Let’s face it, the hardest part of picking up a new show to watch is keeping all the characters straight. When Montego Air 828 goes missing mid-air, there are 191 souls onboard. That gives the writers and showrunners a basically endless stable of characters to play with.
Related: Enjoy UNLIMITED access to thousands of Movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video
It also may seem a little overwhelming for new viewers. But don’t worry, your friendly Fanatics are here to help. We’re going to start you out with the core cast, the Stone family, but check back for more as this show looks to fulfill expectations that it’s the next Lost !
Michaela – Manifest Season 1 Episode 1 Michaela Stone (Melissa Roxburgh) was a detective with the NYPD when Montego Air 828 took off from Jamaica. When she returns to her life five years later, there’s not much left.
Her fiance has moved on and her apartment has been let go. She’s still got her badge, which should help as she tries to figure out to the passengers during the missing five years.
(Craig Blankenhorn/NBC/Warner Brothers) Ben – Manifest Season 1 Episode 1 Michaela’s big brother Ben Stone (Josh Dallas) has the perfect family…except for son’s illness. Family comes first for Ben, and even if he doesn’t approve of all of his little sister’s actions, he’s got her back.
Ben will stick by Michaela’s side as she puts together the pieces of what happened to those aboard flight 828. But he also has to reforge relationships with his wife and daughter, who have lived without him for five years.
(Craig Blankenhorn/NBC/Warner Brothers) Grace – Manifest Season 1 Episode 1 Grace Stone (Athena Karkanis) did her best to hold the family together after the disappearance of Montego 828, along with her husband and son. But five years is a long time, especially when you think you’re a widow.
Grace is willing to forgive and forget her past issues with Michaela, but will Ben grant her the same when he finds out what secret she’s hiding from him?
(Craig Blankenhorn/NBC/Warner Brothers) Cal and Olive – Manifest Season 1 Episode 1 They may share the same birthday, but there’s a five year age difference now between the Stone twins (Luna Blaise and Jack Messina). It’s a good thing Olivia’s been in therapy for five years, because how do they even start to reforge that relationship?
But their time apart may ultimately give them more time together. Cal’s leukemia was close to being declared terminal in 2013, but new treatments might be able to cure him.
(Craig Blankenhorn/NBC/Warner Brothers) Saanvi – Manifest Season 1 Episode 1 Saanvi Bahr (Parveen Kaur) was a research student when Flight 828 took off. Five years later, she’s shocked to find out that the research she pioneered has been implemented in her absence. The results are amazing, but Saanvi will have to fight to regain control of her work.
(Craig Blankenhorn/NBC/Warner Brothers) Jared – Manifest Season 1 Episode 1 Detective Jared Vasquez (J.R. Ramirez) proposed to his girlfriend Michaela before she left for a family vacation to Jamaica. Five years later, he’s married to her (former) best friend.
They still have to work together, and things are going to get messy. Feelings don’t just disappear. It’s not a question of if sparks will fly again, but when.
(Craig Blankenhorn/NBC/Warner Brothers)