Manifest Review: Pilot (Season 1 Episode 1)
Things are off to an extremely bumpy start on Manifest Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot.” As one of the most promising shows of the fall season, the show unfortunately shows its ugly side more than it does its intrigue.
Manifest still sits in the shadow of Lost, whose legacy shall never be forgotten. But unlike Lost, Manifest throws in too many possibilities for the course of the show in the first episode.
Are there aliens? Is there something supernatural at work? Is this actually a fantasy show?
Nobody knows at this point, and it’s kind of a mess. It’s scattered, tossing entirely too many characters and potential subplots into the mix as if the writers didn’t know where to start.
Maybe that’s the case, especially if this is the pilot. If the show didn’t have a full order when the pilot was created, then it’s understandable that Manifest wanted to allow for as many avenues as possible for the season.
Manifest just doesn’t hook viewers in from the start in a way that’s compelling. With a show that claims to be grounded in the relatability and reality of the characters, adding such a fantasy twist undermines the whole basis of the show.
Another immediate flaw of Manifest is the incredibly difficult task of concentrating on so many characters at once. Shows like Game of Thrones and Lost have made a name for themselves by having increasingly intricate plots and characters.
However, Michaela’s cop background needs to be compelling enough for us to want to know more — but right now, it’s not.
The mystery behind Manifest just doesn’t hook us enough from the start. It’s like trying to jump into a world of ghosts and ghouls without introducing the natural, regular world first.
Manifest also tries to bring in some This is Us vibes, another NBC property. Network shows often rely heavily on melodrama due to their episodic nature, and Manifest tries to do the same.
However, there’s already so much going on that the familial drama lands as shallow rather than touching, because This is Us is able to lean heavily into the emotional sob stories rather than potential supernatural storylines.
The religious drop-ins also lend more confusion to the already messy story. Is this show science fiction? Supernatural? Fantasy? … Religious? Is it all fate?
Cheesy, I know.
There’s still a slim chance that Manifest can redeem itself. Maybe the show really is setting itself up for a complex, intricate, and well thought-out web of narratives whose mystery ultimately pays off.
But unfortunately, at this point, Manifest is still on a course to crash-landing after the first season.
What did you think of this episode of Manifest? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Manifest airs Mondays at 9/8c on NBC.
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Olivia Popp
Olivia Popp is a freelance writer, artist, and entertainment fanatic who started living and breathing television ever since her parents told her in elementary school that it would rot her brain. Now, she's a film student and TV apologist with a penchant for providing forceful and unsolicited series recommendations to anyone within earshot. Ask her about science fiction, comedy, nature photography, filmmaking, tasty cheese, or even more television.
One thought on “Manifest Review: Pilot (Season 1 Episode 1)”
I agree with pretty much everything you said. With having such a busy schedule I’m not sure I have the time or patience to see how it all unfolds.
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