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Prime Video is widening its faith-focused slate with a new family drama that centers on grief, parenting and the complex webs of community life. It’s Not Like That arrives as a thoughtful, character-driven series that uses Christianity as a moral backdrop rather than a sermon, and it asks how people rebuild after loss.
What the show is about and where it’s set
Set in Atlanta, the eight-episode season opens on the first day of school. The story orbits around Malcolm, a pastor navigating widowhood while leading Grace Community Church. He must also manage the delicate emotional landscape of his three children. Across the street, his late wife’s closest friend is trying to stand back up after a sudden rupture in her family life.
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Main players and their dynamics
Principal cast and roles
- Scott Foley as Malcolm, the steady pastor and father.
- Erinn Hayes as Lori, Jenny’s best friend and Malcolm’s emotional counterpart.
- Leven Miranda as Flora, the eldest child carrying responsibility and grief.
- Cassidy Paul as Penelope, a middle-schooler wrestling with changing friendships.
- Cary Christopher as Justin, a young culinary talent facing school troubles.
- J. R. Ramirez as David, the ex-husband who complicates relationships by remaining present.
- Supporting teens include Caleb Baumann and Liv Lindell in key roles as well.
How grief shapes each character
The series examines mourning through multiple vantage points. Teenagers and adults react in different, sometimes messy ways. Instead of smoothing over pain, the writers let characters show anger, withdrawal and confusion.
- One teen channels pain into self-destructive behavior.
- Another isolates from the church and needs space to process faith.
- A younger child keeps problems private to shield a grieving parent.
The evolving relationship at the center
Malcolm and Lori grow closer as caretakers and allies. Their chemistry is quiet and believable. The writing avoids melodrama by allowing their bond to unfold through small moments.
- They offer practical help and emotional support.
- They struggle with whether friendship should become something more.
- Complicating matters: David remains a part of the kids’ lives.
Parenting choices and how the show handles them
What stands out is the show’s approach to guiding children after trauma. Adults in the series resist authoritarian fixes. They choose patience and dialogue instead. That restraint makes scenes about discipline and faith feel earned.
Examples in the storytelling include:
- Allowing a teen to decide whether to return to church.
- Giving space for two girls to resolve their conflict without adults stepping in immediately.
- Confronting addiction and marital breakdown as ongoing, complex problems.
Faith as an anchor, not a lecture
The show treats Christianity as a lived reality rather than a broadcasting platform. Characters reference beliefs, rituals and church life, but those elements never become tools to exclude viewers. The series invites viewers of varying faiths to relate to its core questions.
Discussions about alcohol, sex and other religions appear naturally. One of Malcolm’s close friends is an imam, and that presence broadens the conversation about community and belief.
Tonality, pacing and why it feels different
It’s Not Like That resists tidy moralizing. The pace favors quiet, character-led beats over headline drama. The show leans into everyday moments to reveal inner life.
- Scenes are grounded and often intimate.
- Emotional beats land because the show allows them room to breathe.
- Humor and tenderness puncture heavier moments, keeping the tone balanced.
When and where to watch
All eight episodes of It’s Not Like That premiere on May 15 on Prime Video.
