James Griffin is a character on NBC's Manifest. He debuts in the fourteenth episode and is portrayed by guest star Marc Menchaca.
Biography[]
Griffin was an orphan who jumped between four foster homes in his youth. He met Devon Carrick at his fourth and final foster home. Their similar backgrounds gave birth to a kinship; they considered themselves brothers. Together they robbed a store where he shot and killed the clerk and pinned the murder on Carrick. Carrick was convicted of the murder and sentenced to prison where he was later killed in 2003.
Griffin was first arrested at age 15 and again at age 19 for a crime for which he was incarcerated.
On November 30, 2018, Griffin orchestrated a robbery of an armored car containing more than $70 million. Before making his getaway, Griffin murdered his two accomplices. After a brief chase, the armored car plummeted into the East River where Griffin was trapped and presumed to have died. The crash site was placed under 24 hour police guard to ward off treasure hunters while attempts were made to retrieve the vehicle. It was successfully retrieved after more than 3 days (later revealed to be exactly 82 hours and 8 minutes). Michaela opened the driver side door and recoiled as Griffin lunged toward her, howling like a wolf, similar to Cal's drawing, before collapsing and losing consciousness.
He was taken to Koch Hospital, where he received a Calling about an imminent explosion. He was sedated and, upon regaining consciousness, learned from Michaela that only he had received a Calling and that only he possessed the information to prevent its premonition from coming true. Griffin decided to use this information as a “get out of jail free card” in hopes charges from murdering his two accomplices would be dismissed if he were able to prevent a "mass casualty event." Michaela tries to break him before he receives immunity for his information, however fails to do so and he walks free.
When he woke up and spoke in the hospital he talked about people dying, children dying in a explosion. Michaela and Saanvi hear this and try to get him to explain the calling to them but the hospital staff sedate him. After waking up, Michaela explains the callings to him in which he uses to exploit the judicial system by exchanging the knowledge of the bomb for his freedom. Michaela tries to get him to give up immunity and instead going to prison but in the end he receives the immunity charge and is released.
After being released he had plans to go on a morning talk show and reveal to the world about the callings, leading to him becoming rich and famous (as well as putting the 828 passengers in danger). A few steps from the stage, he mysteriously spews up water eventually "drowning" to death.
At first it's believed that Griffin died because he was abusing the Callings. However, it's later determined that everyone who is resurrected has a Death Date which occurs at the exact amount of time in the future that they were gone before being resurrected. Griffin died exactly 82 hours and 8 minutes after his resurrection, failing to beat his Death Date due to his evil actions and unwillingness to take his second chance and change.
Appearances[]
| Manifest: Season One | |||||||
| "Pilot" | "Reentry" | "Turbulence" | "Unclaimed Baggage" | "Connecting Flights" | "Off Radar" | "S.N.A.F.U." | "Point of No Return" |
|
Absent |
Absent |
Absent |
Absent |
Absent |
Absent |
Absent |
Absent |
| "Dead Reckoning" | "Crosswinds" | "Contrails" | "Vanishing Point" | "Cleared for Approach" | "Upgrade" | "Hard Landing" | "Estimated Time of Departure" |
|
Absent |
Absent |
Absent |
Mentioned |
Mentioned |
Appears |
Appears |
Appears |
| Manifest: Season Two | |||||||
| "Fasten Your Seatbelts" | "Grounded" | "False Horizon" | "Black Box" | "Coordinated Flight" | "Return Trip" | "Emergency Exit" | |
|
Absent |
Absent |
Absent |
Absent |
Absent |
Absent |
Absent | |
| "Carry On" | "Airplane Bottles" | "Course Deviation" | "Unaccompanied Minors" | "Call Sign" | "Icing Conditions" | ||
|
Absent |
Absent |
Absent |
Mentioned |
Absent |
Absent | ||