Summary
As brilliant as the first ten episodes were, the final ten make it glaringly obvious we’re watching three seasons’ worth of ideas stuffed into one compact and underwhelming package.
We review the Netflix series Manifest Season 4 Part 2, which does not contain spoilers.
When NBC first canceled Manifest after only three seasons, the series creator, Jeff Rake, stated he’d envisioned a six-season arc for the show. As brilliant as the first part was, the final ten episodes make it glaringly obvious we’re watching three seasons’ worth of ideas stuffed into one compact and underwhelming package.
Manifest Season 4 Part 2 Review and Plot Summary
Part two starts eight months after Ben (Josh Dallas) and Mick’s (Melissa Roxburgh) confrontation with Angelina (Holly Taylor) led to her cracking open the Earth and the government detaining all Flight 828 passengers.
With the Death Day less than nine months away, the Stone siblings must co-captain the lifeboat from inside a dystopian NSA detention center while Cal (Ty Doran) and Olive (Luna Blaise) were left to fend for themselves and raise their little sister.
While still grieving Zeke (Matt Long), Mick starts communicating with a version of him that’s inside the Glow. She also gets the chance to help solve Callings by partnering up with her ex-fiance, Jared (J.R. Ramirez).
A brand-new and infuriating villain runs the detention center; she goes by Director Zimmer (played to perfection by Patricia Mauceri). And somehow, Vance and Saanvi can still work closely with 828 passengers, despite all the Government enemies they made along the way.
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As for the “world’s smallest sociopath,” Angelina starts part two laying low in a homeless camp, but her delusions of grandeur soon reach unexpected heights.
The episodes before the obligatory time jump are brilliant and evenly paced. There’s a sense of urgency, and the reveals and symbolisms feel well thought out.
And then someone pushes the fast-forward button; Big reveals keep coming at an expedited pace. Supporting characters are dropped swiftly and without explanations. Main characters like TJ (Garrett Wareing) become glorified ornaments. Even Angelina, the show’s big bad, turns into more of a harmless annoyance.
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Manifest spent much time world-building, throwing mythological symbols around, and promising a satisfying pay-off. We don’t quite get that. By the time the final credits rolled in, I felt cheated. At the very end, the show discarded rules it spent years creating.
The action in the last three episodes could have filled an entire season. Instead, we get a crammed version of a half-story.
Is Manifest Season 4 Part 2 Good or Bad?
While not as good as part 1, the second part of the final season does tie up most loose ends nicely. However, a lot of questions remain, and the last episode is a bit infuriating.
Is Manifest Season 4 Part 2 Worth Watching?
Despite how rushed it feels, part 2 is still worth watching. Some narrative points are pushed to the side, and not all the questions the series raised get an answer, but it’s still entertaining.
What did you think of Netflix’s Manifest Season 4 Part 2? Comment below.
