By the end of season two of Manifest, the passengers of flight 828 – which returned five years after disappearing between Jamaica and New York – are no nearer to discovering what happened to them than at the beginning of the first episode, but they have had to endure the sinister attentions of the US government, attempt to decipher enigmatic visions they’ve dubbed “callings,” and encountered others who’ve seemingly returned from the dead to finish their business.
As season three begins, Ben and Vance are in Cuba to investigate an airplane tailfin fished out of the Caribbean which appears to belong to flight 828, which is strange because the plane landed intact in New York two years before. Meanwhile, Doctor Saanvi Bahl’s gambit to make the mysterious Major reveal what she knows about the passengers has resulted in the Major’s death, and there’s still no sign of the three escaped criminals who were determined to kill young Cal but ended up disappearing into the icy waters of a Catskills lake…
Yes, it’s complicated stuff, and you may need to check out seasons one and two on Netflix before attempting to unravel this particular Gordian Knot, but it’s a worthwhile endeavour if you’re a fan of Lost-style mystery boxes. With this season adding more theological puzzles to the mix – as well as an overuse of the word “lifeboat” – there may be a little testing of the patience, but overall the thirteen-episode run adds to the appeal of the show rather than wear it away.
It’s gutting, then, that NBC has wielded the cancellation axe, but with a rabid fanbase clamouring for more, there’s still hope the creators of Manifest might get to stick the landing after all.
Season 3 of MANIFEST is currently airing on Sky, with episodes available to stream via NowTV
