After years of mysterious events, puzzling visions and intense emotional moments, Manifest brought its story to a close with the last episode of Season 4. The final moments offered both answers and closure to the experiences of the passengers of Flight 828, whose return after vanishing for five and a half years led to a long trail of questions.
Many viewers had been waiting for a resolution that would provide clarity, and what they got was a finale packed with moral weight, spiritual implications and the consequences of free will.
The characters had been guided by strange visions they called “Callings” since the plane landed. These experiences shaped their actions, relationships and destinies.
Closure and fate collide in Manifest’s emotionally charged finale (Photo: Manifest/Warner Bros. Television)
The finale did not only bring together every element of the series’ mystery but also reflected on the choices each passenger made since their return. Every storyline led back to the question of whether they would be judged worthy of a second chance.
The Judgment Zone and the Ultimate Test
The episode placed most of its action within the realm of a metaphysical space referred to as the “divine consciousness.” This concept had been teased throughout the series, but here it was fully shown as the stage for the final test.
As volcanic ash begins to rain down and lava emerges, the passengers find themselves gathered at the location where the plane first landed after its disappearance. They realise that their judgment day has arrived.
Each passenger is evaluated based on how they responded to the Callings. Those who ignored or misused them faced destruction, while those who showed compassion, accountability and change were granted survival.
It became clear that the Callings were never just clues or warnings, but tools for spiritual and personal growth. The passengers who failed to grow or acted selfishly met their end inside the lava pit, consumed by what seemed like divine justice.
Ben and Michaela Stone, the siblings who had long been at the heart of the show’s events, managed to demonstrate unwavering loyalty and purpose. Ben’s constant search for his son Cal’s safety and Michaela’s tireless drive to solve each Calling contributed heavily to their survival.
Cal, who had earlier been revealed as uniquely connected to the divine consciousness, also played a critical role by acting as a bridge between the realm of judgment and reality.
Cal’s Sacrifice and the Restart of Time
Cal made the ultimate sacrifice to save the others. His actions helped activate the plane once again, serving as a symbol of transformation and cleansing.
The passengers who survived the judgment found themselves returning to April 7, 2013—the day their original flight was supposed to land. This time, however, the plane arrived at its destination without vanishing.
By resetting time, the series allowed the characters to retain their memories while gaining the opportunity to live differently. It suggested that their second chance came not just with knowledge but also responsibility. Each of them now had the choice to lead more meaningful lives.
Saanvi, who had spent most of the series wrestling with guilt and science’s limitations, got a new lease on life where she could heal others without the burden of secrets.
Jared, who had always struggled with his feelings for Michaela and her sister, got clarity. Even characters like Eagan and Adrian, who had taken more morally complicated paths, received renewed understanding of what their actions meant.
Angelina’s Final Fate
Angelina, who had become the most unpredictable and dangerous figure by the final episodes, represented the dark side of faith turned toxic. She believed she was chosen above all others, which led her to cause destruction and chaos.
In the final moments, she was one of the few to be consumed by the lava, marking the end of her tragic path. Her inability to change or accept her flaws sealed her destiny.
Her character was a reflection of how belief can become destructive when fueled by ego instead of humility. The show did not spare her because of prior pain or confusion. Instead, her actions stood against everything the Callings were meant to inspire.
What the Ending Tells Us
The ending brought the story back to its original point in time, but with a deeper layer of understanding. Those who were granted a second chance had to carry the burden of what they had seen and what they had done.
While others in the world were unaware of the missing years and the supernatural events, the surviving passengers now had full awareness.
Spiritual tests decide who earns a second chance (Photo: Manifest/Warner Bros. Television)
Vance, who had been investigating the mystery for years, recognised the strange outcome but did not pursue the matter. He accepted the passengers’ silence as a necessary part of something bigger. It reinforced the idea that this was a spiritual journey beyond scientific explanation.
Grace, who died earlier in the series, remained gone in the new timeline. Her absence left a scar on Ben’s heart, though it also pushed him to be a better father and person. Olive, Ben and Grace’s daughter, and Eden, their youngest child, became part of the emotional grounding of the final moments.
The conclusion may stir debates about whether the series answered all questions, but it firmly delivered the message that redemption is possible, that time can offer correction, and that choices matter when guided by something higher than oneself.
Jerry Greenfield, renowned as the co-founder of the iconic Vermont-based ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s, has amassed a net worth estimated at $150 million. Alongside his childhood friend Ben Cohen, Jerry transformed a modest investment into a global enterprise. The duo initially pooled $8,000 in savings and secured a $4,000 bank loan to launch their first ice cream shop in the late 1970s. Over the years, their brand expanded internationally, now available in over 40 countries with annual revenues approaching $700 million. In 2000, food conglomerate Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry’s for $326 million, by then generating $237 million annually. Although Greenfield and Cohen receive salaries from Unilever, they no longer participate in the day-to-day running of the company.
Philanthropy and Social Advocacy
Beyond their business achievements, Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen have long been committed to social justice. In 1995, they established the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding progressive causes both locally in Vermont and nationally. Their activism has been recognized on multiple occasions, including the 1988 honor of U.S. Small Business Persons of the Year awarded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The pair also authored two influential books, sharing insights into their values-driven business model and homemade recipes.
Jerry Greenfield (Image via Getty)
Roots and Early Influences
Born on March 14, 1951, in Brooklyn, New York, Jerry Greenfield grew up in a Jewish family on Long Island. His friendship with Ben Cohen began in middle school gym class in 1963, and they later attended Sanford H. Calhoun High School together. Jerry pursued higher education at Oberlin College in Ohio, focusing on pre-med studies while working as an ice cream scooper in the campus cafeteria. Despite graduating in 1973, his attempts to enter medical school were unsuccessful. He returned to New York, moved in with Cohen, and worked as a lab technician before relocating to North Carolina in 1974 with his girlfriend Elizabeth Skarie.
The Birth of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream
Originally planning to open a bagel shop, Greenfield and Cohen pivoted after discovering the prohibitive cost of bagel equipment. Instead, they enrolled in a $5 ice cream-making course at Pennsylvania State University, setting the stage for their future venture. In May 1978, they launched Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Ice Cream Parlor in Burlington, Vermont, a college town that lacked an ice cream shop. Each invested $4,000, complemented by a $4,000 bank loan, to open their first store.
A unique aspect of their flavor creation was influenced by Cohen’s anosmia, a condition impairing his sense of smell and taste. This challenge led to the signature chunks in their ice cream, added to boost flavor recognition. Cohen explained in a 2021 interview how Greenfield would keep adding flavoring until Cohen could accurately identify the taste.
Growth and Brand Expansion
By 1980, the founders began distributing pints in grocery stores, and within seven years, Ben & Jerry’s had grown into a $30 million company. Their first franchised store opened in Shelburne, Vermont, in 1981. Today, the brand boasts 615 locations worldwide.
Ben & Jerry’s is celebrated for innovative flavors like Americone Dream, Half Baked, Phish Food, Chunky Monkey, and Cherry Garcia. The company prioritizes ethical sourcing, using fair trade-certified ingredients, non-GMO products, and dairy from Certified Humane cage-free farms. Following the Unilever acquisition in 2000, Greenfield and Cohen stepped back from managing the company. Jerry described their current role as goodwill ambassadors, focusing on promoting the company’s social values rather than its commercial success.
Jerry Greenfield (Image via Getty)
The Unilever Acquisition and Its Impact
In April 2000, Unilever made a significant move by acquiring two brands simultaneously: Slim-Fast Foods for $2.3 billion and Ben & Jerry’s for $326 million. The acquisition process took over a year, with Jerry initially opposing the idea of joining a major corporation.
During negotiations, a rival offer from Dreyers proposed a stock-swap deal, granting Ben & Jerry two board seats and about 25% ownership in the merged company. However, Unilever’s higher cash offer, along with several unique commitments, sealed the deal.
Unilever agreed to preserve Ben & Jerry’s social mission, commit to sourcing milk exclusively from Vermont dairy farmers at premium prices, donate 7.5% of pre-tax profits to charity, maintain an independent board of directors, and cover legal fees if they breached these terms. Additionally, Unilever provided Jerry Greenfield $5 million to launch a venture capital fund aimed at supporting low-income entrepreneurs.
Personal Life and Continued Activism
During the 1980s, Greenfield briefly left Ben & Jerry’s to accompany his then-girlfriend Elizabeth Skarie to Arizona while she pursued a Ph.D. Returning to Vermont in 1985, he took on the role of Director of Mobile Promotions at the company. Jerry and Elizabeth married in 1987 and welcomed their son Tyrone in 1988.
Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen are renowned for their unwavering commitment to philanthropy and activism, which has greatly influenced their business practices. The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation actively supports a variety of organizations dedicated to social justice and community empowerment. Among these are The Street Vendor Project, which advocates for the rights of street vendors, Denver Homeless Out Loud, which works to uplift the homeless community in Denver, RISE St. James, focused on environmental justice in Louisiana, and the Anti-Displacement Project, which seeks to prevent the displacement of low-income residents. Through these efforts, Greenfield and Cohen demonstrate that businesses can play a vital role in addressing pressing societal issues.
Jerry Greenfield (Image via Getty)
In 2016, both founders were arrested during a Democracy Awakening protest in Washington, D.C. Ben & Jerry’s publicly supported their actions, emphasizing the importance of direct activism in effecting change. The company highlighted historic movements, from the March on Washington to sit-ins and environmental protests, underlining the founders’ willingness to physically stand up for causes they believe in.
Recent Advocacy and Political Stances
In July 2021, Greenfield and Cohen publicly supported a boycott of their ice cream sales in Israeli settlements located in the occupied West Bank territories. They penned an op-ed for The New York Times clarifying that, while they no longer have operational control, they stand behind the company’s stance as aligning with what they see as the “right side of history.” This commitment reflects their ongoing engagement with global social justice issues, consistent with the values embedded in their brand from its inception.
