Little House On The Prairie- The Complete Series Blu-ray Review
“Little House On The Prairie” is a classic TV show.
Based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1974’s “Little House On The Prairie” is a western biodrama television series that ran for 9 seasons. The series centered around the Ingalls family made up of Charles, his wife Caroline, and their 3 children Mary, Laura, and Carrie. The family moves from a cabin in the Wisconsin woods to Kansas, but eventually wind up in Walnut Grove, Minnesota where they make a home for themselves and establish themselves as part of the community. Charles initially works at the mill and farms in order to take care of his family. The series also features other Walnut Grove characters including the Olesons, Isaiah Edwards, Dr. Baker, Reverend Alden, Miss Beadle, the Garveys, etc. Throughout the series, storylines involve Mary and Laura’s school, the loss of a child, the Olesons, trips away from Walnut Grove holidays, Laura’s horse Bunny, bad weather, death, animals (including the family dog Jack), new additions to the family, Mary’s blindness, a move to Winoka, Mary and Adam’s relationship, Laura and Almanzo’s relationship, a school for the blind, Laura becoming a teacher, pregnancies, the Carter family, and Laura and Almanzo adopting Jenny.
It’s easy to see why this 1800s set story about homesteading and frontier life has endured for generations. Not only is it a comfort show to many, but it’s a positive show about family, love, growth, survival, nature, friendship, faith and community. The series was always exploring important themes and subjects all while focusing on the Ingalls family’s everyday life. You felt as if you were there in Walnut Grove with the Ingalls. Yes, the series does provide a safe watered down version of the past (and manages to steer clear of certain harsh realities), but this is a fictionalized version of a true story after all.
The first 4 seasons showed the series at its best. It really showed the bond between the family unit and felt more focused. The show started to lose its way from season 5 and on. When season 8 morphed into “Little House: A New Beginning” when Laura and Almanzo became the main characters, it felt like the show had run its course. Season 9 was especially forgettable as Michael Landon had left the show as a full time cast member. Later seasons also became far too overcrowded with characters and supporting characters. Sometimes less is more.
Going back to the cast, Michael Landon (who also produced, wrote, and directed episodes) is the heart of the series, but it’s a true ensemble piece overall. Melissa Gilbert (Laura), Karen Grassle (Caroline), and Katherine MacGregor (Harriet) are also fantastic in their respective roles. Everyone collectively grew into their roles and made them their own.
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 1.33:1 1080p. How does it look? The 9 individual seasons were previously released on Blu-ray, but the complete series is at long last released on Blu-ray. The remastered 70s TV series offers up vivid colors and sharper image quality. Sure, there are some print defects here and there, but overall the results are pleasing.
Audio Track: 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? Fans will be happy to know that all 9 seasons are now presented in 2.0 DTS-HD MA. The audio tracks are crisp and clean.
Extras:
* Original screen test with Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert.
* The 6 part “The Little House Phenomenon” that covers the show’s place in TV history, casting, production design, cast and crew stories/interviews, the show’s legacy, and more.
* 3 movie specials “Look Back To Yesterday” (Albert centric), “The Last Farewell” (about a battle over land), and “Bless All The Dear Children” (a Christmas special).
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