The latest apparent ‘survivor’ is experiencing a calling, but isn’t necessarily going to use it to do good for the sake of it. Jared doesn’t trust Zeke, and some friction develops between them. Saanvi struggles to cope with the aftermath of her traumatic experience at the hands of a believer.

As we approach the finale of Manifest’s debut season, I have to admit I’m impressed at the moxie of a writing team who, far from starting to tie up loose ends, seem intent on unravelling several more to carry straight over into what must surely now be a guaranteed renewal.

Take the ‘wolf’ from Cal and Zeke’s calling – a criminal who’s been stuck in a van below the water of the docks for over 80 hours yet somehow, as we saw last week, is still very much alive. Michaela is convinced that he is another like them, and when he starts screaming in the hospital about what sounds like a Calling, she’s all the more certain.

The problem is, as the opening flashback tells us, this is not a good man. Not even an enigmatic one like Zeke. This is someone who is just all kinds of wrong – selfish, mean and stuck on the wrong path in life for quite some time. That means that when he realises what he has at his disposal, he’s not willing to simply ‘do the right thing’. That in turn means that Michaela, Ben and the others have their work cut out trying to find a way in so that they can act on the calling and save lives which are at stake.

Speaking of Zeke, Jared isn’t too happy about Michaela’s new pal, and it’s not just about the fact that his ex is running around with a ruggedly handsome man who she’s been keeping secret from him. At least, that’s what he keeps saying. However, legitimate doubt does start to arise about Zeke over the course of the episode, when his actions land him in a bit of bother. I’m pleased at how intent the writers seem to be on spinning out whether and how much we should be trusting this character – it’s a nice contrast from most of our protagonists so far.

And poor Saanvi is not coping well with the aftermath of being held at gunpoint. It’s clear that she’s suffering trauma because of it, but she’s also having trouble admitting this to herself, let alone anyone else. As the medical/scientific lynchpin of the group, Saanvi performs a vital function in their quest for the truth, so here’s hoping she gets her groove back soon, for all their sakes.

As the episode barrels toward its conclusion it does a lot to play with the expectations of the viewer, giving genuine tension to its ‘A’ plot even as it weaves complexities into other elements. What’s perfectly clear as the credits roll is that a whole new layer is being added to the Manifest mythos just as the show gets ready to wrap, and that there is plenty of potential life in the series yet.

Verdict: Smart, assured and bold – this is a show that exudes confidence it’s coming back for another season, and indications are it has the legs to carry it as well. 9/10

Greg D. Smith