Manifest may have been about supernatural phenomena, but romance was a big part of the show, particularly in Saanvi Bahl's (Parveen Kaur) storylines. The series, which ran from 2018 to 2023 on NBC, and later Netflix, follows the passengers of Flight 828 who experience some strong but brief turbulence flying from Jamaica to New York. Upon landing, the passengers learn that five years have passed, and they've all been presumed dead. Among those passengers are doctor and medical researcher Saanvi and mathematics professor Ben Stone (Josh Dallas).
When Saanvi, Ben, and the passengers land and rejoin society, they experience "callings" — ominous clairvoyant readings of the future related to other passengers. Ben especially tries to stay on top of the Manifest mystery, and in doing so, bonds with other 828 passengers in the process, particularly Saanvi. There is chemistry between them from the start, though Ben is married to Grace (Athena Karkanis), another passenger. However, Grace's dramatic season 3 death opens the door for Ben and Saanvi to be together — though he isn't who Saanvi ends up with at the end of the show, much to fans' dismay.
Saanvi & Ben's Relationship In Manifest Explained
Benvi Flourishes In Manifest Season 4
In the first three seasons of Manifest, Ben is a loving family man trying to keep everyone together after the traumatic events of Flight 828. After landing, Saanvi learns that her cancer research has saved hundreds of pediatric patients. This brings her closer to Ben, whose son Cal (Jack Messina and Ty Doran) has leukemia. Saanvi and Ben also grow even closer as they investigate the 828ers' "callings" and look for a cure.
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Saanvi admits her feelings for Ben, but she never acts on them because he's married to Grace. However, when Grace is stabbed to death by Angelina (Holly Taylor) in the Manifest season 3 finale, Benvi is able to get together. Of course, they don't right away, and Ben buries his grief in his work. But neither he nor Saanvi can deny their mutual feelings for each other, and eventually give into them in season 4. In an interview with Collider prior to the final Manifest episodes airing, Josh Dallas teased Ben finding love again:
...as we go into part two of Season 4, you will see Ben's heart open, and him sort of crawling back to the Ben that we've known from the beginning, although changed for sure from this experience, but changed for the better I think. Yeah, I think his heart opens.
Ben's heart opening due to his love for Saanvi would have made a perfect ending for the show, as Benvi spent four seasons working side by side, growing closer in the process and finding comfort in each other. However, the series finale, "Final Boarding" essentially makes their journey moot.
Saanvi Ends Up With Alex At The End Of Manifest
Ben Reunites With Grace When The Passengers Are Sent Back To 2013
The Manifest series finale hits the reset button as the 828ers re-emerge from the flight within normal time but retain their memories. In many ways, this is a happy ending, but from a romantic storyline standpoint, it essentially undoes the entire conclusion Manifest had been building toward. With everyone sent back to 2013, Ben reunites with Grace, with the show essentially giving a big middle finger to Benvi fans who had been shipping the characters for four seasons.
Meanwhile, Saanvi does get her own happily ever after, but with her former lover, Alex Bates (Sydney Morton). Alex was supposed to have been on Flight 828 with Saanvi, but changed her mind because she was married at the time and didn't want to destroy her home life. However, in 2013, Alex chooses Saanvi over her husband. And while Saanvi and Ben both end up happy and partnered, and will still be in each other's lives due to Saanvi treating Cal, Benvi as fans know it is no more.
It’s hard not to feel cheated by this ending, especially after investing in four seasons' worth of this developing relationship. Benvi was built up way better than Alex and Saanvi, and could have worked due to Saanvi’s work with Cal, helping him with his leukemia, the empathy as 828ers, and being there for Ben when he needed someone the most at his lowest. It could have provided real progression and growth into their new lives instead of conveniently falling back into their old ones as changed people. They have experience, but nowhere to go with it, and Manifest's finale suffers as a result.
A supernatural drama series created for NBC, Manifest is an investigation of a fictional flight, Montego Air Flight 828, that went missing for five years after a moment of turbulence in the sky. However, the passengers and crew only felt a moment pass despite the rest of the world assuming they were all gone. The "survivors" now try to reacclimate to society as the world has moved on without them - but voices from beyond seem to beckon them somewhere unknown.
Cast Holly Taylor , Luna Blaise , Matt Long , J.R. Ramirez , Parveen Kaur , Athena Karkanis , josh dallas , Jack Messina , Melissa Roxburgh
Release Date September 24, 2018
Seasons 3
English (US) ·