Created by Jeff Rake for NBC, Manifest tells the story of Montego Air Flight 828, which left Jamaica in April 2013 and landed in New York in November 2018.
For the flight's crew and passengers — including siblings Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh) and Ben Stone (Josh Dallas) — it seemed like a typical (albeit turbulent) flight. But unbeknownst to everyone onboard, more than five years passed while they were in the air, and they were presumed dead. On the ground, loved ones grieve the loss and eventually try to move on with their lives — until the plane makes its unexpected landing.
With the exception of the events above (which all unfold in the pilot episode), Manifest focuses on the dramatic aftermath of Flight 828. Much of this involves the passengers rebuilding relationships with people who thought they'd be gone forever. But the series also has a supernatural and science-fiction angle, which is seen when the passengers experience "callings," which are mysterious (and sometimes dangerous) visions and feelings that compel them to do something.
After three seasons on NBC, Manifest was canceled by the network. However, the series was later picked up by Netflix for a fourth and final installment, which just released its first batch of episodes. Now, as Manifest comes to an end, Metacritic is bringing you 10 similar shows to check out next. Each one has at least one thing in common with Manifest, whether it's a theme (such as time travel or people suddenly disappearing) or genre (like sci-fi, drama, or mystery).
Here, Metacritic highlights 10 shows to watch after Manifest, ranked by Metascore.
Metascore: 89
Best for: Fans of creepy psychological thrillers set abroad
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Seasons: 2
Based on a 2004 film, The Returned (or Les Revenants) is a French supernatural mystery drama series set in small-town France. One day, the locals are stunned to discover that many of their dead relatives — including a murdered boy and a serial killer — have returned to the town as if nothing happened. But as the formerly deceased residents try to resume their everyday lives, strange things start happening, putting the entire town on edge. In 2012, The Returned debuted on French TV, followed by a less-acclaimed American version three years later.
"[A] quietly creepy and profoundly unsettling supernatural mystery." — Matt Roush, TV Guide Magazine
Metascore: 84
Best for: Fans of sci-fi mysteries with plenty of twists and turns
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Seasons: 6
Like Manifest, ABC's Lost revolves around a group of people on a flight that disappears — but in this case, the passengers are left on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean. However, as they fight to stay alive, they realize that the island is far more dangerous and mysterious than it appears, as they encounter polar bears, monsters, and a hostile group of inhabitants known as "The Others." They also piece together information about the people who have been on the island before them, including members of a research project known as the Dharma Initiative.
"Lost itself has a certain intriguing quality that makes it worth coming back for more." — Rob Owen, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Metascore: 76
Best for: Fans of deep and dark supernatural dramas
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Seasons: 3
Adapted from Tom Perrotta's novel of the same title, The Leftovers takes place after a mystifying global event called the "Sudden Departure," where two-percent of the world's population suddenly vanished. It follows a group of "leftover" people in Mapleton, N.Y. (and later, Jarden, Texas and Australia), who use various coping mechanisms to get through the trauma of the Departure. In the middle of it all is Mapleton's chief of police, Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux), who struggles to keep it all together after his wife leaves their family to join a growing cult called the Guilty Remnant.
"A baffling, beautiful, maddening, provocative puzzle." — Verne Gay, Newsday
Metascore: 72
Best for: Fans of J.J. Abramsand people who enjoy mind-bending sci-fi investigations
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Seasons: 5
Created byAbrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci, this Fox series centers around the FBI's Fringe Division in Boston, which investigates unexplainable supernatural events that fall within the realm of "fringe science." Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) is a key member of the team, and she's later joined by ex-government scientist Walter Bishop (John Noble) and his consultant son Peter (Joshua Jackson). Many of the show's storylines focus on the existence of a parallel universe, which turns out to have a major impact on the team members' personal and professional lives.
"Lots of good action and lots of fun to boot." — Linda Stasi, New York Post
Metascore: 71
Best for: Fans of psychological sci-fi dramas with a unique premise
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Seasons: 1
Inspired by Robert J. Sawyer's sci-fi novel of the same title, FlashForward is set after a mysterious event causes everyone in the world to lose consciousness for just over two minutes. During that time, people saw a glimpse of what their lives would look like in six months. Some of the visions were positive, while others were alarming — or in some cases, simply didn't exist. Eager to understand what caused this global blackout, the FBI assigns Special Agents Mark Benford (Joseph Fiennes) and Demetri Noh (John Cho) to investigate.
"A compelling concept and a solid cast." — Michael Starr, New York Post
Metascore: 68
Best for: Fans of Stephen Kingor general mystery dramas with a sci-fi slant
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Seasons: 3
Created by Brian K. Vaughan, Under the Dome is a TV adaptation of King's 2009 novel of the same title, but it takes very different turns than the book. It focuses on the small town of Chester's Mill, Maine, which is abruptly cut off from the rest of the world when an enormous transparent dome mysteriously appears and traps its residents inside. Following several unsuccessful efforts to bring down the dome, the townspeople decide to take action and uncover the truth about their containment. But as supplies run dry and tensions rise, surprising truths about the town and its people come to light.
"Even while acknowledging the occasional misstep, give Under the Dome credit for getting a lot of things right." — Mark Dawidziak, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Metascore: 66
Best for: Fans of sci-fi thrillers that aren't afraid to tackle serious issues
Where to watch: Netflix
Seasons: 2
Netflix's Sense8 chronicles the lives of eight strangers known as "sensates," who unexpectedly develop the ability to communicate with each other telepathically. Located all around the world, the sensates initially struggle to understand their newfound power and its implications, but they gradually come to terms with their abilities and learn how to work together. However, things take a darker turn when the new sensates learn that they're being hunted by the ill-intentioned Biologic Preservation Organization (BPO). Over its two-season run, Sense8 was nominated for two Primetime Emmys, including Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series.
"It's ambitious and passionate and very deeply flawed." — Melissa Maerz, Entertainment Weekly
Metascore: 63
Best for: Fans of fantasy sci-fi dramas that include parallel universes
Where to watch: Netflix
Seasons: 2
Brit Marling co-created and stars in The OA, a Netflix mystery drama that revolves around Prairie Johnson (Marling), a young woman who suddenly resurfaces after being missing for seven years. However, the circumstances surrounding her return are strange and unsettling. For one, Prairie comes back with her eyesight restored, even though she was blind before she disappeared, and with scars on her back. Referring to herself as the "OA" (short for "original angel"), she plans to re-enter the alternate universe where she was held hostage and help liberate other captives.
"While cracking the puzzles can be fun, some clues drop out of nowhere. It's also not a thoroughly profound drama." — Ben Travers, IndieWire
Metascore: 62
Best for: Fans of eerie and suspenseful sci-fi mysteries
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Seasons: 2
Based on the novel series by Blake Crouch and executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan, Wayward Pines takes a look at life in the peculiar town of Wayward Pines, Idaho. Though it seems idyllic from the outside, the reality is much darker. The town's residents are separated from the outside world by an electric fence, living under harsh rules and unable to communicate with anyone on the other side. All of this (and more) is uncovered by U.S. Secret Service Agent Ethan Burke (Matt Dillon), who's sent to Wayward Pines to examine the disappearance of two fellow agents.
"A series that comes at you weird and gets weirder as it goes along." — Robert Bianco, USA Today
Metascore: 57
Best for: Fans of sci-fi thrillers based around time travel
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Seasons: 4
If you're a fan of time-travel shows or movies, then Syfy's 12 Monkeys could be an intriguing series to add to your list. As an adaptation of 1995's Terry Gilliam-directed film, 12 Monkeys follows James Cole (Aaron Stanford), who travels back in time to stop a secretive organization (known as the "Army of the 12 Monkeys") from releasing a lethal virus and killing a majority of the world's population. Along the way, he recruits virologist Dr. Cassandra Railly (Amanda Schull), who puts her life on the line to help James and save humankind.
"It's an entertaining genre series with some fun performances, but it doesn't make the same lasting impression as the works that inspired it." — Josh Bell, Las Vegas Weekly