Does Zeke Die On Manifest? His Destiny Defined

Though “Manifest” by no means turned the large success that “Misplaced” was within the 2000s, it did at the very least outperform most of these different exhibits generally accused of copying the “Misplaced” system. The plane-related thriller field present lasted 4 seasons — 4 and a half, actually — and it received to finish by itself phrases. That is a privilege that poor “Flash Ahead” (canceled one season right into a deliberate 3-to-5 season run) by no means received to take pleasure in. 

Among the many present’s many “Misplaced” parallels is the character Zeke Landon (Matt Lengthy), who’s type of like Desmond Humes in that he wasn’t concerned within the present’s inciting incident. Like Desmond, Zeke was launched late and shortly turned out to be each tremendous necessary and thrown into the present’s most attention-grabbing romantic storyline. Certain, Zeke by no means fairly received an episode as sturdy as Desmond’s “The Fixed,” however it was nonetheless enjoyable to have him round. 

One main distinction between him and Desmond is that, whereas “Misplaced” let Desmond stay fortunately ever after together with his long-lost love Penny, “Manifest” chooses to kill Zeke off. Or does it? Issues get a bit wacky close to the top, so let me clarify.

The essential gist of “Manifest” is that what’s occurred to the principle solid — their passenger airplane inexplicably leaping by time — is one huge cosmic take a look at that may determine not simply their destiny, however the destiny of the human race. The passengers should heed these psychic calls they’re getting and develop to grow to be higher individuals earlier than their time is up, or else they and everybody else will die. Zeke is aware of this partly as a result of he went by the same state of affairs; he was alleged to die from his personal time-jump expertise, however he improved as an individual and his looming demise date spared him. 

Sadly, demise wasn’t fairly accomplished with Zeke but. In season 4 half 1, Zeke finds out that airplane survivor Cal (Ty Doran) is the group’s solely hope of surviving their demise date, and subsequently is the world’s solely hope. Figuring out that Cal has terminal most cancers, Zeke chooses to make use of his powers to soak up Cal’s most cancers into himself. Zeke dies, however he ensures that everybody else has a good shot at survival. It is a heroic finish, one that basically underlines simply how a lot Zeke’s grown over the sequence. Nevertheless, that is little consolation to poor Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh), who certain is not completely happy to seek out out what he is accomplished.

Fortunately for Zeke, “Manifest” is a present that likes to mess around with time. Early into season 4, half 2, a grieving Michaela talks to a model of Zeke who’s from 2018 (throughout the cave incident that began his entire arc on the present). 2018 Zeke hasn’t met Michaela, however as a result of Zeke’s inside the “divine consciousness,” he appears to recollect every little thing that is occurred. All through the ultimate few episodes, Zeke pops in as an all-powerful ghost to mirror on his life and all these missed connections he had with Michaela. It seems that he was doing airport pickups for his taxi job at JFK the evening Michaela’s airplane was alleged to land there. Does not that sting? If solely there was a method to flip again time and do it once more. 

Properly, excellent news: within the sequence finale, the passengers of Flight 828 survive their judgment from the divine consciousness. As a reward, they get to return to 2013 and land at JFK safely. Technically talking, none of what we have seen prior to now 4 seasons truly occurred, however the reminiscences nonetheless stay within the minds of the passengers. Michaela makes use of this to her benefit; she will get into the cab with Zeke and explains the entire state of affairs. Zeke wonders a bit if she’s loopy, however the spark’s nonetheless there.

The present ends with Michaela and Zeke driving out of JFK. We by no means learn how issues went for them afterward, however the implication is that they received a second shot at love. They’re going to most likely get married once more, Zeke will keep away from that entire cave state of affairs that almost ruined his life, and every little thing needs to be drama-free. It is type of a happier model of what occurred in “11/22/63,” one other time journey story the place one principal character retains their reminiscences whereas the opposite one does not. That e book/TV present explored all of the problems that come from this, whereas “Manifest” is completely happy to allow us to assume issues labored out for the perfect. 

“Manifest” caught some flak from followers for not making a ton of sense logically. Folks might complain about “Misplaced” not wrapping issues up in a satisfying manner, however in hindsight, it answered far more questions than its successors like “Manifest” ever did. Nonetheless, “Manifest” understood that the true enchantment of “Misplaced” was its characters, not its mysteries, which is why it feels becoming for the present to finish with a give attention to Michaela and Zeke. They might not maintain a candle to Desmond and Penny, however they had been arguably the present’s most attention-grabbing couple. It felt proper to allow them to have their fortunately ever after.