Manifest Review: Water Landing / Graveyard Spiral (Season 3 Episodes 5 and 6)

That just happened. 

Manifest ends the arc of the Meth Heads with Manifest Season 3 Episode 5, “Water Landing,” and Manifest Season 3 Episode 6, “Graveyard Spiral.” And to be honest, we didn’t expect that exactly. These two chaotic hours of television prove how far Manifest is willing to go to subvert expectations, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. 

These episodes are certainly interesting, but they almost break the tone that’s set by the first four episodes of the season. Are episodes 5 and 6 of this season an entertaining time, though? Definitely. 

Saving best for last, it’s time to talk about Grace. 

She drew the short stick and has the least going on out of all the main cast, even Olive has more going for her, playing a new role in the mythos of Manifest this season. The relationship Grace had to rebuild with Tariq was the most interesting part about her. 

And they kill him less than halfway into the season, thereby rendering Grace (and Cal, this season, by extension) even more irrelevant. You have to wonder what the point of her drama this season was. 

Tariq helped diversify the cast and his death easily can be categorized as a racist trope. After all, it seems that Manifest cast Tariq the way they did to make Grace more interesting and then killed him for the same reason. Manifest can do better than killing a Black man and taking away his agency purely to further a woman’s narrative. 

Not to mention the different perspective he gave just as someone more distanced from the 828ers. As one of the new elements in play this season, this death feels very callous and pointless. 

Tariq’s death is the main downside of “Water Landing” and “Graveyard Spiral,” however, there is also something that feels off about Jared’s handling. For someone who was about to cover up a government conspiracy, a simple lie leaves us feeling underwhelmed. 

This is Manifest, a show that isn’t afraid to err on the side of dramatics. There has to be something more to this — unless Manifest decides to drop this as quickly as it dropped Tariq. 

But even as characters like Grace and Jared stumbles, one of the most consistent and highlights of this season remains to be Zeke and Olive.

While Zeke doesn’t do as much this episode, more questions arise about him than ever. If the Meth Heads mirrored an ancient tale, do each of these events that produce ‘The Called’ do as well? 

Olive, however, shines in these episodes, settling into her role as a translator of sorts. The final puzzle piece may have come to her too quickly, but it’s fun to see her shine and find a home for herself. 

The real spectacle of this episode lies in the bow place on the Meth Heads as they finally face their death date.

I think we expected some sort of catch, but not witnessing the life being sucked out of Pete and Kory’s bodies after they successfully utilized their second chance. 

Creepy. 

The contrast between this and the overall vibe of the show really stands out. Manifest subverts our expectations, but it’s yet to be seen whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. Time will tell.

It’s sad to see Pete and Kory go, as they were finally actually growing on me after I had previously wished for these three to have not come back this season at all. 

Manifest is doing a great job this season answering questions but giving us new ones, all the while further solidating its lore and mythos. Now with these three characters gone, we have even more questions about the purpose of the 828ers and Zeke’s new role as an empath. 

What did you think of this episode of Manifest? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Manifest airs Thursdays at 8/7c on NBC.

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