What I’m Watching: Manifest

Manifest: Season 1, Episode 8 “S.N.A.F.U.” (C)

Ben has to be the least subtle spy ever, and it’s a wonder that he didn’t get caught the moment that he went in to apply for a job for which he was woefully overqualified. Obviously, he would push for more influence and access right away, and then, after he spilled coffee on the IT guy he had gotten to like him by pretending to geek out for his work, he did what only happens in movies and on television, inserting a flash drive into the computer to magically copy everything off that could download in mere moments. I was then expecting him to have a decoy flash drive so that Vance would confiscate the wrong one, but I guess we’re now supposed to believe that Vance isn’t sharing what he knows with the NSA either because he actually wants to help or he’s doing something more sinister. Ben sure had time for a lot in this hour, attending poker night at the office, going to a lecture where he and Saanvi were immediately recognized by the presenter, and having a heart-to-heart with Danny about parenting Olive. Michaela also had time for some socialization, going to an extremely awkward dinner hosted by Lourdes and then bailing because of the telltale heart she couldn’t stop hearing. Jared shouldn’t be able to deny that Michaela has a powerful ability anymore after what he saw, and her finding out that Carlos got Evie’s heart should only confirm for her that she really, really has to listen to whatever she hears.