The streaming platform, often criticized for canceling popular series, has also been praised for reviving struggling shows — including one about the mysterious reappearance of a commercial flight’s passengers and crew, who had vanished for five and a half years.
Fans are now hailing the series as the “best show” on Netflix.
Originally premiering in 2018 on NBC, the show ran for three seasons before being canceled in June 2021, despite ending on a dramatic cliffhanger and plans for a fourth season.
Just two months later, in August 2021, Netflix stepped in, acquired the rights, and gave the green light for a fourth season.
Since debuting on the platform, the show has become a massive hit, drawing in over 57 million viewers, according to Variety.
The first part of season four – which is supposed to be the finale – came out in November 2022 and the second half of the series dropped in June 2023.
Since the second part of the season has dropped on Netflix, it has found itself a loyal new fanbase.
Fans of the series have taken to social media to react to the show, with one person saying: “The series finale was actually really good. Glad they decided to finish the show.”
Another adds: “That ending was perfect. By far one of the best shows, I’ve ever watched.”
While a third fan comments: “Thank you Netflix. Fans owe you a debt of gratitude. I love this show.”
“This is truly one of the greatest shows I’ve ever watched,” insists somebody else.
Melissa Roxburgh, who plays Michaela Stone in the show, has spoken to The Hollywood Reporter about the series being initially canceled and then revitalized.
When asked how she felt about her show being dropped and what the process was like while negotiations between NBC and Netflix happened, she said: “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.
“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.
“It was an obvious yes because it was the best offer for the show.”
Roxburgh adds that she felt like the show had much more creative ‘freedom’ once Netflix acquired Manifest.
The actress added: “They had their input, but there was just a lot more trust and freedom from Netflix as opposed to NBC.”
