the duality between how gideon and mitchell interact versus what we see of will and mitchell stands out to me so, so much.
will and mitchell are best friends. they enlisted together. stuck together. will uses his last words to offer mitchell comfort. they keep each other in line. mitchell places his complete and utter trust in will, and will would rather see himself killed than let mitchell get caught in the crossfire. the trust, the affection, the kindness, the genuine and raw friendship there is almost tangible, to me.
with gideon, it's... so close, yet so far. he's rough with mitchell, but keeps him on target. he realigns mitchell when he has to, barks orders, tells him what to do, and holds him accountable. he's a good commander, and mitchell trusts him for it. even once separated, even if it's because he has no other choice, when gideon comes back and is ready to help, mitchell welcomes him back, and stands readily at his side.
i really like the thought of gideon being a parallel to will while mitchell is grieving. he's just familiar enough to be a source of comfort, but he's too distant, too rough, for mitchell to be able to lean into it and immerse himself in that comfort as a way of coping. but on the other hand, what choice does he have beyond that? he's part of the team now, he has to stick close to gideon. and it is by gideon's side that he gets back on his feet and learns to fight again.
maybe not willingly, but every person who grieves has to move on eventually. for their own sake. and i like to see mitchell prying off the prosthetic that johnathan irons gave him, sending him to his death, and leaving the arm to fall with him, is his moment of letting go. will is gone, and his father's schemes at an end.
and gideon is there to take him home, and make sure he's safe. gideon is not will, but he doesn't have to be. i mean, it's not like mitchell ever had to take that second chance, did he?
