NBC

MANIFEST: “Reentry” Roundtable

By Rueben | October 3, 2018

The new NBC drama Manifest debuted last week, focusing on what happens when Montego Air Flight 828 landed safely after a turbulent but routine flight. But in the span of those few hours, the world had aged five years and after mourning their loss, their friends, families and colleagues had given up hope and moved on. Now, faced with the impossible, they’re all given a second chance. But as their new realities become clear, a deeper mystery unfolds, and some of the returned passengers soon realize they may be meant for something greater than they ever thought possible.

Last week, the Nice Girls, using our new ratings system known as SASS – S(tupid), A(wesome), S(o) S(o) – talked about what they thought about the pilot episode.

Join us now as we discuss episode 2 of the debut season which focused on the following:

“Michaela is conflicted when she faces her best friend, who is now married to Jared; mysterious music in Ben’s mind moves him to help a fellow Flight 828 passenger connect with his imprisoned son; Olive urges Grace to tell Ben her secret.”

Stupid:

Roz: I really wish that Michaela and Lourdes had had a conversation about Lourdes and Jared before Jared had to mansplain Lourdes’ pain. It was awkward and not necessary when the end conversation was so good.

Leah: My issue is with the government on this show. Are we supposed to believe that people go missing for 5.5 years and when they show back up the government lets them just go back to their lives? Because that is nice, but not what would happen. Even with supervision.

Cay: Yeah, I’m with Leah. That government scene was super lame and seemed very unrealistic

Rueben: What was the deal with that woman who approached little Cal on the street, saying “He is not here. He is Risen.” What in the world was that all about?

Awesome:

Roz: Olive’s decision to find and bring back Cal’s old toys and clothes, even at the expense of Ben learning about Grace’s paramours. She’s grown so much while Ben and Cal were gone, but she cares still, even if her past is complicated by their return.

Cay: I’m fascinated by the idea of having a twin, but then you end up 5 years different in age. Having an adult disappear for 5 years is one thing, but a twin sibling? That could mess you up! How many other kids were on the plane? The effect on them would be huge relative to the adults. <pondering what it would be like>

Rueben: I was really impressed by the performances of Curtiss Cook, who plays Radd – the violin player and fellow 828 passenger – and the actor who played his son – who just so happens to be Curtiss Cook, Jr. [cool that they cast the actor’s son to play his son]. PS: I did a slow-mo of the ending credits so I could figure out who played Radd’s son.

Leah: I agree with Rueben. That was my favorite part of the episode.

So-So:

Roz: Why didn’t Grace just admit she had a man while Ben was gone?

Leah: Roz – Right? It was 5.5 years!

Cay: Hopefully the crazy religious woman in the street will be explained at some point?

Rueben: I’m not so sure Michaela was right in lying to Lourdes about her deciding to not marry Jared, when she clearly had decided to accept his proposal. Also, there are the secrets the Stone family is keeping: Ben and Michaela keeping quiet about the voices (and now music) they have heard and Grace for not coming clean (until Olive ripped off that band-aid, of course). Keeping secrets is only going to lead to trouble.

BURNING QUESTIONS:

Roz: So that shadow is responsible for the dead passenger and Cal can see it? To what end?

Leah: The shadow “running” around shooting people? What?

Rueben: What is the deal with that shadow? At first I thought it might be a malevolent spirit, but how did that woman passenger get shot by a malevolent spirit? What is going on?!

Cay: I’m with you ladies – what the heck was up with the shadow and who/what killed that passenger for speaking up? I’m inclined to think that the government wacked her and that “the shadow” is something else.