What The Plane Tail Fin Means
Emma Horne Zeke's death date arrives, and Michaela and Ben fight to save Cal in the Manifest season 2 finale. Meanwhile, an all new mystery sets up season 3.
As Zeke's death date finally arrives, a new mystery sets up season 3 in the Manifest season 2 finale. Season 2 of the NBC mystery drama series has focused on Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh) trying to save Zeke (Matt Long) from his fate, Ben (Josh Dallas) trying to solve the mystery of the Callings and what they mean for the passengers' future, and the conflict with the X'ers. The Manifest season 2 finale provides closure for most of the remaining plot lines.
In the Manifest season 1 finale, it was discovered by the passengers of Flight 828 that they - and Zeke - are all living on a borrowed time. Apparently, they are all doomed to die on a particular day, as they were only allowed to live for the same numbers of days that they had been missing. But while the passengers' death date doesn't come until 2024, Zeke's was a much more pressing problem, as it was confirmed that Zeke's death date would arrive in Manifest season 2. Later in the season, Zeke mysteriously developed frostbite, which was a sign that he would die of the same thing that should have killed him in the first place. In the penultimate episode of the season, Zeke and Michaela got married, knowing that Zeke's death date was right around the corner.
Meanwhile, the fight with Simon (Maury Ginsberg) and the X'ers factored heavily into Ben's Manifest season 2 story, but this was recently wrapped up when Jared (J.R. Ramirez) infiltrated the hate group and helped take them down. This plotline was resolved, but a new threat took its place when three meth addicts kidnapped Ben's son, Cal (Jack Messina). Both Zeke's impending death date and the fight to save Cal are the focus of the Manifest season 2 finale, titled "Icing Conditions".
The Death Date Can Be Avoided
Numerous characters come together when Cal's kidnapping is discovered in Manifest's season 2 finale. Jared, Drea (Ellen Tamaki), and Captain Bowers (Andrene Ward-Hammond) all help Michaela and Ben to save Cal from the meth addicts who want to use Cal to get their drugs. Even Zeke tries to help, despite the fact that he is currently freezing to death. After having a vision of Cal, Zeke becomes determined to get involved. Obtaining Cal's location, Ben, Michaela, and Zeke all head to the cabin where he was being held. A heated encounter with the three criminals over a frozen lake leads to the three of them and Cal being dropped into the freezing water. Zeke, fully aware that he's about to die, jumps in after Cal and manages to save him.
After Zeke is pulled out of the water as well, it appears that he's finally died. After a few moments, Zeke's body begins to glow mysteriously, and suddenly, Zeke is restored. This proved that it is possible to beat the death date. This is the point that Ben tries to make to Michaela at the end of the Manifest season 2 finale. He explains to Michaela that he believes saving Cal was what allowed Zeke to survive. It could be that saving his life was what Zeke was meant to do. Once he rescued Cal, he was given another chance at life. This realization allowed the passengers' story to end on a rather hopeful note, as opposed to last season which had them believing that the death date was unavoidable. Now, they at least have a reason to believe that they can beat the death date.
What Happened To The Three Meth Addicts?
In the final minutes of the Manifest season 2 finale, Jared coordinates the police's search for the bodies of the three meth addicts who fell in the water with Cal, but to his surprise, there's no sign of them at all. What could have happened to them? It's possible that they've all been sucked into the same mystery that has plagued the passengers of Flight 828. They found out through Zeke in season 1 that they weren't the only people who could disappear and suddenly reappear days, months, or years later. This happened again when a character named Griffin vanished from a truck that plunged into the water late in season 1. So it's not impossible at all that the same fate could befall the meth addicts. If this is what happened, then they could return at any given time, and each of them would in turn be saddled with a death date of their own.
Saanvi Killed The Major
All season long, Saanvi (Parveen Kaur) has been searching for a way to prevent the death date through science. After being deceived by the Major (Elizabeth Marvel), who had been masquerading as Saanvi's therapist, Saanvi's research was stolen. Saanvi had to team up with Vance (Daryl Edwards) to find out more about the Major and get her research back. She eventually realized that the Major could hold the key to finding a cure and saving Zeke.
In the Manifest season 2 finale, Saanvi refuses to heed Vance's warnings and directly confronts the Major - not once, but twice. In their second encounter, Saanvi tries to force information from the Major by revealing that she poisoned her. During a struggle, the antidote is destroyed. Saanvi is distraught when it hits her that she has accidentally killed the Major. Later, Vance finds her crying. It remains to be seen how the guilt from this decision will shape her story in season 3. The death of the Major, who was the main villain of season 1, is a big deal for Manifest, but what could be important is how this will affect Saanvi going forward.
Where Did The Plane Tail Fin Come From?
In the closing scene of the Manifest season 2 finale, a boat near Cuba recovers a plane's tail fin from the ocean. The tail fin is identified as one belonging to Flight 828, which seems impossible. Years ago, this discovery would have made sense, but as one of the crew members was quick to point out, Flight 828 returned. What does this mean? For the past two seasons, Ben, Michaela, and Saanvi have had to deal with people like the X'ers who doubted that the passengers are who they said they are. Many have accused the passengers of being imposters, claiming that it wasn't possible for the real passengers to come back five years after their disappearance.
The Flight 828 passengers have tried to prove these people wrong, but now the doubters will have even more evidence that the real Flight 828 never actually returned. If it did crash, then that would mean that Michaela, Ben, and the others somehow aren't the same people who left Jamaica over five years ago. With their own identities being called into question by its discovery, the mystery of the tail fin is now the biggest question going into next year, as it opens up a whole new mystery for the passengers to solve in Manifest season 3.
