The Netflix adaptation of “Little House on the Prairie” ranked as the No. 1 most-watched program on the streaming platform during the week of its July 9 premiere, WIBW reported. Behind that viewership sits a University of Kansas professor who helped shape how the Osage Nation appears in the series.
Robert Warrior, the Hall Distinguished Professor of American Literature and Culture at KU and a citizen of the Osage Nation, served as a story consultant for the eight-episode series. He also appears on screen as an extra in one episode, according to the University of Kansas.
Reading Every Script Before Netflix Approved Them
Warrior reviewed versions of all eight episode scripts before they were sent to Netflix for final approval, the university reported. He worked closely with showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine, telling producers he was not there merely to label scenes as right or wrong, but to fix story problems.
“I had a good relationship with the showrunner, Rebecca Sonnenshine, and I felt like I was adding something to the process,” Warrior said, according to KU News. “If I have any sort of creative talent in this process, it is in fixing story problems.”
A Brief on-Screen Appearance in Episode Seven
Viewers can spot Warrior in episode seven, where he portrays a member of the entourage of Osage leader Governor Joe, played by Talee Redcorn. Producers credited him as a “Special Skills Extra,” the university reported. Filming took place last summer in Winnipeg, Canada, where Warrior spent five days, including three on set.
Why the Ingalls Family Crosses Paths with the Osage
The first season, a loose adaptation of the third book in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s series, follows the Ingalls family moving from Wisconsin to Independence, Kansas. Warrior helped producers find a story reason for an Osage character to interact with the family. He described pushing back against early ideas that showed Native people around a campfire without English-speaking context, noting that such a scenario would make storytelling difficult.
The plot involves railroad industry figures attempting to flood the area with settlers to secure easements through the Osage Reservation, according to KU News.
How Warrior Landed the Consulting Role
Nicole Harjo, a senior vice president for development at Paramount Studios, specifically sought an Osage consultant for the project. Warrior, who has consulted on Indigenous topics in non-Indigenous media for over 30 years, said his interest grew when he learned Joy Gorman Wettels was attached as an executive producer.
Questions Viewers Are Asking
Which episode does Robert Warrior appear in?
Warrior appears in episode seven of the eight-part series as a member of Governor Joe’s entourage, credited as a “Special Skills Extra,” according to the University of Kansas.
What book is the first season based on?
The first season is a loose adaptation of the third book in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House” series, KU News reported.
Where was the series filmed?
Filming took place in Winnipeg, Canada, last summer, where Warrior spent three days on set, the university reported.
Warrior, who grew up in Wichita, said he hoped younger viewers would look closer and question historical narratives they encounter on screen.
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