SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for It’s Not Like That Season 1, Episode 6.

As It’s Not Like That winds down its first season, it’s time for the Wonder Project series to resolve some of its back and forth. There’s only so long that the show can play “will they, won’t they” with its characters, and so Episode 6 is the right time to pick a side. It’s not the side that viewers will necessarily be happy about, but the series is making choices and in enough time to deal with the fallout.

“Love Baskets” is a locked-room episode, three times over. Malcolm Jeffries and Lori Soto are stuck together at a church “lock-in” event, which forces them to confront their unresolved feelings for one another. Malcolm’s daughter Pen and Lori’s daughter Grace become trapped in a back room of the church, so they finally have it out over no longer being best friends. And Lori’s son Merritt and Malcolm’s daughter Flora are left alone at home. Some of these stories work better than others, but all the characters start to shed the baggage they’ve been carrying around since the series premiere.

This is crucially important, because so many TV shows love that “will they, won’t they” dynamic. There are reasons it’s now baked into a lot of series, because it creates something for people to talk about. But it only lasts for so long—at a certain point, those excited fans get tired of waiting. They can even get frustrated if writers start to contrive forced reasons not to get to a resolution. It’s Not Like That doesn’t provide any clear answers in “Love Baskets,” but viewers can see the finish line.

The most important is obviously the argument between Malcolm and Lori, as Lori admits that she’s jealous of Malcolm’s relationship with his new girlfriend Grace. She goes so far as to tell him later that they’re “codependent” and need to “take a break” from one another. Fans know this won’t last, since that would undercut the whole premise of the show, but it’s still important that they’re being honest about what viewers have known all along. And it’s a testament to the work of actors Scott Foley and Erinn Hayes that the audience is still sad when Lori decides to put some distance between herself and Malcolm. That, honestly, would have been a stronger beat to end this episode on than where it finishes.

The Pen and Casey squabble takes a while to gain momentum, yet it hits hard when Pen tells Casey that “you sucked when my mom died.” It’s one of the most honest expressions of emotion in this storyline, and it’s an interesting idea to think about. As much as grieving is different for everyone, is there a right way to support someone who is grieving, or is that different too? This scene is more meaningful than the bullying subplot that initially defined Casey and Pen’s relationship.

Some folks may be upset about how Merritt breaks things off with Flora, not only so quickly but without any real justification, and that’s a valid response to the weakest of the stories. It does, however, include a great scene for J.R. Ramirez in which David has a serious talk with his son about the potential relationship. It’s nice to be reminded that David has his own important place in this world, and isn’t just the wayward ex that Lori has to put up with, as he would be on other shows. There’s a lot more going with Merritt that obviously plays into this subplot, but it isn’t as well-conveyed as some of the other stories.

But despite the varying degrees of effectiveness, “Love Baskets” is a solid effort from It’s Not Like That to get its characters to a place of growth and resolution by the time the season ends. Two episodes is just enough time to take the reveals here and explore what becomes of them, because the consequences (both good and bad) do need to be explored. Ultimately, the episode feels very human, and that’s always been the best thing about this show.

It’s Not Like That streams Thursdays 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.