Prime Video's 8-Part Hidden Gem Drama Proves the Streamer Is More Than 'Reacher' and 'The Boys'

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Published Apr 14, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT

Isabella Soares is a Senior Writer for Collider, as well as a CherryPicks-approved critic.

Born in Brazil, previously based in Canada, and now residing in the UK, she is passionate about stories that revolve around culture, womanhood, and coming-of-age dynamics.

In her spare time, she enjoys watching nostalgic shows like ‘One Tree Hill’ and hosts her own podcast called Coming-of-Screen. In it, she interviews actors, directors, and creatives about coming-of-age/multigenerational stories in media.

With Prime Video becoming the top spot for actions shows like The Boys, Reacher, and Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, it can be hard for titles outside this genre to get discovered. It's Not Like That, which premiered in late January, is available to watch through the Wonder Project channel on Prime Video, and it's the cozy-yet-dysfunctional family drama you didn't know you were missing. It follows Malcolm (Scott Foley), a pastor struggling to move on after his wife's death and who is slowly coming to terms with being a single parent. His next-door neighbor and close friend Lori (Erinn Hayes) becomes his confidante in this transitional phase, especially since she's also restructuring her life post-divorce.

As both characters rely on each other to get past this rough patch, their bond puts into question their strictly platonic relationship. From the writers of Parenthood, It's Not Like That follows Malcolm and Lori's journeys, while also focusing on their children's reactions to the changes they are experiencing at home. It is a heartfelt series that will keep you company when you are in need of something laid back to tune into, and it shows how balancing faith and grief can come with all sorts of challenges.

In 'It's Not Like That,' Scott Foley and Erinn Hayes Navigate Parenthood

It's Not Like That opens with Malcolm and Lori getting emotional after leaving their kids at school. Although they are trying their best to keep it together for the sake of their families, when it's just the two of them, they can finally share what's on their minds. For Lori, she is more than ready to get back onto the dating scene post-divorce. After all, her ex-husband (Manifest's J.R. Ramirez) had already started hanging out in bars in search of a new girlfriend. Malcolm, on the other hand, is still pondering the idea of a second chance at love, especially as he prepares to return to his congregational duties. As a pastor, there is a huge responsibility weighing on his shoulders to set an example on and off of work. That weight also extends to the apps, since many women are reluctant to engage in a relationship with a religious leader.

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Raised by a pastor, Malcolm's kids are used to the pressure to be perfect. Yet, losing their mother in the middle of their teenage years is a lot to handle. Flora (Leven Miranda), the eldest daughter, has a hard time coming to terms with the idea that there might be a God when her mother's life was cut short. Penelope (Cassidy Paul) feels like she has no one to talk to, even though she is hanging with the popular crowd. Justin (Cary Christopher), the youngest of the bunch, is being bullied and isolated in school. The three children are going through different challenges, and they are all coping with grief.

Lori's son and daughter, Merritt (Caleb Baumann) and Casey (Liv Lindell), aren't mourning the loss of a parent, but they are mourning the loss of the family they used to have. Despite David's best efforts to make amends with his son, the latter wants to abstain himself from anything that he associates with his father, including quitting the wrestling team. Casey isn't nearly as angsty as her brother, but she is having trouble reconnecting with Penelope after she didn't get to join the cheer squad. As Lori's children and Malcolm's interact, they confide in each other and butt heads like teenagers would when everything at home seems unsteady.

'It's Not Like That' Is a Family Drama That Isn't Afraid To Be Messy

These intergenerational dynamics are what make It's Not Like That worth watching. The series seeks to show that grief doesn't have a set expiration date, and that divorce isn't over when the papers are signed. Malcolm misses his wife and finds it hard to meet his children's needs on his own. Lori and David's approach to co-parenting isn't welcomed by their children at first, displaying how fractured their family has become since the separation. The messiness and uncertainty that each of the characters face is relatable and nuanced. There is no such thing as a villain in Lori and David's broken marriage, and it's normal for Malcolm to take his time in adjusting to single parenting.

Malcolm and Lori's approximation proves that sometimes people who are hurting need someone by their side who they can be vulnerable with. Someone who can offer support, but that also understands what the other is going through. Scott Foley and Erinn Hayes have such a delightful chemistry that you can't help but root for them to go from friends to something more. Although their families have always been close, the idea of them becoming one big family doesn't seem too farfetched when they go through so much together. If you missed family dramas like Parenthood and Friday Night Lights, filled with emotional resonance and complicated dynamics, this faith-based Prime Video gem will win you over.