Manifest – Connecting Flights

By: Luke Joseph

The world spins madly on. That’s what those who lost their loved ones on Flight 828 where quick to learn. That even though tragedy and loss happens the world doesn’t stop. You have to find the strength to pick yourself up, move on and possibly let go. In this episode the audience finally gets to see the POV from Grace, Olive and Jared and what they went through during a time they believed they had lost the ones they loved. However, first we are gifted with a flashback of them on their returning flight from Jamaica to New York. Upon arrival, Olive is more than eager to reunite with Cal because they’ve never been away from each other for this long. She insists on waiting for their flight, but Grace decides to show her the arrival’s board, so she can see just how long they’d be waiting. The board reads that Flight 828 won’t arrive for another few hours, but suddenly changes to “see agent” causing red flags to go off. Meanwhile, Jared is venting to Lourdes about how he never should have proposed to Michaela because he knows she’s going to tell him no, but Lourdes believes otherwise. Their conversation is put on hold when Grace calls to let him know what is going on, which is enough for them to head to the airport in hopes to find answers. 

In present day Ben (Josh Dallas) is making his feelings known about how they are harboring the fugitive Thomas (Sheldon Best). He refuses to help or vouch for them because he won’t risk going to jail and losing more time with his loved ones. The siblings though aren’t seeing eye to eye, but rather than cause more trouble Bethany (Mugga) volunteers to take Thomas away. “These callings are dangerous,” Ben tells Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh) because he believes they are doing more harm than good. “Go ahead, sabotage your life, but don’t ask me to blow a hole in mine,” and just like that he’s turns around only to be stopped when he hears “it’s all connected.” Michaela recognizes his look instantly, but it’s still not enough to make him stay as he walks away and leaves his sister behind.

Vance (Daryl Edwards) is determined to locate Thomas but he’s not having luck. A little light at the end of the tunnel shows itself when it’s revealed to him that Thomas had assistance boarding and exiting the plane and now Vance knows the flight attendant Bethany might have some part in this. He also learns that Saanvi (Parveen Kaur) had hospital access to where Thomas had broken out, which is enough for him to demand these women be brought to him immediately. 

For Ben today is all about Cal (Jack Messina) wanting to share some father and son bonding time. He wants them to be masters of their own destiny, causing him to flip a coin that results in them heading to Coney Island. As soon as they are out the door Grace (Athena Karkanis) gets a call from Danny (Daniel Sunjata) that she ignores, but he’s not giving up as he sends text after text requesting she meet with him yet she’s dodging him. 

This is when we get our first flashback. It’s six months after the disappearance of Flight 828. Grace is a mess, staying in bed and not taking care of herself. Instead, it’s her daughter that seems to have taken on the role of being mom. She’s doing the best that she can to provide for her mom and it’s then when Grace finds herself finally having a wakeup call. “Pull yourself together,” she scolds herself after looking at her broken reflection. Meanwhile, Jared and Lourdes (J.R. Ramirez and Victoria Cartagena) are having a difficult time accepting the fact that they lost their third amiga, but after looking at some pictures of the three of them and thinking of the good times it’s enough for them to experience a moment of joy. “Remember her and laugh, that way she’ll live forever,” Mama Stone (Geraldine Leer) explains to the both of them. 

It’s never easy saying goodbye, not only to your husband but your child as well. Grace found herself in a support group where surprise, surprise she ended up meeting Danny who was also a widow. She explains to the group how she feels like she has no one left until she’s reminded of the reason why she’s there in the first place, which is because Olive (Luna Blaise) had encouraged her mom to seek out help. The more she opens up the more we all feel her pain. She’s broken, and it doesn’t help that those around her tell her how she looks great. She knows it’s not true, but they’re doing it to not only lift her spirits but also because they pity her. “Sometimes I wish someone would just say to me, gee Grace you look like hell,” she confessed. That someone ends up turning out to be Danny, who later approaches her after the session. To others they might have viewed a comment like that as an insult, but it’s what Grace had been desperate to hear and it’s enough to draw a smile from her – something she hasn’t done in a very long time. 

Again, the audience is given another flashback and it’s two years after the disappearance. Jared and Lourdes are meeting up for drinks to celebrate his promotion. What happens when you lose the third musketeer? You lean on the second one and that’s exactly what happens between when they decide maybe something romantic can be found between the two of them. Back at the Stone house Olive is making it crystal clear that she wants nothing to do with Grace and her new “friend” Danny. He’s willing to leave, but Grace believes that he’s not only a good fit for her but Olive as well. During dinner Danny tries to warm up to Olive, but she’s not having it causing her to storm out but not entirely. As her mom serves Danny another plate of meatloaf, that he absolutely hates but eats, she sees that this man is causing her mom to smile. It is the same man that presently is standing at her doorstep because he needs to talk to her. “I know I’m not her real dad but for three years I’m all she’s had,” he tells Grace. Eventually he can get over her, but moving on from Olive (someone for three years he had been a father to) is something he doesn’t think he can do. 

Ever since taking the fall for Michaela, Jared has been doing everything in his power to protect her. It’s suggested by his delegate that he rat out Michaela and let her take the fall because his job is on the line but he’s not biting. When Michaela confronts him on it he tells her not to worry and enjoy her day off. The day off results in her heading to see Lourdes where she tells her how Jared had taken the fall for her and she needs her help so that he doesn’t mess up his career. This is news to Lourdes though because Jared hadn’t shared it with her and even though she’s hurt she’s not blaming Michaela for it. After her visit she heads over to her father’s (Malachy Cleary) house telling him how she not only misses her mom but spotted one of her mother’s afghan’s at Jared and Lourdes’s house. “Being there was like looking at the life that wasn’t mine,” she tells her dad and then admits how she was planning to say yes to Jared. Rather than tell her to move on he encourages her to fight for Jared. This time the flashback is three years after the disappearance as Jared is gifted with the afghan that was made by Michaela’s mom. It’s her way of giving her blessing to both Jared and Lourdes. “I’m going to be with her soon,” she says speaking of her cancer, “and I want to tell her that he’s okay.” 

Back with the masters of their own destiny they enjoy a day at the carnival by playing games, going on rides and pigging out on food. All thanks to the coin. However, Ben keeps hearing a voice telling him “it’s all connected,” but he’s still opting to ignore it. When the coin decides it’s time to go home, Cal suggests they take the train and keep it random and though Ben is hesitant he agrees. On the train Ben in in protective mode when passengers recognize who they are asking for pictures, but Cal ignores it as he gets off at a random spot saying it’s part of the game as Cal runs off causing Ben to chase him. Not liking what is happening he calls “game over,” but Cal reassures him saying, “Don’t worry dad, it’s all connected” – matching exactly what the voice has been telling him. Continuing to chase his son through a subway station, Ben watches in horror as Cal climbs through a vent but things are about to get crazier because it turns out that vent leads directly to Thomas and Cal knows exactly who he is. He can’t understand how Cal knows all of this without actually knowing. It’s at this moment when Ben realizes he’s involved now whether he likes it or not. Ben is a little surprised that Thomas is still there until Thomas expresses his worry about Bethany because it’s been hours and she hasn’t come by yet. It turns out Vance ended up arresting her and has brought her in for questioning; however, if she’s cooperates she won’t have to worry about jail time. Vance is really out there working his magic because rather than Jared losing his job his punishment is ten days without pay. He still wants information about Michaela and if he doesn’t comply…Well, we aren’t sure what’s going to happen but it’s not good. 

Meanwhile, back at the boiler room, Cal rushes over to Ben demanding that they need to go now. Someone is coming and though Thomas encourages them to leave Cal insists they wait because he believes it’s a friend. He’s right because it’s Georgia (Eva Kaminsky), Bethany’s wife. She’s quick to tell them how Bethany has been arrested, but she’s here to take Thomas and bring him somewhere safe. This is it the last flashback of the night when all their loved ones find out that Flight 828 has returned. The happy bubble between Jared and Lourdes pops when he tells her Michaela is back. Grace watches her TV in awe as she lets it sink in that she will be having a second chance with her husband and son, causing a heartbroken embrace to happen with Danny and the girls. Back in the present Grace accepts that Danny is still going to be a part of Olive’s life because Olive still views him as her dad. While they bond, Michaela meets up with Ben as he explains to her how he tried to breakaway, but Cal brought him back. “I can’t walk away now,” he reveals to her as they each look over the board still trying to piece together this mystery. As the episode closes we are given one final shot of Flight 828 as the passengers all seem to be asleep, but a bright light white draws Cal awake as he looks out the window. “It’s all connected,” he whispers making us want to shout out at our screens. 

“Manifest” returns on November 5th and, hopefully, with it the answers we’ve all been waiting for.