man I miss the Mean Gills. there's a vibe between Scott and Martyn in Limited Life that no other Life Series alliance can capture. they're both incredibly capable, deeply strategic, and endlessly clever. Martyn's the more aggressive of the two, but that doesn't mean that Scott won't strike someone down when he needs to. they're both charismatic, aceing the social game (with a few notable exceptions, namely Joel with Scott and Tango with Martyn). it's no wonder they both survived until the very end, with each other as a teammate.
but there's a slight tenseness between them, despite the amount of faith they clearly have in each other. it starts in episode 2, when Martyn comes "crawling back", and from then on, this looming unease continues. Scott only gives Martyn his time when he absolutely has to, quicker to hand it over to the Clockers or Jimmy, and when Martyn asks for it point-blank, Scott resists. they're both incredible independent, going off alone as much as they travel together. and several times, the mention of betrayal or broken alliances clearly haunts them, to the point where Scott fully asks Martyn if he's planning to leave the alliance after a conversation with Jimmy, then again in the finale when Martyn starts running around with Team TIES. one could call this foreshadowing.
to an extent, they hold each other at arm's length, and I suspect it's because they both know just how much the other is capable of. but there's still that intrinsic trust. they rely on each other time and time again, and even when the entire server is after Scott, Martyn always defends his teammate, consistently his bodyguard and protector. sure, Scott's not going to just hand Martyn 30 minutes, but when there's a crowd chasing after him, Martyn's the one he trusts to put a sword through his chest. if Martyn plans a trap, Scott is quick to offer his help, and if Scott's chasing someone down, Martyn instantly joins in. and, of course, there's the moment that I CONSTANTLY think about where Scott comes in with "Martyn, they tried to kill me!" and Martyn INSTANTLY responds with, "right, that's it, they're dead."
and this trust, combined with that ever-present unease, is really what makes the Mean Gills special. they're simultaneously one of the most tight-knit teams and are also one of the wariest, holding each other close with swords at the ready. and it all culminates in that unforgettable finale, the ultimate betrayal, and of course, Scott's iconic line: "my own Mean Gill... I wouldn't have it any other way."
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