Carrie, Grace, Albert, Nels Oleson – major absentees (for now)
Several iconic figures from Michael Landon’s series are missing. Carrie (Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush), the Ingalls’ youngest daughter, does not appear in the first season, which follows Laura Ingalls Wilder’s third book, the one in which she was born during her adventures in Kansas. Netflix appears to be in no hurry. Grace (Wendy and Brenda Turnbaugh), the youngest to arrive in Season 7 of the original series, would appear much later if the series follows the books’ chronology.
Albert (Matthew Labyorteaux), the Ingalls’ charming adopted son, is a pure product of Michael Landon’s imagination: he’s not in the novels, and the reboot sticks to the books. Therefore, his chances of returning are slim. The same uncertainty applies to Adam Kendall (Linwood Boomer, who would later become the creator of another family series, Malcolm), Mary’s Blind Husband: A character created for the series but not in the books.
As for Nels Oleson (Richard Bull), the placid dad who tried in vain to moderate the excesses of Harriet and Nellie, he still hasn’t found a translator for season two. Attention candidates!
On the heart side, Almanzo Wilder (Dean Butler), Laura’s great love, should logically only appear in future seasons: in the books, their meeting occurs much later, during Laura’s adolescence. Patience, fans.
Finally, how can we not remember Jenny Wilder, Almanzo’s niece, taken in by the couple in season 9 of the original series: the very first role of Shannen Doherty, who died in July 2024 at the age of 53, long before she became Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills 90210 and Prue Halliwell Charmed. Because the Prairies have always had a knack for nurturing talent: the original series launched Shannen Doherty and Jason Bateman, no less! Let’s hope the cast of the Netflix reboot follows a similar path.