Manifest Season 1 Episode 15: Hard Landing Review

For our review of last episode of Manifest, click here.

Synopsis: Michaela meets the mysterious James Griffin during a police investigation, and the passengers learn what happens when the callings fall in the wrong hands. Meanwhile, Jared finds out about Zeke, setting him at odds with Michaela and her trust in the callings. (TVGuide)

Writers: Gregory Nelson & Bobak Esfarjani

Director: Claudia Yarmy

Rating: TV-14

Running Time: 43mins

Airs: Mondays at 10pm on CityTV (Canada)/NBC (United States)

“Hard Landing”starts off with explaining what happened to the submerged truck. Robbers hit an armoured truck and the driver shot two his accomplices before racing off. While the medics are trying to take him to a different hospital, Michaela convinces them to bring him to Saanvi’s hospital. Michaela calls Ben with information and a photo prompting him and Zeke to head to the hospital as well. Jared confronts Michaela about the man and she reveals the truth about Zeke.

They learn that the man was submerged for 82 hours and 8 minutes, the same number as the flight. Suddenly he awakes in a frantic state having his first Calling about deaths and destruction. Michaela and Saanvi try to get answers, but the hospital staff sedate him. The team reconvene and discuss what the logic is behind James Griffin, a convicted felon, being brought back. Michaela decides she wants to question Griffin when he wakes up, but not before an awkward conversation with Jared and Zeke.

Griffin awakes and Michaela immediately starts to talk with him. She reveals everything about her, Flight 828 and the Callings hoping to learn more, but James is a bit lucid. He realizes that he is the only one that can stop this tragedy and wants to use this information as a get-out-of-jail-free card. Lucky, Michaela convinces her captain to give her some time with Griffin. She calls Ben to look into Griffin and find some personal information on him for leverage.

Things get a bit worse when Cody, the conspiracy theorist Ben confronted, posts a viral video about Griffin and Ben. The Stones dig into Griffin’s background and learn that he lost a brother. They find a woman that connects her and hope that she might have some information for them. Michaela brings up Devin Carrick to Griffin who becomes instantly hostile. Meanwhile, Saanvi is not doing well at work as she’s reeling with the trauma of her hostage situation. Doctor Matthews, a colleague at the hospital, asks if she is doing alright, but she brushes it off.

Zeke gets in a bit of trouble when he’s caught attempting to break into a townhouse. Michaela pleads that Jared let him go to avoid revealing him to the press. With Carrick’s file, Michaela confronts Griffin. Turns out he took a deal to frame his friend during a botched robbery. When he died in prison, Griffin felt responsible and this is his way to find peace. Suddenly, Michaela is pulled away from her interrogation because the Attorney has made a deal for Griffin.

Grace confronts Griffin’s foster mother who reveals she believes Griffin does not deserve to be saved. Ben checks in on Saanvi to make sure she’s alright. While she casts his concerns aside, she reveals that Griffin has the same blood marker. She doesn’t believe they were a miracle, but it’s something much much worse. As Michaela gets nothing from Griffin, she leaves the interrogation room to the growls of a wolf. She confronts Zeke in lockup where he explains the house was his mother’s. He hoped to find answers there and convinces Michaela that he isn’t like Griffin. Jared questions her decision, but she scoffs at his remarks and leaves with Zeke.

Ben sits at home questioning everything when Grace gives him an epiphany. The Callings are given to people and they ultimately have a choice to use it for good or evil. Cue the montage of catching up with the characters: Cal and Olive make a Popsicle stick dragon, Zeke returns to his mother’s home and rings the doorbell and Jared uses Zeke’s cup to get a sample of his DNA. Michaela confronts Griffin about his abuse of the Callings, but he doesn’t care. He just wants to go free. He gives the bomb’s location to the authorities as police swarm Times Square. They approach a lone hot dog vendor where the bomb has been planted. They manage to diffuse the bomb, but Michaela continues to see the wolf who growls and runs off.

Captain’s Log

• How many other aftershocks were there?
• Why is the Wolf still there?
• Are Fiona and Captain Daly really dead?
• What is the Major’s plan?
• Will Lourdes ever return?
• Who else will we meet from the manifest?
• When will Danny return?

Overall, Hard Landing was an alright penultimate episode. The expansion of the people experiencing the Callings makes this much more than just a single incident story. With little to no information regarding the cause, it continues to be a major mystery. However, the lack of progression with any major revelations has started to make this premise a little stale. The character drama which helped make this show a good blend of sci-fi and drama has taken a backseat. This has caused the characters to feel like they’re just going through the motions. Hopefully Manifest can focus more on the character-driven stories going forward and stop feeling like it’s walking in place.

Score: 7/10

What did you think of “Hard Landing”? What big cliffhanger do you expect from the finale? Let me know in the comments below!

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