Melissa Gilbert reunites with “Prairie” sister Melissa Sue Anderson

Gilbert criticized Anderson’s attitude towards her, both on and off screen, pointing out how she was “my boss”.

The show’s cast recently reunited to celebrate its 50th anniversary, with reports suggesting Melissa Gilbert has “passed the baton” to a new star who will reprise her role in the Netflix adaptation.

It seemed like it would never happen, but “Little House on the Prairie” fans can now breathe a sigh of relief as the Ingalls sisters, Melissa Gilbert and Melissa Sue Anderson, have put an end to their decades-long estrangement.

In a photo taken backstage at Gilbert’s show “Pen Pals,” the two posed close together, meaning their frosty relationship of more than 40 years is finally about to get better.

“Worlds collide. Blessings abound. Hearts heal and reunite. Magic happens,” Gilbert wrote. “Last night, after @penpalsplay, my awesome co-star @veannecox had a surprise in the audience. Damn, I’m glad I didn’t know in advance that the remarkable @blbuckley was there.”

The 61-year-old actress then went a step further, explaining that she and her on-screen sister had worked out their differences for a while now, but ultimately kept it “a secret.”

“But I had my own secret,” she continued. “One I’ve held close to my heart for a while now. Reconnecting with a sister. Long healing talks. Lots of memories. Lots of catching up. Lots of laughter and a few tears.”

The NBC drama series ran for 9 seasons starting in 1974. It followed the life and adventures of Charles Ingalls’ family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota.

Gilbert and Anderson, respectively, played sisters Laura and Mary in the series, but appear to have developed a strained relationship because of it.

However, Gilbert added that she was “very happy” that Anderson was “back in my life,” going on to explain that they “share such an important story that no one else on earth really understands.”

“Just us Ingalls girls,” she said. “The best part is that the past is behind us, and we can move forward as the sisters/friends we always wanted to be. What a wonderful Christmas present.”

Their reunion follows previous comments from each of them about how difficult the other was to deal with.

During a 2010 interview with The Constitution of the Atlanta JournalAnderson said she “honestly [does] “I don’t have a lot of memories” of their time together, even though they played side by side as sisters, adding that they were “very, very different.”

For his part, Gilbert also accused Anderson of being my “boss” on the show, going on to explain that the actress apparently lacked warmth with her on screen.

“She took it very seriously. She was two years older than me, which, you know, when you’re nine and 11, that’s a big deal…She was tough,” Gilbert said. “I mean both on and off camera, but especially on camera.”

Gilbert also remembers: “One of the first episodes… when mom comes home with some fabric and I reach out to touch it. Melissa hit me so hard, and you can see [where] I almost started laughing and you can see the full spectrum of emotions on my face.”

This will officially be the end of an era for the duo, as Netflix is ​​already working on a highly anticipated adaptation of the series with a new cast.

The on-screen sisters and other cast members recently gathered in California to celebrate the 50th anniversary of “Little House on the Prairie.”

During the three-day event held at Simi Valley’s historic Strathearn Park, details about Netflix’s upcoming work were revealed, including that 11-year-old actress Alice Halsey would reprise Gilbert’s role as Laura.

Reports suggest that Gilbert has already met Halsey and given young Laura his blessing.