‘Manhunt’ Recap: ‘The Final Act’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

‘We finish the work now. We have to.’
- Edwin Stanton

Damian O’Hare, Tobias Menzies, and Brandon Flynn as Detective Thomas Eckert, Edwin Stanton, and Edwin Stanton, Jr. in Episode 107 of ‘Manhunt’ – ‘The Final Act’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Finale of ‘Manhunt’. To revisit the show’s Penultimate Episode, click here.
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One thing that we can all agree upon, is that the Apple TV+ series, Manhunt, has provided us with stunning context regarding the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. For not everyone that tuned in, understood all that much about that moment and now we know, that his death came forth during a tenuous time in American history, wherein the Confederacy was still active and still had strong supporters floating about. Plus, we came to learn that hunting down John Wilkes Booth was no easy task and ended in a manner so unceremonious that it is no wonder this segment of history isn’t dug into all that much more. Well, that and the fact that America continued to build long after this harrowing moment passed.

But how did that happen? Because in many ways, what we’ve seen here should have brought forth another Civil War, or at the least… greater conflict. Because the country was on shaky ground and harbored a new president who was about worthless as they come and catered to the whims of arrogant morons. Well as it turns out, it took a few actions on the part of one Edwin Stanton to keep the nation from plunging into more chaos and more suffering… as showcased during the series finale of the show. For ‘The Final Act’ made it clear that one big reason the country began to heal and began to move forward, was the sheer fact that there was actual accountability following Booth’s death. For Stanton assembled his military tribunal and brought forth a bevy of quality witnesses to testify and speak against the conspirators that worked to kill the president. 

However, while the testimony in question was compelling and led to convictions and an understanding that this kind of behavior would lead to accountability if repeated in the future, as evidenced by those convicted for their actions on January 6, it was what happened on the road to guilty that truly spoke to how America healed from this conflict. For in the midst of this madness, we saw Americans from all walks of life, work together, encourage one another and be brave in the face of adversity to ensure that justice was served. And that unity, really did help in such matters. For it brought forth stunning honesty and admissions, the kind that truly exposed the crimes committed here and it also showcased what the American experiment, and the War itself was trying to accomplish. In that, it was working to create a country where all are one. Where all, are free.

If anything, it was just wonderful to see that message arrive here and see people come together in a common and just cause and that laid the groundwork for a better tomorrow, as did the events of the coda of this tale. Wherein we came to learn that Edwin Stanton, a man that did his duty, and did it well, and even tried to resign from his post near the end of the War, stood fast when Johnson tried to remove him and never left public service. In fact, he was ready to serve on the Supreme Court before his passing from his asthma. But his desire to carry on the message of President Lincoln and demand we be better, paid off in spades. Since the three phases of reconstruction were indeed completed and a nation finally moved foward. One that remains flawed yes, and teetering now a manner akin to the war, but is still a beacon and a promise of a better life. 

Which means that in the end, this was a story that Showrunner Monica Beletsky chose to bring to bear, with Apple’s help… to remind us. Remind us that sometimes the wrong voices become too loud and harbor too much influence. But when we take a moment to say no to their voices, to their actions, and do so in a unified voice… we silence them. We push them back into their dark little corner to huff and puff until the next generation is called upon to silence them again. And that is how it goes and will go, for freedom requires a fight, and this experiment requires protection so that all can be free, and that makes this a poignant and powerful series. One that arrives at the right time and is as wondrous as it is intelligent thanks to its talented cast and crew, and well… now that we’ve reached the end of this infamous manhunt and powerful history lesson… the time has come to do as Stanton asked… to ensure the promise of the United States of America, is fulfilled.

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