Manifest Season 1 Episode 16 Recap – Estimated Time of Departure

Season 1 of Manifest concludes with a shocking surprise.

This episode kicks off with a flashback at the beach, where Ben and Grace were lying on the bench while talking about how great their vacation was. Cal and Olive were building a sandcastle. They were having a break.

Michaela was walking at the seashore when her mother called her and put sunblock on her, even telling her: a person always needs a mother. Cal suddenly called Michaela to destroy the castle they made, but she declined it and said she couldn’t ruin a perfection. They took a family photo.

Present time — Ben stares at the vacation photo in the kitchen, warmly reliving the trip. Olive is irritated because she feels the answer is hidden in the photographs and evidence they’ve gathered, but she can’t see it. Meanwhile, Cal is busy in his room, destroying the wooden dragon he constructed and a few other items. Ben and Grace soothe him down and ask what has disturbed him. He confesses he can’t tell them — only tell Zeke.

Jared shows Michaela Zeke’s file to the police. He does, it turns out, have a history of assault. When Michaela questions him how he obtained Zeke’s information, he admits to removing Zeke’s fingerprints from his cup. Michaela is irritated with Jared. He expresses his concern for her and asks if there is anything between her and Zeke. Michaela tells him it’s not the case; the calling brought them together.

James Griffin gets freed from his cell and insults Michaela on his way out of the station. She chases him outside and reminds him the calling will not tolerate such behavior. As he walks away, Saanvi, Zeke, Ben, and Michaela receive a call asking them to “stop him.”

Ben visits Saanvi in the hospital and asks about her health. She lies and tells him she’s alright, telling him not to be concerned about her. Apparently, after being abducted, she doesn’t see the callings in a positive light.

When Michaela comes to the apartment, Zeke is pacing. She asks about his visit with his mother, and he informs her some families are not intended to be together. Zeke then goes into further depth on the assault charge. He admits he was intoxicated, but he defended a female from a creepy boyfriend. Michaela confesses she knows; she viewed his file. She feels that was the guy he used to be, not the person he is now. Michaela offers him an embrace — he appears to need one — and the expression on her face suggests she feels something more than friendship. Michaela tells Zeke that Ben is looking for him.

A doctor approaches Saanvi and informs her Griffin and Cal have the same blood marker. He believes it is worthy of a scientific report. She interrupts him and requests he gives her the documentation he’s referring to. As she walks away, she experiences a panic attack. A colleague spots her and gives her the card to his therapist, urging Saanvi to arrange an appointment with her.

Zeke visits Cal, who wants to know how to prevent what he draws from his visions from becoming a reality. Zeke isn’t convinced he can assist until he sees the image in question. Cal makes him pledge not to tell Ben or Michaela; he’s drawn three tombstones with his name, Ben, and Michaela’s on them.

Ben, Michaela, Zeke, and Grace watch a television news story when it is announced Griffin will be interviewed on a morning program to tell everything. Ben and Michaela understand they must intervene. If he shares the calling with the public, everyone would think anybody on Flight 828 has it. Ben realizes they can’t let it happen, so they decide to go to the TV studio and try to persuade him out of it. Zeke says he knows guys like Griffin who only comprehend raw power. Ben isn’t sure the calling would want them to employ force. Michaela backs Ben. Zeke storms out.

Meanwhile, Jared pays a cop acquaintance to follow Zeke and photograph him. The officer takes a picture of Zeke buying stuff from a shady-looking person in an alley while following him.

Olive is sure the riddle of all the symbols is there in front of them. She says she can’t figure it out, but she knows the answer is right there, acknowledging that working with her father on it is the first time she has felt truly connected to him since his disappearance. Grace confirms she understands and feels the same way.

Griffin arrives early in the morning to do the interview. He steps out of a car to a mixed mixture of boos and applause from the audience. Outside of the studio, the interview will occur. Michaela will use her badge to navigate her way past the mob onto the red carpet. Zeke is also among the crowd, holding his recently purchased gun.

Michaela and Ben try to persuade Griffin not to expose the callings, warning him doing so will result in authorities pursuing them all. Griffin dismisses their plea, claiming it isn’t his concern. He believes releasing the information will make him wealthy.

Ben, Michaela, and Zeke are summoned once more to “stop him.” “Griffin!” exclaims Michaela, and he comes to a halt just as water begins to gush from his mouth. It gushes out, flowing like a river. When it finally comes to a halt, Griffin collapses to the ground, dead.

Michaela goes over to Zeke after spotting him in the crowd. When she wonders what he’s doing, he replies he’s unsure, but he wants to stop Griffin. She advises him to return to his flat and recuperate. Jared is listening in on Michaela and Zeke’s conversation across the room.

Later, Jared gives Michaela the photo of Zeke taken in the alley by the officer he hired. Michaela gets tired of Jared’s jealousy and insists she and Zeke work together due to the callings. Jared refuses to listen and warns her the callings are causing her to be blind. He truly feels Zeke will harm her.

Saanvi contacts a doctor’s acquaintance and informs him she requires a copy of Griffin’s autopsy report.

Michaela arrives at Zeke’s mother’s house to know what occurred when he visited. Priscilla Landon, Zeke‘s mother, claims she loves her kid but can no longer tolerate his actions. He went missing for a year then just knocked on her door after not contacting her even once, hoping for a fresh start. Michaela confesses Zeke did go missing for a year and went through something similar to what happened to her. Priscilla (Maryann Plunkett) knows Michaela from the television coverage of Flight 828 and is astonished saddened she did not trust her son.

She begins to cry as she realizes Zeke spoke the truth, but she sent him away. Michaela tells her everything will be OK, proposing the next time Zeke knocks, she opens the door for him.

Michaela tells Ben what occurred when Zeke visited his mother. Ben reminds her it is not her responsibility to mend Zeke’s life. But Michaela isn’t so convinced, telling Ben she believes the calling is asking her to do precisely that.

They visit Saanvi, who verifies Griffin drowned. They agree it doesn’t make sense because he was on dry land. Griffin, according to Michaela, misused his calling, which is what killed him. Saanvi notifies Ben and Michaela that a coworker identified the same blood signature in Griffin and Cal. Saanvi cannot remain to speak since she has opted to see a therapist. Ben and Michaela agree with her desire to get treatment for her PTSD.

Michaela hears the calling say “stop him,” but Ben doesn’t listen to it. She wonders whether the calling is referring to Zeke.

Jared storms into Michaela’s apartment and confronts him. Jared begins throwing about the area, seeking narcotics.

Ben had a lightbulb moment while looking at some paperwork. He realizes Griffin died 828 minutes after being taken out of the water. Griffin, according to Ben, had an expiration date. Olive guesses those who are from Flight 828 may have one too. Ben does his calculation on paper. Olive looks at the board and says, “June 2, 2024,” explaining that the symbols all point to that date: the peacock representing June; Gemini representing twins, meaning two; and Cal’s wooden dragon: a prophecy of the year 2024. Grace grows agitated since she has just gotten Ben and Cal back. She cannot afford to lose them again. Olive begins to weep and suggests they do not inform Cal, but he approaches and confesses he is aware. His image of the three tombstones now says June 2, 2024.

Saanvi arrives at the therapist’s office — the Major’s therapy office.

Ben and Grace converse softly. He offers to pack their belongings and return to Jamaica for a pleasant family holiday. Grace says she is pregnant, but she is unsure if it is his or Danny’s.

Jared argues with Zeke, calling him an addict and exclaiming he and Michaela are meant to be together. Jared is enraged when Zeke responds, “Maybe, maybe not.” They begin fighting, throwing fists and shattering furniture. Michaela sprints up the stairs as the calling urges her to “stop him.” Zeke smacks Jared over the head with something breakable, pulls out the gun he purchased, and points it at Jared, urging him to back off. Zeke bought the gun to stop Griffin and protect Michaela.

Jared orders Zeke to put the gun down then lunges for it. The two men fight for possession as Michaela climbs the stairs hurriedly. She slams the door open, bursts inside the flat then the gun goes off.

Our Thoughts

Manifest’s latest episode: “Estimated Time of Departure,” is filled with some of the best parts of the show and some of the worst. The series has worked hard to have cliffhangers, leaving us wanting more, and Saanvi’s therapy arc and the expiration dates showcase this series still has mysteries we want to unravel. But the closing gunshot and Grace’s pregnancy seem very over-the-top. This is especially true when that final scene requires Jared to act highly out of character to get him into a fight.

Unfortunately, some of it came at the expense of forced twists and turns to add another cliffhanger — it appears rushed. The characters were taken aback by the information overload, with some handling it better than others. There are so many unresolved questions. It would be a tragedy never to learn more about these people and the intriguing scenario surrounding Flight 828.