Warning: Spoilers for Manifest Season 4, Part 1 ahead.
TJ fans, rejoice! Garrett Wareing is finally back on Manifest, and all is right with the world. Well, no. TheManifestuniverse is more chaotic than ever before, but hey! At least we got TJ back, right?
The first 10 episodes ofManifest‘s fourth and finale season hit Netflix on November 4, and if you’ve sped through them all in one sitting, you’ve seen the return of one of our favorite 828 passengers: TJ Morrison.
The character, played by Wareing, first debuted in the second episode of Season 2 when he shared a Calling with Ben that lead them to uncover a girl buried in a construction site. After helping solve the murder, TJ became an honorary member of the Stone family and started dating Olive. We learned that the two shared a moment in the airport ahead of Flight 828, and because TJ got the final ticket on the flight, Olive had to hang back and fly home with the rest of her family as planned.
TJ became Olive’s go-to 828 research buddy, kept an eye out for her in the Church of the Returned era, and even saved her life during the nightclub fire episode. The Stone family thought TJ was dead after he failed to emerge from that burning building, but he made a triumphant return, only to leave in Season 2’s penultimate episode, “Call Sign,” for a noble reason.
In hopes of helping the Stones find a way for 828ers to survive the Death Date, TJ went to Egypt to do extensive research on the connection between the plane and Egyptian mythology. Though he sent Olive some findings and the two kept in touch, he was gone for Season 3, but made a surprise — frankly romantic — return at the end of Season 4, Episode 8.
Throughout Season 4, Olive was trying to reach TJ to update him on her chaotic life and chat through 828 theories, but he stopped answering her calls and texts. As she’s leaving him a voicemail at the end of Episode 8, he texts her — and I quote — “Come outside. :)” She walks out her front door to find a taxi, and TJ emerges older, wise, and with some adorable facial scruff. (Ben’s beard wishes.)
He tells Olive he just got off a flight and got all her messages. He came back because he’s been working the Omega Sapphire in Egypt and thinks it’s hidden in New York. Olive channels her inner Cal and says, “It really is all connected.” Then TJ gets extra cute, saying, “I’ve got two questions for you. 1. Do you want to go on a sapphire hunt with me? 2. Can I kiss you?”
The dynamic Season 2 duo shares a smooch and get right back into their groove. TJ returned at a super emotional time for Olive, so he’s thankfully helping keep her afloat. And just like before, he proves to be an invaluable part of the 828 research squad. (And this time, he’s fully equipped with little-known insight straight from Egypt!)
Flashbacks of TJ and Olive play throughout Season 4, hitting fans right in the feels and reminding us how special it is that the show brought Wareing and his character back to close out the series. Though TJ was out of sight for a whole season, he was never out of mind. And he’s one of Season 4’s most satisfying cameos so far.
