Why Melissa Roxburgh, Star of “Manifest,” Doesn’t Want a “Lost” Ending for the Show

‘Manifest‘ Finale and the Influence of ‘Lost’: Melissa Roxburgh’s Take

Introduction

The Netflix series ‘Manifest‘ has come to an end, leaving fans to ponder the show’s mythological and emotional wrap-up. As one of the beloved characters in the series, Melissa Roxburgh, who played Michaela Stone, shared her thoughts about the finale. In an interview with Meredith Jacobs, posted on TV Insider, Roxburgh talked about her experience with the show and the finale’s end that reminded fans of the controversial ‘Lost’ ending.

The ‘Manifest‘ Ending and How the Cast Responded

Roxburgh revealed that the cast only knew about the ending while they were shooting it, which means that they were all in the dark about the outcome until that moment. According to her, Jeff Rake (the show’s creator) wanted to give the cast a surprise at the end, which made it all the more exciting. She also said that she was curious to see how fans would react because of the backlash against the ending of ‘Lost,’ citing that it was “so all over the place.”

The Poetic and Mythological Nature of the Finale

Roxburgh shared her thoughts about Jeff Rake’s approach to ending the show, saying that it was “really poetic” and “emotional and just familial.” As someone who had been involved in the show’s mythology and twists and turns since it began, Roxburgh thinks that the pressure on Rake to come up with an ending that will satisfy everyone would have been massive. But she believes that he did a great job.

The Emotional Challenges of the Finale

Roxburgh also talked about the challenge of filming the finale’s ending, particularly the reunion scene with Zeke, played by Matt Long. She acknowledged how it was one of the toughest scenes to shoot, especially since it aimed to “make it still romantic and whatever.” She also expressed her belief that Zeke would believe Michaela’s story, mainly because he had nothing left to lose.

Friendship and Romance in the Finale

Roxburgh discussed the intertwined storylines of friend Drea and ex-boyfriend Jared, whom Michaela reunited with at the end of the series. While Michaela knows that she is not the right fit for Jared, hence they had to part ways, their friendship and love are not entirely lost, according to her. She referred to Drea and Michaela’s friendship as “amazing,” given how Michaela lost a few friends along the way. She also believes that Michaela would not stay with the NYPD, considering how she saw how her department handled the passengers and “didn’t love it.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, Melissa Roxburgh’s interview revealed how she regarded the finale, a mix of emotion, friendship, mythology and happy endings. She believed that it was an incredible ride, from 2013 to the present day, culminating in a “perfect” ending. While the fans would ultimately have different reactions to the finality of ‘Manifest‘ and its comparison to ‘Lost,’ Roxburgh’s thoughts were a refreshing perspective on the show’s legacy.