Cal's happy ending in Manifest's final episode is thrown into turmoil by a major revelation. In the penultimate episode, Cal selflessly sacrifices himself for the passengers and the world, but surprisingly comes back to life in the series finale. However, this revival comes at a cost as he loses all recollection of the events that unfolded throughout the series.
With the exception of those who failed to pass judgment, the main characters of Manifest were promised bright futures by the time travel twist in the series finale. The plane successfully landed at the airport in 2013, resetting the timeline for the benefit of the passengers. This means that some characters, like Cal, now have the opportunity for an even better future. Cal, who would have eventually died of cancer if Flight 828 hadn't vanished, can now potentially be cured thanks to Saanvi. As Ben mentioned in the finale, they have the chance to avert that scenario and ensure that Cal lives a long and healthy life, free from the pain and hardships he experienced before the reset.
Cal’s Happy Ending In Manifest Ignores A Major Season 4 Twist
However, the show's supposed happiest ending for Cal, which includes him regaining his childhood and being raised by Ben and Grace, fails to address a crucial revelation from earlier in the season. In the first part of Manifest season 4, it was revealed that Saanvi's cure for Cal's cancer was not sufficient to resolve all their problems. Despite a period of remission, Cal's cancer returned and posed a life-threatening risk. It was only through Zeke's intervention, using his abilities to absorb the cancer, that Cal's life was saved.
Judging by the elapsed time between Saanvi's treatment and the recurrence of his cancer, along with the five years added to his biological age, the Stone family is likely to face this threat again when Cal reaches approximately 20 years old. However, this time, Zeke's ability to save him will be questionable. While Zeke may be alive and well in the altered reality, there is no guarantee that he possesses the necessary powers to rescue Cal. Even if, by some chance, Cal's cancer does not reappear, it is still peculiar that Ben and Michaela do not exhibit any concern about it.
Can Cal’s Death Be Avoided After Manifest’s Ending?
Although Manifest does not address the possibility of Cal developing cancer later on, there is a chance for it to resurface without being fatal to the character. According to Alex, the cancer progressed rapidly, which hindered proper treatment the second time around. However, with the accurate timeline provided by their experiences in season 4, the Stone family will be better equipped to handle Cal's illness. This alone does not fully justify their optimistic outlook for Cal's future in the Manifest series finale, but it does offer a glimmer of hope for the years to come. Otherwise, they would constantly be burdened by the knowledge that Cal's time is limited.
