On June 2, the popular sci-fi series Manifest concluded with the release of the remaining episodes of its fourth and final season on Netflix. The show, which was initially canceled by NBC in June 2021, found new life when Netflix picked it up in August 2021. The streaming giant ordered a “super-sized” final season, divided into two parts, to wrap up the mysterious journey of the passengers of Flight 828.
The first part of Manifest’s fourth season, released on November 4, 2022, picks up two years after the devastating murder of Grace (Athena Karkanis) in the season 3 finale. The passengers, grappling with their mysterious “callings,” uncover that their death date signifies a global apocalypse. The knowledge sparks a race against time, where the passengers must work together to find a way to save the world from imminent destruction.
Personal Struggles and Relationships
As the passengers fight to avert disaster, personal challenges continue to unfold. Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh) is overwhelmed with grief over her husband Zeke’s (Matt Long) death but finds solace in visions of him. These visions reveal key moments of their past, including a pivotal encounter at the airport before Flight 828’s original departure. Meanwhile, Michaela faces family turmoil as her father suffers a stroke, leading her to temporarily leave a detention facility with help from Jared (J.R. Ramirez).
Melissa Roxburgh as Michaela Stone and Josh Dallas as Ben Stone (Photo: Manifest/Warner Bros. Television)A major antagonist, Angelina (Holly Taylor), emerges in the second half of the final season. Believing she is an archangel, Angelina uses her sapphire powers to manipulate fellow passengers and forms a group that believes they will survive the apocalypse. As the death date looms closer, Cal (Ty Doran) discovers that he must sacrifice himself by merging his sapphire powers with Noah’s Ark to save everyone, leading to a dramatic series of events.
The Ultimate Test and the Flight’s Final Journey
In the final moments, the passengers are led back to Flight 828, which mysteriously reappears. As they board the plane, the passengers face a final test where some combust and turn to ash, while others manage to survive through repentance. After losing several passengers, including Angelina and her followers, the remaining passengers defeat the Angel of Death and continue their journey into the “glow,” ultimately arriving at their final destination.
The series finale brings an unexpected twist as the passengers return to 2013, the year when Flight 828 was supposed to land. Many deceased passengers and loved ones, including Grace and Karen, reappear, with no memory of the events that transpired. Cal returns to his younger self, offering a chance for Ben and Olive to relive their past. Michaela, despite her love for Jared, encourages him to move on with Drea, and a new chapter begins for the survivors, ending with a poignant voiceover from Michaela reflecting on the transformative journey they all experienced.
