Political commentator Megyn Kelly warned against modern ideological shifts, but Melissa Gilbert, who starred in the 1974 series, defended the original show's progressive history.
Gilbert noted the earlier series tackled racism, addiction, nativism, antisemitism, misogyny, rape, and spousal abuse.
Bracey responded that critics should watch the show before judging its themes.
The 1974 version, produced by Michael Landon, often deviated from the books to emphasize community cooperation and address dark social issues.
It also offered a more sympathetic portrayal of Indigenous populations than the source texts.
Historically, the Ingalls family squatted illegally on Osage land in Kansas before being removed by federal authorities in 1871.
The new series follows the novels more closely and includes an Osage consultant, Julie O’Keefe, to ensure cultural accuracy.
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While the adaptation features a more diverse cast, its clean visual aesthetic somewhat sanitizes the historical brutality of the frontier era.
