Lost is arguably one of the best sci-fi adventure dramas ever to grace the small screen, telling a compelling story about survivors of a plane crash navigating a desolate island. It combines mythology and supernatural mystique into a complex plot about the meaning of life and death.
Another supernatural drama that came eight years later, Manifest, follows a similar initial premise and arguably fixed Lost‘s biggest problem. Lost had too many elements happening at once with an ending that left some viewers with more questions than answers. Manifest, on the other hand, told its story in half as many episodes and wrapped things up nicely in an easily palatable and satisfying format.
The Concept of Life and Death in ‘Lost’ vs. ‘Manifest’
In Lost, one of the greatest sci-fi masterpieces, the characters are revealed by the end to have actually survived the plane crash. Everything they dealt with on the island was real, despite a common misconception. This involved traditional struggles of survival and personality clashes, as well as unexpected mysteries, like the Smoke Monster and the weird inhabitants known as the Others.
The show depicts its characters in the afterlife, where they all reunite. It’s seen as a form of purgatory, which many thought the Island to be. They do get to move on, but they remain forever connected by their experiences after the crash of Oceanic 815.
Manifest explores a similar story with a starting point framed around a plane crash. However, it fast forwards five years to when all the passengers of the plane, which went missing after the crash, suddenly reappear. They look the same, are the same age they were when the crash happened, and have no recollection of the last 60 months they missed.
It’s a more emotional story as the supposed survivors grapple with confusion, not to mention seemingly psychic visions. Meanwhile, their surviving family members and friends try to handle the shock of reuniting with loved ones they had been grieving for years, only to find that they weren’t dead after all. One of the most complex relationships is between Cal Stone (Jack Messina, Ty Doran), who is still a child when he returns, while his twin sister Olive (Luna Blaise) has grown into a teenager.
‘Manifest’ Offers a More Complete Story Than ‘Lost’
Through the series, the survivors are deemed outcasts, with people believing they were sent by the Devil, returned from the dead. The story is more human, more relatable, especially given that the setting is the real world, not a remote island. There’s also a ticking clock when they realize they have a “Death Date,” a presumed date and time when they will officially expire and no longer be conscious humans.
It’s a much clearer and heartwarming ending that left fans feeling thoroughly satisfied after investing in the show’s four-season run. While Lost is still a show that people talk about today, its ending and the long journey to get there weren’t as cleanly written nor as tight. It leaves more room for theorizing and analysis. But when it comes to an ending where you can sigh in relief and move on, Manifest does a better job.
In Lost, the mythological elements are meant to make you curious about what’s really going on and spark speculation. Manifest takes a more heavily religious slant, combining biblical and supernatural themes to explore a similar idea about what it means to be a moral person and what your duties are as a human being. Survivors, for example, believe they were sent back to Earth to answer Callings. It’s like they are connected through divine consciousness with a duty to help those in need they see in trouble through their visions. It’s their choice how they follow them. The Jewish concept of tikkun olam, which references repairing the world, also plays into the story.
Both shows center around the idea of good versus evil, but with Manifest, the focus is predominantly on redemption and a higher calling, serving life in the way you should, so you can earn your right to live it. Lost is darker and more cerebral, which fits the show. Though less intense, Manifest has its moments, and it’s thought-provoking in a different way. You come out of Lost feeling somewhat defeated and accepting of the finality of death, while you emerge from Manifest with a sense of hope and a drive to be a better person.
While both shows serve different purposes, audiences, and moods, Manifest tells a similar story in a more compact format, with half the episodes and an ending that is arguably more satisfying. Neither is a sci-fi show you can binge in a weekend, but both are worth the investment in time.
If you are missing Lost, Manifest is a worthy replacement. It doesn’t hit as hard. But it’s just as entertaining, thought-provoking, and poignant. Most importantly, it will leave you with a happy or at least morally just ending that you and all the characters deserve.
