Wonder Project’s It’s Not Like That is the rare TV series that brings people together. Not in the sense of this trend or that ship, but the kind of show that almost anyone can connect with. It might be a little warm and fuzzy around the edges, but that makes it a welcome alternative for anyone looking for more comforting entertainment.

It’s no surprise that series creators Ian Deitchman and Kristin Robinson previously worked on Ordinary Joe and Parenthood—two series that are clearly in this show’s DNA. All three programs share themes of family, unexpected love, and community. All of them have characters who are deeply human, even when some of them are frustrating. The creators’ intent to leave viewers in a good place comes through in every scene, and if it’s a little obvious sometimes, that’s understandable.

It’s Not Like That follows the parallel (and intertwined) families of Lori Soto and Pastor Malcolm Jeffries. Almost a year before the show began, Malcolm lost his wife Jenny to cancer. Then several months later, Lori was blindsided by her husband David ending their 17-year marriage. The duo are navigating their shared losses together, along with their kids, who are also connected in various ways. The teenage drama is the part of the show that takes the longest to gel; at first, it’s pretty typical stuff about mean girls and wanting space from their parents.

But what happens with Lori, Malcolm and David is where It’s Not Like That lives, at least initially. It’s particularly fantastic to see Erinn Hayes as Lori, because she played the typical TV wife in Kevin Can Wait. Lori is the exact opposite of that. She’s a wife and a mother, and she juggles the complicated kids and the annoying ex-husband, but she also gets to develop on her own. Hayes is wonderful in a pivotal scene in which Lori just has to escape all those pressures and be an individual for a few minutes. And that character might not have worked so well without an actor who knows what audiences expect, and thus is able to build upon that with something unique.

Scott Foley is likewise whom audiences would expect to see in the role of Malcolm. Viewers have been seeing him as the “nice guy” ever since he was on Felicity. But Foley—who also serves as an executive producer on It’s Not Like That—is able to use that to his advantage. Malcolm is the nicest human being imaginable, and Foley’s ability to make that genuine instead of cheesy means that numerous jokes about things going over Malcolm’s head actually land. Credit is also due to J.R. Martinez as David because David is the most frustrating character, but he’s never entirely unlikeable. For every moment where viewers want to roll their eyes at his newly single behavior, there’s another where he opens up about not knowing entirely why he left his family.

Malcolm being a pastor does mean there is a religious and faith element to the storytelling, but It’s Not Like That weaves it in in such a way that it isn’t off-putting to those who may not have faith. The church is its own layer to Malcolm’s character; as his youngest child Justin points out, his whole career is about talking to and helping other people, but who’s supposed to be there to help him? How does he handle that sort of contradiction? The idea of taking care of others when you really have to take care of yourself is something everyone can relate to.

This is not a series that throws a ton of narrative curveballs; audiences will recognize staples of the family drama, such as kids interrupting at the worst times and an underscore with emotional music swells. But it isn’t trying to surprise; it’s just trying to tell a good, heartwarming story and in that it succeeds. These are characters whom audiences want to spend their time with, and as much as Malcolm talks about community within his church, viewers get a sense of that within the show. Between this and Best Medicine on FOX, people looking for comfort TV have two excellent options.

It’s Not Like That is charming, thoughtful and open-hearted. It may not have the most dramatic plot twists or any big viral moments, but that’s why it works. It’s simply about people connecting with each other, be it the characters finding their connections or Deitchman and Robinson taking pains to connect each character to the audience. Anyone who’s looking to be uplifted, or feel less alone, or just feel better has a place to land here.

It’s Not Like That premieres Sunday, Jan. 25 on Wonder Project on Prime Video. Photo Credit: Steve Dietl/Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios.

Article content is (c)2020-2026 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.