It was going to be all about how the characters react to the situation, nothing about solving the mystery, hence Soap Bubbles. The writers were going to change the characters backstories with "revelations" and "plot twists" basically at random because they don't have a clue, hence a Rancid Onion. And the resulting mess would be so Stupid it would Burn, hence filled with Flaming Stupidity.
The current prime example of this type of show being 'Lost', which 'Manifest' is obviously trying to emulate.