Michael John Petty is a Senior Author for Collider who spends his days writing, in fellowship with his local church, and enjoying each new day with his wife and daughters. At Collider, he writes features, reviews, recaps, and conducts interviews. In addition to writing about stories, Michael has told a few of his own. His novella, The Beast of Bear-tooth Mountain,** **was released in 2023. His Western short story, The Devil’s Left Hand, received the Spur Award for “Best Western Short Fiction” from the Western Writers of America in 2025. Michael currently resides in North Idaho with his growing family.
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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.
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.
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.
A little off the beaten trail from Little House, Joe Pickettis 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.
Of all the most recent adaptations of Louisa May Alcott’s famed novel, **the 2017 miniseries adaptation of Little Womenhas 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.
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.
You have nerve. Not the reckless kind, but the deep, quiet courage that shows up even when you’re terrified — especially then.
You are driven, sharp, and utterly clear-eyed about what you want and how to get there.
You are the kind of person that makes the world genuinely better just by being in it.
Your mind is your greatest gift, and you’ve always known it.
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.
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!
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 Prairieseries. 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
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Victor French, William F. Claxton, Leo Penn, Alf Kjellin, Joseph Pevney, Lewis Allen, Maury Dexter, Michael Ray Rhodes
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
