Manifest Season 1 Episode 14 Recap – Upgrade

“Upgrade” suspends the primary mystery to explore an unexpected subplot. While we’re always happy to see Saanvi receive more screen time, the cult plot in this episode feels a little out of place. Manifest has struggled to incorporate Saanvi into this season, to the point where she feels more like a supporting character than a star. Nonetheless, “Upgrade” seems like a “Riverdale” episode with a hostage scenario right out of Stephen King’s “Misery.”

This episode kicks in when Michaela takes Zeke home to her apartment. 

Adrian (Jared Grimes) founded his own church/cult: the Church of the Returned. He’s teaching that the passengers on Flight 828 have been selected to do good and save the world.

Ben is back at home, working on the sketch of Michaela and Zeke with Olive. Michaela contacts Ben to inform him she and Zeke have returned to the city; he will be living at her home.

Meanwhile, Lourdes attempts to have an intimate relationship with Jared, who is again not in the mood. Lourdes becomes irritated and informs him the doctor cleared him weeks before. Jared admits he’s not ready yet, and Lourdes wonders whether Michaela has returned. Jared pretends he doesn’t know but is bothered by her bringing it up.

Zeke hears growling and opens the door to see a wolf snarling at him. It charges in his way. Thankfully, it’s only a nightmare.

At the same time, Cal experiences a nightmare, and when they wake him up, he exclaims, “It’s coming.”

Alice visits Dr. Saanvi (Grace Rex), who requests she check into her husband’s situation. He has cancer, and she has been told he is dying, but she wants to get a second opinion. Dr. Bahl tries to explain that she works in clinical studies and does not see patients, but Alice desperately begs her to look at her husband’s files. Alice drops the documents on the floor, Dr. Saanvi helps her.

Zeke discusses his wolf calling over at Ben’s. They make him attempt to talk to Cal about it, hoping he would sketch what Zeke saw. But Cal grows uneasy and requests to retire to his room — he’s had enough of it and doesn’t want to do it any longer.

Ben expresses his concern to Grace since Saanvi isn’t responding to his texts — unusual for her. Grace advises he check on her in the hospital and promises him she will keep an eye on Zeke while he is out.

Dr. Bahl visits Alice’s husband, but his cancer has gone too far. Dr. Bahl can only advise making her husband comfortable for the rest of his days; there’s nothing Dr. Saanvi could say other doctors haven’t. Alice grows agitated, saying because she is “returned,” Dr. Bahl must treat him. Saanvi tries to explain she is only a doctor, but Alice grows enraged and smacks her across the face. She then draws a handgun and threatens Dr. Bahl with death if she does not heal her husband.

Ben investigates at the hospital but is unable to locate Saanvi. He then discovers a pamphlet promoting the Church of the Returned on the floor of her office. A handwritten comment on the poster implies Dr. Saanvi can assist.

Back at the Stone home, Grace suggests that Zeke consider informing his family he has returned. She tells him, speaking from personal experience, how vital it is for a mother to know her kid is safe. She also tells Zeke that Cal sacrificed his life to rescue him, which must have some significance.

Ben enters the Church of the Returned and is surprised to find Adrian in charge. Adrian claims his mission is to spread information about the returned — the chosen ones. Ben becomes frustrated but looks around and notices bulletin board posters. He finds a note matching the handwriting on the brochure he found in Saanvi’s office.

Dr. Bahl discusses Alice’s actions with her husband, Jacob (Ben Cole). He apologizes for her actions and proposes Saanvi lie and claim he’s healed. Saanvi can’t do it since she’s a doctor; she can’t lie. She tells Jacob about being lied to by someone she loves and how she wouldn’t lie because of it. The guy she cared about was supposed to be on the trip with her, but he never arrived. Saanvi says Jacob and Alice meeting and falling in love is a miracle. Jacob tells Saanvi he does not want to die.

Meanwhile, Lourdes visits Michaela at the station. Michaela says Jared’s standing guard over a retrieval assignment involving the retrieval of a vehicle allegedly containing money from the waterfront. Lourdes is cool with it; she only came by to chat with her. When they walk outside, Lourdes asks whether anything is happening between her and Jared. Lourdes goes off about Michaela wrecking her marriage and how she won’t be able to look at Jared anymore, knowing what she knows. “I can’t apologize for still loving him,” Michaela, indignant and defensive, adds. She reminds her it had only been a month in her time since Jared proposed. Lourdes storms out, enraged and furious.

Grace and Zeke try to talk to Cal again. Zeke urges Cal once more to assist him by sketching the wolf, but Cal says he is terrified that if he draws it, it will happen. Cal is encouraged to sketch something amusing by Zeke; Grace also urges him to do so.

Michaela and Ben go to the address Ben got. Through the window of an upper flat, they see Saanvi putting up her hands and clearly under duress. They also know Alice is holding her at gunpoint.

Michaela requests backup for a hostage situation, but Ben is concerned it will take too long. He acts rashly and knocks on Alice’s door. He informs Alice over the intercom he is Ben Stone and has come to assist Dr. Bahl. She buzzes him in. Ben tells Michaela they might have to give Alice the miracle she seeks.

Ben says the healing won’t work with Alice’s toxic energy; she needs to put the gun down. Alice lowers the gun but still holds on to it. While Ben appears to be praying for Jacob’s life, Michaela sneaks up on Alice, disarming her.

Ben returns to Adrian when Dr. Bahl is released. He accuses him of endangering Saanvi and deceiving others. “You and I both know Flight 828 was not the result of a divine intervention,” Ben explains. “Do we? I don’t have to believe. They do, and that’s more than enough,” Adrian answers.

 Adrian resumes his bogus prophecy preaching.

Michaela goes over to Lourdes’ house, but Jared answers and tells her Lourdes has left. Jared feels they can start fresh with no more falsehoods now. But Lourdes just walked out, so Michaela refuses to discuss their relationship.

Cal returns home and paints an image of money, but no money arrives. Zeke informs him he sketches things that will happen but does not imply he causes them to happen. Cal draws the wolf again for Zeke, but he adds it wasn’t simply a wolf. When Grace notices the artwork, she summons Ben. He looks at the image and sees it depicts a wolf jumping towards Michaela.

Michaela is now keeping guard at the waterfront as they eventually pull the vehicle out of the sea. She approaches the van and opens the door after being parked on the dock. Water pours from the car; the driver rushes for her — he is supposed to be dead.

Our Thoughts

In the end, “Upgrade” is a mediocre episode. I’m sure it builds up for something greater, but there isn’t much progress in either narrative or tale.

Man resurrected? Not where I expected the wolf cry to take me. I’m concerned that the Major may lose weight. It was an intriguing setup since we didn’t know who she was, but now that we know more about her organization, revealing too much too soon (or showing up too much without furthering the narrative) may wear this villain out.

Ben’s rage at what Adrian has done is a key component of this episode, and it’s a little frightening. This church might be as much of a menace as the Major. The drama of these people’s relationships still exhibits strains and how difficult it is for some to integrate into society. The surprising disclosure at the end creates a cliffhanger heightening the suspense for the season’s conclusion.