NEED TO KNOW
It’s Not Like That is shedding light on the challenges of life and love after loss.
The drama — which premieres on Sunday, Jan. 25 on Prime Video’s new faith-based subscription Wonder Project — follows the story of Malcolm (Scott Foley), a recently-widowed pastor and father of three, and Lori (Erinn Hayes), a freshly-divorced mom of two teens.
“Their families once did everything together, but now Lori and Malcolm must navigate their newly minted singledom, parenthood and the complexities of Malcolm being a modern-day pastor,” the synopsis reads. “Is this the beginning of a love story? It’s not like that. Or is it?”
Wonder Project
PEOPLE’s exclusive first look at the series proves that there are no right answers when it comes to grief.
“You don’t need to walk us in. Mom never did,” Penelope (Cassidy Paul) tells dad Malcolm at school drop off before leaving him in the parking lot, imagining his late wife Jenny by his side.
He then heads back to his church, where he realizes he wants to return to ministry: “It’s been almost a year. I think it’s time.”
“Everyone has really missed you,” Lori reassures him over coffee. “Your sermons, your voice.”
“I lost my wife, and now I’m overloaded on widower sympathy,” Malcolm admits, as she teases, “I get it. The moms at school just want to gossip about me and rescue you.”
“Yeah, well, death trumps divorce,” he jokes.
Wonder Project/Youtube
Attempting to get back into a new normal, Malcolm goes out with his friend — and Lori’s ex-husband — David (J.R. Ramirez), who warns Malcolm to “try not to lead with preacher” when he approaches women in a bar.
“My wife’s dead,” Malcolm says instead, displaying his rusty flirting skills.
Meanwhile, Lori’s friend expresses concern about how much time she’s spending with Malcolm and his kids, but she notes that she “promised Jenny” she’d look after them.
“We’ve been getting closer,” Lori later acknowledges to Malcolm. “I don’t know if this feeling is because I’m lonely, or you miss Jenny.”
Wonder Project/Youtube
Their children are also struggling with their deepening relationship, with Penelope shouting, “We’re not going to just erase mom,” while Lori and David’s son Merritt (Caleb Baumann) quips, “I love how we’re supposed to just pick up where we left off like nothing’s happened.”
“We’re all so close, but it’s so fragile,” Lori notes, before David unexpectedly shows up to see the two families having dinner together.
“Focus on your own family,” he warns Malcolm.
Still, Malcolm feels he can’t let his feelings for Lori go. While leading a church service, he looks at her and declares, “I know that you need me, and I need you too.”
The trailer concludes with them meeting in the rain on a stormy night and walking away hand-in-hand.
“Sometimes life needs a fresh start,” a message on the screen reads.
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It’s Not Like That premieres with two episodes on Sunday, Jan. 25, on Wonder Project’s subscription on Prime Video in the U.S., with subsequent episodes of the eight-episode season debuting weekly thereafter.
