’s quite masterful anyhow. Little House on the Prairie is the gold standard for family-centric Midwestern entertainment that speaks to the harsh realities of the Old West while still maintaining that upbeat, faithful outlook on life. If you’re wondering where to start, here are some perfect classic Little House episodes to revisit that will keep you occupied until the Netflix version returns — although, you could always just start at the beginning and watch all the way through.
Little House on the Prairie
Release Date
1974 – 1983
Directors
Victor French, William F. Claxton, Leo Penn, Alf Kjellin, Joseph Pevney, Lewis Allen, Maury Dexter, Michael Ray Rhodes
Writers
Arthur Heinemann, Chris Abbott, Paul W. Cooper, Dale Eunson, Jeri Taylor, John Meston, Del Reisman, Tony Kayden, Juanita Bartlett, Vince Gutierrez, Joel Murcott, John V. Hanrahan, Carole Raschella, Michael Raschella
Melissa Gilbert
Laura Ingalls
Michael Landon
Charles Ingalls
Karen Grassle
Caroline Ingalls
Melissa Sue Anderson
Mary Ingalls
تم النشر: 2026-07-18 01:02:00
مصدر: collider.com
