ive years after reappearing on the face of the earth, the passengers of Flight 828 made their final descent in Netflix’s Manifest Season 4 Part 2.

Manifest, a supernatural drama television series created by Jeff Rake, premiered on September 24, 2018, on NBC. It was cancelled by the network after three seasons, leaving its fans in limbo before Netflix came to its rescue.

The streaming service gave it a fourth and final season, which was split into two parts. Part 1 premiered in November 2022 with 10 episodes, and Part 2 (the final ten episodes) dropped on June 2, 2023, which is also referred to as the death date in the show.

The show centres on the passengers and crew of a commercial airliner (Flight number 828) who suddenly reappear after being presumed dead for five and a half years. On their return, they go through difficult times as they receive audio-visual clues that connect them.

These “callings,” as they call them, help them stop crimes, rescue victims and do good in the society. However, with government agencies watching their every move and even abducting some of them for experiments, they become increasingly divided and isolated from the world.

The last part starts when most of them have been detained at a centre that resembles a nice jail. Meanwhile, they have figured out that the end of the world is near, and they need to work together to prevent it from happening.

Simultaneously, there are evil characters like Angelina in the play. She believes that she is a modern-day Noah and will lead the new world. Throughout the journey, they have learned several things about one another, their pasts, and their morals, only to discover that on Judgment Day the passengers will be judged collectively. Even when that day arrives, how that happens remains confusing.

Manifest boasts a diverse and well-developed ensemble cast that brings depth and authenticity to the story. The Stone family, at the heart of the series, is portrayed with exceptional performances by Melissa Roxburgh as the resolute and compassionate Michaela Stone and Josh Dallas as the conflicted and determined Ben Stone.

Supporting characters such as Cal Stone, played by Jack Messina and Saanvi Bahl, portrayed by Parveen Kaur, make significant contributions to the narrative, each grappling with their unique challenges and discoveries.

With a strong start and compelling storyline, multidimensional characters and suspenseful twists, Manifest began with promise but eventually fell into the category of “not too good but fun to watch.” When Netflix renewed it, the hope was that we would be able to bring closure to the complex story. Unfortunately, that was not the case. The show didn’t evolve into an unsolvable mystery for the audience. Rather, it turned into a treasure hunt where the clues seemed to be randomly created at every turn, lacking a coherent sense in hindsight.

With its strong start and compelling storyline, multidimensional characters and suspenseful twists, Manifest had begun with promise. However, it eventually fell into the category of “not too good but fun to watch.”

When Netflix renewed it, the hope was that we would be able to bring closure to the complex story. Unfortunately, that was not the case. The show didn’t evolve into an unsolvable mystery for the audience. Rather, it turned into a treasure hunt where the clues seemed to be created randomly created, at every turn, lacking a coherent sense in hindsight.

The regular viewers of the show became familiar with the emergence of mythical symbols and illustrations throughout the series. For instance, three of the ten Biblical Plagues of Egypt appeared for some reason but faded away with little to no consequences for anyone.

Among the passengers, we encountered a wide range of characters, from good to evil, from victims to murderers. However, by the end, the few individuals who faced the consequences of these incidents displayed minimal impactful reactions, raising the question of why these events were included in the first place. If it were possible to replace every reference to the Bible with an intriguing B plotline, it would have been a much more worthwhile trade.

The creators skillfully wove an intricate web of unanswered questions, leaving audiences yearning for more. However, towards the end, the show became dull and slow-paced. It somehow reminded one of the old series, Lost, which began with greatness but concluded in a way that is still discussed.

While this is decisively not the worst ending in the history of TV shows, as someone who was intrigued by the premise, the ending felt rushed and focused on providing a feel-good factor. It was a rather straightforward and predictable conclusion, lacking the ability to lead the audience to their own individual conclusions.

From a technical standpoint, Manifest impresses with its high production values. The visual effects are seamlessly integrated, particularly in portraying the surreal and supernatural elements of the series. The sound design and music also play a crucial role in setting the tone and intensifying the emotional impact of key moments.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment lies with the viewers themselves. Despite a successful campaign to revive the show, the positive anticipation quickly gives way to the reality of what we actually receive in this series. The meandering and underwhelming show ultimately concludes in a disappointing manner, rendering all of Netflix’s efforts to revive it seemingly futile.

The writer is a digital communication expert and consultant currently working in the public sector. He is the mastermind behind the digital platforms, Sukhan, Mani’s Cricket Myths and Over The Line