Netflix has breathed new life into a once-canceled TV show – and it’s now officially one of the platform’s most-watched series across the globe.
The streamer might have a reputation for axing popular titles, but it’s also been known to swoop in and rescue struggling shows. And in this case, it’s paid off big time.
The series in question follows the passengers and crew of a commercial flight who mysteriously reappear after vanishing for five and a half years. Fans are calling it the best thing on Netflix right now.
From NBC Flop To Netflix Hit
The show first aired on NBC back in 2018 and managed three seasons before being dropped in June 2021 – despite season three ending on a massive cliffhanger.
But just two months later, Netflix stepped in, picking up the rights and commissioning a fourth and final season.
Since landing on the streaming giant, the series has blown up. According to Variety, it’s pulled in over 57 million viewers worldwide, cementing its place as one of Netflix’s most successful rescues.
Season four was split into two parts, with the first part dropped in November 2022 and the finale arrived in June 2023. Since then, it’s built a loyal new fanbase who can’t stop raving about it.
Fans Can’t Get Enough
Social media has been flooded with reactions. One viewer wrote: “The series finale was actually really good. Glad they decided to finish the show.”
Another said: “That ending was perfect. By far one of the best shows I’ve ever watched.”
A third added: “Thank you Netflix. Fans owe you a debt of gratitude. I love this show.”
And one more simply declared: “This is truly one of the greatest shows I’ve ever watched.”
Cast On The Rollercoaster Ride
Melissa Roxburgh, who plays Michaela Stone, admitted to The Hollywood Reporter that the show’s cancellation left the cast gutted.
“There were a good two to three months of emotional downs when we knew we were getting canceled but hadn’t gotten the official word,” she said.
“Then once Netflix came into the picture, there was another month’s worth of ups and downs because we didn’t know what that exactly meant or what it would look like.
“There were talks about an hour-long movie, about six episodes just to wrap things up. By the time we heard we were getting 20 episodes, we’d been angry, happy, sad – all of it.”
Roxburgh added that moving to Netflix gave the creators way more creative freedom than they’d had at NBC: “They had their input, but there was just a lot more trust and freedom from Netflix as opposed to NBC.”
The show – Manifest – is streaming on Netflix right now, and fans are saying it’s the perfect binge-watch.
