This week Ben goes undercover in order to get information about Unified Dynamic Systems before they begin their experiments again. We review this week’s Manifest, “S.N.A.F.U.”
“S.N.A.F.U.” kicks off with a flashback to Kelly Taylor having an interesting exchange with another MA 828 who apparently believes in fate. While Kelly is complaining about the flight being delayed and redirected, the other passenger excitedly replies that “we’re all in this together!” So, the #ItsAllConnected story continues…
Stone. Ben Stone. Undercover.
In the present, since the experiments on Marko have stopped, Cal has stabilized and is being released from the hospital. But Cal is concerned: “I think something bad is going to happen, to him and me.”
Cal is still connected to Marko and is seriously worried, but we can trust Papa Ben to get to the bottom of this! Especially since these people will start the experimentations again…
Ben decides that the best way to find information is to follow the money and go undercover as an entry-level accountant for Unified Dynamic Systems.
“I’m just going to blend in…” Ben tells Michaela.
He’s totally over-qualified, but is able to land the job, However, Ben’s supervisor, Ronnie Wilcox, is a total bro and MA 828 fanboy. So much for blending in! It also turns out that collecting information about UDS will be easier said than done because all the info is restricted.
Ben tries to convince Ronnie to give him more responsibility and access to the higher profile clients… he has a PhD in Applied Mathematics for goodness sakes. But that’s a no go… until Ben comes up with a plan to microwave his ID badge until it’s destroyed and then borrow Ronnie’s. Ben is able to take a look at the UDS files and notices “S.P.” next to several of them, as well as the involvement of Fiona Clark.
“Finally. I’ve been waiting for you.”
Ben shares all these developments with Saanvi… and they meet up to research more into Fiona Clark. As a neuroscientist with “fringe beliefs”, Fiona believes that all human brains can be synched up. Ben and Saanvi decide to attend one of her talks to learn more…
Meanwhile, Vance and the NSA is watching Ben, and Ben is keeping the truth away from Grace, claiming to be at a poker game new work friends, not at the Fiona Clark presentation.
And interestingly enough, as soon as Fiona sees Ben and Saanvi in the audience, she recognizes them: “Finally. I’ve been waiting for you.”
Yep, Fiona Clark was on MA 828, too, the lady from the flashback.
After further conversation, Fiona reveals that SP is the Singularity Project. After returning from the slight, S.P. reached out to Fiona.They’re funding her research… and apparently associated with UDS.
Apparently, Vance is our friend now.
Ben does end up going to the poker game with Ronnie and some work colleagues. This is where he strikes up a friendship with one of the IT guys who has access to huge data dumps from various firms. The next day at work, Ben goes to see his IT co-worker, and with a spill of coffee, Ben is left alone with total access to data about the Singularity Project. Ben has a flash drive just for this purpose.
Unfortunately, that night as Ben is trying to leave the building, security is doing a spot check. Ben thinks he can get out of the building by putting the flash drive in his thermos, but things are doubtful. This is until her starts getting random texts telling him to walk in another direction.
Lookie, lookie… would you guess that it’s Vance from the NSA. Vance takes that flashdrive for Ben, even as Ben is pleading from him to do something about UDS and their experiments
Ben is feeling dejected; however, when he gets home, Cal gives him an interesting message: “He’s not a bad guy, dad. Not anymore…”
So, according to Cal, Vance is our friend. This is confirmed when Vance decides to keep the existence of the flashdrive away from the NSA and do some private investigating of his own, WOWSA.
“Wanna hear your beating heart tonight..”–Ellie Goulding
Elsewhere, Michaela has been dealing with her own drama this episode. At first, she’s called by Evie’s parents to come to the house. It seems Evie’s mom, Beverly, is going through a difficult bout with her Alzheimer’s and is agitated about seeing Evie. Michaela tries her best to reassure Beverly that everything will be OK.
Later, while on the job, Michaela responds to a robbery of a local convenience store where the owner has been stabbed.
“I’m hearing a heartbeat, but not feeling a pulse…”
Michaela tries to save the man, Uncle Enrique, but it doesn’t happen. His nephew, Carlos, witness the whole thing, and is devastated when his uncle dies.
In the aftermath, Michaela continues to hear this heartbeat in her head. She believes that it’s a sign that she’s supposed to help Carlos. Michaela takes that sign seriously. When it seems that Carlos is going to engage in a revenge killing against the junkie who killed his uncle, Michaela is able to intervene and calm Carlos down. And when the junkie attempts to attack another person, the heartbeat leads Michaela to prevent the attack and have the guy arrested.
But what’s up with that heartbeat?! Back at the convenience store with Carlos, Michaela sees a picture of Evie. It turns out that years ago, Carlos had a heart transplant AND GOT EVIE’S HEART. It’s reassures Michaela that Evie’s legacy is one of kindness, and she passes that reassurance on to Beverly.
Meanwhile, Jared confesses about the NSA trailing him and Michaela’s need to be careful. Hmmm… and in my opinion, despite the good memories, Jared and Lourdes need to let go of the idea that they can all go back to being the Three Musketeers again. Js.
A few other things…
–I think Danny and Olive’s relationship is super cute… and also awkward for Ben. But the exchange between Ben and Danny is an interesting one:
“I’m not gonna get in your way, Ben… When she comes to me I can’t turn her away.”
*SIGH* Is it possible for all of us to be friends for the sake of allowing Olive to have good people in her life?
–I love how the episode ends with a confrontation of sorts between the Woman of faith (Michaela) and Man of science (Ben)… “I can’t trust what I don’t understand…”
But then we see that days ago, Cal drew a picture of Carlos WITH EVIE’S HEART. How can Cal know and do all of this?! #ItsAllConnected
–Still here. Still shipping Benvi.
Manifest airs Mondays at 10p/9c on NBC.
