Manifest

Manifest is an intriguing story and a mix of many different things. If you like modern mystery, and adventure with a dash of the supernatural, you will like this series. It might confuse, confound or challenge you depending on where you are on the divide. It might also question your views on faith, belief, destiny, predestination, and the supernatural. This is because it attempts to glue so many things together - faith, religion, history, science, agnosticism, archeology, astronomy, philosophy, Egyptology, and lots more. What it does have going for it is the suspense and mystery which keeps viewers going back for more. In addition, this series shines a light on everyday issues as well as some of life's more perplexing mysteries.

About This Series

Manifest is a 2018 Supernatural drama TV series created by Jeff Rake. Originally aired on NBC, the show was canceled after three seasons before being picked up by Netflix where it topped the viewing charts. Netflix renewed the show for a fourth and final season expected to hit screens on 4th November 2022. The cast includes Melissa Roxburgh; Josh Dallas; Athena Karkanis; J.R. Ramirez; Luna Blaise; Jack Messina; Parveen Kaur, Matt Long, Daryl Edwards, and Elizabeth Marvel among others.

Synopsis

Montego Airways flight 828 leaves Jamaica but disappears from the radar and never lands at its destination in New York. In the air, the plane and passengers experience a brief period of major turbulence before continuing their journey. On landing, they are informed that their plane has been missing for five and a half years. At the center of all this is the Stone family. Ben, his son, Cal, and his sister Michaela were all on flight 828. The returned passengers face an uphill journey re-integrating into society while having to deal with secret government kidnappings and testings, 828xers (or haters); zealots, and general suspicions about their experiences and if they are really who they were before 'the return'. The passengers begin to experience voices and visions instructing them which they dub 'callings'. The callings appear to be aimed at helping people but sometimes human failings and elements serve to further complicate their current predicament and attract enemies. Ben and his family try to unravel the mysteries behind the disappearance of their plane while helping other passengers come to terms with what happened to them.

Social Relevance

This series discusses themes like Faith; Religion; Belief; Science; Fate, Destiny; Predestination; Miracles; Religious Fanaticism; The Supernatural as well as Family; Love and Relationships; Life and Death; Parenting; Work; Policing; Murder and Crime; Discrimination and Hate among other things.

Conclusion and Major Takeaways

As I said at the beginning, Manifest is an intriguing story that challenges generally held beliefs on religion, faith, fate, predestination, the supernatural, and many other issues. It combines elements of Christian faith, spiritualism, spiritism, mysticism, divination, and other belief systems (Quite a tall order since many of these belief systems do not necessarily mix). An example is the use of a favorite bible passage of Ben and Michaela's mum, 'All Things work for good'. Its use seems to support that everything including things that we don't understand and our own or others' actions (or inactions) work for our overall good. The full verse as found in the bible book of Romans 8: 28 reads, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose". It is tricky to separate the first part from the second as the entire verse is to be looked at from the angle of faith in God and His divine purpose.