Manifest Review: Precious Cargo / Destination Unknown (Season 3 Episodes 7 and 8)
Manifest returns with another double episode that clarifies the direction that the mythos is heading and begins to follow through with the season’s promise tagline, “The Truth Will Surface.”
Manifest Season 3 Episode 7, “Precious Cargo,” and Manifest Season 3 Episode 8, “Destination Unknown,” set the stage for what is shaping up to be the second half of the third season, with our protagonists reeling over the different repercussions of the revelation from Manifest Season 3 Episode 6, “Graveyard Spiral.”
While some reactions are expected, all of them are entertaining in what feels like a fun new start, although slightly formulaic in presentation.
The two Stones that have the most emotional reactions to the new ‘lifeboat’ theory are undeniably Ben but also surprisingly Angelina, who takes a surprising turn by the end of “Destination Unknown.”
Ben takes on the weight of everyone’s survival on his shoulders — completely predictable for his character. Ben isn’t his most tolerable during these episodes, and the subplot of the conflict between Ben and Eagen isn’t exactly intriguing.
Ben’s at his best when his matters are more intimate, ones concerning his family or the wider Stone clan.
On the opposite end of that, Angelina initially acts with anger and grief as she reels from Pete’s death, but in “Destination Unknown,” she begins to mirror Olive, going so far as to mimicking her words and putting on her clothes. It’s creepy.
Whether this is a result of her emotional trauma or some side-effect of her resurrection remains to be seen, but it’s a turn even I didn’t see coming.
The most striking part of these episodes is certainly the Noah’s Ark of it all. If you asked me when Manifest first aired whether I thought Saanvi would study a piece of Noah’s Ark, I’d ask you if you were crazy!
The mythos of Manifest is one of the most intriguing (and confusing) parts that’s eluded us for seasons now, but Manifest continues to make bold moves, one after the other. Not two episodes after the group-fate-reveal, Manifest connects its mysteries to stories of Christian faith in a literal way.
It’s too early to make definitive judgments about this direction, but it’s definitely left field when you look at it from a series perspective.
And considering that the Meth Heads story came from Egyptian artifacts, maybe whatever is at play here is the root of religious events in this Manifest-verse, rather than the opposite.
Combined with the interesting conflicts now afflicting Saanvi, and Dr. Gupta’s refreshing new characterization (opposed to the scientist archetype), this is shaping up to lead in an exciting new direction, especially if Manifest is given another season.
Even though much of these episodes are wins, there still is a drop off in the energy, even upon the Ark revelation on “Destination Unknown.”
The character balance is slightly off in these episodes. We spend time with Jared and The Major’s daughter, which is probably the most compelling plot Manifest has tried to make work as of yet.
At the same time, we hardly get a look at Zeke, save for being a mechanism for Cal’s ploys to see if a girl likes him or not and a little love triangle drama. Definitely not the best utilization of one of Manifest‘s most comforting characters.
And finally, Manifest still doesn’t know what to do with Grace. She still just seems to take up space without doing much to keep her involved with the great forces at play on Manifest. She shares her curse with Cal, and even now when he has a well-plotted emotional arc, it’s overshadowed by the better plots at play.
Manifest has presented Cal as special. His voices have driven some of the callings. Yet, as long as he’s just an extension of other characters’ worries and progression, Manifest will be unable to remember that he was a wildcard to begin with.
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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Amanda Reimer
In addition to working as a freelance writer, Amanda also works with animals and stage manages various live performances. She has an invested interest in the perspective and experience of fandoms as well as anything in the science-fiction genre. She also loves spoiling her cats, Drummer and Kiki.