Manifest tv show (spoiler alert)

[caramel]

I just finished the tv show Manifest on Netflix. The last 10 episodes were put up in June 2023. I just got to them

For anyone who hasn't watched the show, this thread might be filled with spoilers, so don't read on if you want to watch it fresh.

Anyone else want to discuss Manifest?

That ending was mind-blowing to me. After I watched it, I sat in stunned silence for a long time. Then I went to look at what others online were saying about it. It was pretty interesting what others had to say, so I'm starting this thread to see if anyone here wants to talk about it.

On Reddit, the Angelina hate was really high. I hadn't really thought about it. But the actress must have been very good to get that much hate.

The ending with Michaela was great. I saw some youtube videos with the cast talking about the ending. The actress who played Michaela liked the ending because it gave her the upper hand. I liked it too, but it was a little mind-bendy.

The family reunion at the end was really unexpected. In the beginning, it felt like the passengers lost time. In the end, it felt like they gained time.

 

[Marie5656]

I no longer have Netflix, but am thinking of restarting it.....just need to pay down some more bills first. I remember Manfest

 

[OneEyedDiva]

Both my oldest grandson and I were Manifest fans. I believe @feywon was too. My grandson saw the series finale before I did and of course did not want to spoil it for me so all he said is that he felt the ending was satisfying. I agree. Just the other day, I saw a promo or something for a movie, probably on one of my many streaming channels but forgot which. The premise was very much like Manifest and I'm pretty sure the movie came out before Manifest.

I understand the hate directed at Angelina; after all...look at the chaos and pain she caused. "at the end was really unexpected. In the beginning, it felt like the passengers lost time. In the end, it felt like they gained time." Interesting POV. I just felt like their lives were reset, if that makes sense. You want to talk about "mind-bendy" finales....did you ever watch Lost? That finale had people trippin'.

 

[feywon]

Yes, i did watch finale episode and had mixed feelings about the it but then i'm one those people who would reject life choice do-overs. We need to learn from mistakes and sometimes some of the tough stuff leads positive experiences, or helps you make better choices which save you from bigger difficulties.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

Yes, i did watch finale episode and had mixed feelings about the it but then i'm one those people who would reject life choice do-overs. We need to learn from mistakes and sometimes some of the tough stuff leads positive experiences, or helps you make better choices which save you from bigger difficulties.

Many of the returnees' situations were cause and effect of what was done to them (for the most part). Why did you have mixed feelings? Can you explain those feelings?

 

[caramel]

You want to talk about "mind-bendy" finales....did you ever watch Lost? That finale had people trippin'.

Yes, that was one of the first shows I got "lost" in. heh. I binge watched all of Lost in several days. I wasn't as bothered by the ending as other people were. Lost was just so surreal that an ending wasn't going to be able to bring it all together because of all the surreal parts.

I watched a youtube with one of the directors of Manifest. He said they wanted to make the ending be realistic meaning that it all really happened, not like some shows where the whole thing was a dream. Everyone was supposed to have lived all of it. That's why the passengers still had their memories, except for Cal.

Some people said that it was lucky Cal didn't have to deal with those memories and can get a fresh start in life. Some people said that it's sad he doesn't have those memories to guide him.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

Yes, that was one of the first shows I got "lost" in. heh. I binge watched all of Lost in several days. I wasn't as bothered by the ending as other people were. Lost was just so surreal that an ending wasn't going to be able to bring it all together because of all the surreal parts.

I watched a youtube with one of the directors of Manifest. He said they wanted to make the ending be realistic meaning that it all really happened, not like some shows where the whole thing was a dream. Everyone was supposed to have lived all of it. That's why the passengers still had their memories, except for Cal.

Some people said that it was lucky Cal didn't have to deal with those memories and can get a fresh start in life. Some people said that it's sad he doesn't have those memories to guide him.

Interesting that you saw that video. They obviously took great care in writing the finale. They knew it was going to be the last season and that gave them time to wrap it up right. Isn't it something how we get so wrapped up in the characters and what happens to them even though we know they aren't real?!

 

[feywon]

Many of the returnees' situations were cause and effect of what was done to them (for the most part). Why did you have mixed feelings? Can you explain those feelings?

Ok, this may be long. I first considered rewatching the last half of the last episode when i saw original post to be sure i was remembering it correctly because i realized my own feelings and unusual experiences may have influenced my reactions to it to the point i didn't remember accurately. One of things i felt they got very right was that real life each person will have their own reactions o living thru extraordinary events. Some become more open, some more guarded.

This morning when i saw your comment i knew i had to rewatch the part i was unsure of and i just have. The first time, despite the issues i had, i basically felt it was a satisfactory ending, tho it did NOT touch my emotions as deeply that first time, tho i 'cry for happy' as easily as for pain, tragedy both in life and when reading or watching fiction. Still kind of processing it. So this will probably be less organized than i'd like to be.

Now i'm even more ambivalent about the ending from both a story perspective and for personal reasons. Also on one level i tell myself 'It is Sci-fi/fantasy, they can make up their own rules.' On another level i feel some of their ending choices seemed mostly for sake of what they thought the audience would perceive as 'happy'. On yet another level it triggered feelings about something i'd thought long since relegated to being a 'safe' memory.

Let's start with returnees' situations being 'cause & effect' (on both returns). Aren't everyone's? Not just due to what happens to us but how we respond, both internally and externally to the events of our lives. What is more, much of what happens to us is an effect of choices we've made.

I suspect over time some of the returnees especially those whose experiences in the years between the two returns were mostly 'negative' (the prejudices and hostile actions towards them) and did not have the positive 'calling' experiences will choose to view the experience as a delusion, and will withdraw from associating with other returnees.

I was disappointed in the too easy 'happy ending' for Cal-- not that he would get cured, but them framing his not remembering as being a good thing. Cal was 'special' perhaps in part because he was having to confront physical morality at an early age. Personally i think the memories would surface in time. Perhaps in dreams first and then maybe while awake. Much the way any suppressed memories return (including past lives ones).

One could do a whole other movie or series about returnees who seem to think they will be able to recreate the good experiences of that inserted 5+ years of their lives and avoid the negative ones. Sometimes it is getting thru negative experiences together that bonds people in good ways.

If Ben and Grace do conceive a third child that child may differ from the one Ben and Micheala remember because the whole family will be 'different' and families do influence who we become. Somehow i think Aunt Mick will be able to accept the new child easier than Dad from what we saw of his personality.

(SIGH)...

More may occur to me, but right now i need to spend some time processing the personal stuff. Here's the thing about memories and consciousness--we often have to readjust reframe what we tell ourselves about our lives when we get additional info about things that happened. Especially things from our earliest decades of life because children and teens are not always privy to all the facts at the time.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

Ok, this may be long. I first considered rewatching the last half of the last episode when i saw original post to be sure i was remembering it correctly because i realized my own feelings and unusual experiences may have influenced my reactions to it to the point i didn't remember accurately. One of things i felt they got very right was that real life each person will have their own reactions o living thru extraordinary events. Some become more open, some more guarded.

This morning when i saw your comment i knew i had to rewatch the part i was unsure of and i just have. The first time, despite the issues i had, i basically felt it was a satisfactory ending, tho it did NOT touch my emotions as deeply that first time, tho i 'cry for happy' as easily as for pain, tragedy both in life and when reading or watching fiction. Still kind of processing it. So this will probably be less organized than i'd like to be.

Now i'm even more ambivalent about the ending from both a story perspective and for personal reasons. Also on one level i tell myself 'It is Sci-fi/fantasy, they can make up their own rules.' On another level i feel some of their ending choices seemed mostly for sake of what they thought the audience would perceive as 'happy'. On yet another level it triggered feelings about something i'd thought long since relegated to being a 'safe' memory.

Let's start with returnees' situations being 'cause & effect' (on both returns). Aren't everyone's? Not just due to what happens to us but how we respond, both internally and externally to the events of our lives. What is more, much of what happens to us is an effect of choices we've made.

I suspect over time some of the returnees especially those whose experiences in the years between the two returns were mostly 'negative' (the prejudices and hostile actions towards them) and did not have the positive 'calling' experiences will choose to view the experience as a delusion, and will withdraw from associating with other returnees.

I was disappointed in the too easy 'happy ending' for Cal-- not that he would get cured, but them framing his not remembering as being a good thing. Cal was 'special' perhaps in part because he was having to confront physical morality at an early age. Personally i think the memories would surface in time. Perhaps in dreams first and then maybe while awake. Much the way any suppressed memories return (including past lives ones).

One could do a whole other movie or series about returnees who seem to think they will be able to recreate the good experiences of that inserted 5+ years of their lives and avoid the negative ones. Sometimes it is getting thru negative experiences together that bonds people in good ways.

If Ben and Grace do conceive a third child that child may differ from the one Ben and Micheala remember because the whole family will be 'different' and families do influence who we become. Somehow i think Aunt Mick will be able to accept the new child easier than Dad from what we saw of his personality.

(SIGH)...

More may occur to me, but right now i need to spend some time processing the personal stuff. Here's the thing about memories and consciousness--we often have to readjust reframe what we tell ourselves about our lives when we get additional info about things that happened. Especially things from our earliest decades of life because children and teens are not always privy to all the facts at the time.

Thank you for taking the time to rewatch parts and further explaining your feelings about the finale. As usual, you go deep my dear friend.