I really love that with Mitchell and Annie they managed to make a kind of relationship that is very rare on TV. It's big and sweeping and romantic, starting with him rescuing her from purgatory, ending with being the loves of each others' long lives. In that way it's very "the show's OTP-y," like Buffy/Angel (S1-3), Ten/Rose (under RTD), Bill/Sookie (at least so far), hell, like Ross/Rachel. (Nina/George aren't as much like this. I think the show intends for them to stay together, but they're more Chandler/Monica -- the "realistic" couple as opposed to the epic one).
BUT (and this is what is amazing and rare) both the narrative and the characters realize that that doesn't actually matter. Love is great, and important, but it doesn't conquer all. It can't fix Mitchell. And given that, the fact that they have this ~big epic romance~ doesn't make them more important than the people he might hurt. That's what Buffy in Season 2 and 3 didn't really realize (not that I really blame her, you know, teen and all, plus weight of the world on her shoulders, etc.).
And I love it. Love that they acknowledge that. In part BECAUSE it's rare. And in part because while I can get on bored with ships where the characters are selfish, that wouldn't have worked with Annie/Mitchell, because, as you point out, Annie would never, ever believe her feelings were more important than other people's LIVES.
As Annie said, who the hell did Mitchell think he was in love with?
This wasn't just a perfect end for Mitchell, but a perfect one for the ship. Annie will always remember and love him, and now she can remember and love him as a man who, eventually, did the right thing.
Okay, apparently I have more thoughts:
BUT (and this is what is amazing and rare) both the narrative and the characters realize that that doesn't actually matter. Love is great, and important, but it doesn't conquer all. It can't fix Mitchell. And given that, the fact that they have this ~big epic romance~ doesn't make them more important than the people he might hurt. That's what Buffy in Season 2 and 3 didn't really realize (not that I really blame her, you know, teen and all, plus weight of the world on her shoulders, etc.).
And I love it. Love that they acknowledge that. In part BECAUSE it's rare. And in part because while I can get on bored with ships where the characters are selfish, that wouldn't have worked with Annie/Mitchell, because, as you point out, Annie would never, ever believe her feelings were more important than other people's LIVES.
As Annie said, who the hell did Mitchell think he was in love with?
This wasn't just a perfect end for Mitchell, but a perfect one for the ship. Annie will always remember and love him, and now she can remember and love him as a man who, eventually, did the right thing.