‘Little House on the Prairie’ Netflix star appears in original show
Luke Bracey talks about Netflix’s retelling of Little House on the Prairie and Michael Landon’s original portrayal of Charles “Pa” Ingalls.
If you’re looking for a respite from stress, trauma, and turmoil, you may have found no escape on TV in recent months.
While breaking news seems relentless in its tragedies and horrors, many of the most popular and talked about TV shows of 2026 so far have been dark and stormy in their own right.
HBO Max’s “The Pit,” which just received 25 Emmy nominations, tells the story of an understaffed, overburdened emergency room where patients consistently die. HBO’s “Game of Thrones” spinoff “House of the Dragon” tells the story of a brutal civil war not just within a country, but within a family as well. Paramount+’s “Dutton Ranch” is a Western-style, soapy, suspenseful production. Even hit reality TV shows like “Love Island USA” aren’t always “easy” to watch due to the constant contestant drama, fights, and off-screen controversy.
So for a viewer base looking for something a little more casual, a little more chill, a little more comforting (those tired of rewatching old episodes of “The Office”), a spate of refreshing TV shows have recently premiered that offer escapism and relief from the fast-paced, stressful modern world.
Netflix has revived the 1970s classic Little House on the Prairie. It’s a nostalgic family drama that hugs viewers with open arms and linen dresses. Peacock’s “Five Star Weekend” turns trauma into beautiful coastal views and slumber dance parties. HBO’s “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” turns the war-torn world of “Thrones” into a quirky comedy.
There’s also Apple TV’s “Widow’s Bay,” a kind of jaunty East Coast “Twin Peaks” filled with quirky characters, light mysticism, and the smiling faces of charming father figures. NBC’s “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” turned the odd couple of Daniel Radcliffe and Tracy Morgan into light comedy gold. And Britbox’s ‘The Other Bennet Sister’ is a spin-off of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ that is so heart-warming that you can’t help but lighten your mood.
Although these shows don’t all look or feel the same, they share the ability to put viewers in a good mood through laughter, romance, mystery, light melodrama, beautiful scenery, and more. These aren’t “fun TV” in the sense of being cheesy, poorly written, or gritty. Rather, they represent a more hopeful perspective in a world and media culture obsessed with doom and gloom. And they may come at just the right time.
Big celebrations have come and gone, including Independence Day, America’s 250th anniversary, and the celebrity wedding of the century. The weather is hot and humid. The United States was no longer a candidate for the World Cup. Food poisoning is plaguing people all over the country. Heck, on social media, we act like every bad and stupid thing about our lives is a true crime documentary on Netflix.
While some may find comfort in intense dramas like “Dragons” or stressful “comedies” like FX/Hulu’s “The Bear,” I say it’s more empowering. There were times in my life when immersing myself in authoritative, dark, violent, heart-breaking, pulse-pounding stories was itself a form of escape, even solace, from the hardships of real life.
But what shows like “House,” “Five Star,” and “Bennett” especially have that are hard to find at all in media these days (TV, movies, social media, music, etc.) are slowness and patience.
Our lives have become so frenetic and overstimulated, whether it’s scrolling through frenetic TikTok in a doctor’s waiting room, listening to anxiety-provoking podcasts while walking or driving, attending loud sports games or concerts, or interacting with a world rushing from one obligation to the next.
Make dinner, wash the dishes, do the laundry, scroll for an hour, optimize your sleep, shower, get ready, go to work, be productive, exercise, socialize, do more and more. We’re on a 21st century hamster wheel that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
But we can find slowness and even stillness in the art and entertainment we choose. There are no explosions or bloody battles, which makes “Bennett” compelling. It’s a quiet beauty that relaxes our senses and, hopefully, our minds as well.
There will always be a place for bombastic, dark, and glamorous television. But I appreciate that Hollywood also recognizes the value on the other side of the sensory spectrum.
Sometimes you just want to curl up on a prairie with a campfire or a harmonica and enjoy the quiet serenity of your hopes and dreams with your friends.
