Can yall imagine how stoked the Rebellion was when Katniss and Peeta won?
The staples of the Games are:
We Reap the children, and you don’t fight it
They either are programmed to play along, are threatened into playing along, are rigged to die, or are the approved/punished winner
We control the edit and everything done to try and disrupt is for naught.
There has to be one (1) winner
But then Katniss comes along. And outside of Haymitch (useless drunk mentor) she’s so removed from any connection to rebellion. Any paperwork on her would have included her loner behavior. And Peeta was probably recorded as saying he wants to make sure Katniss comes back, even when that means his death. (Before, in the apartment, not just the interview)
So against the odds, (with the caveat that Peeta wasn’t on some Secret Mission) 2 and 12 have both tributes alive! And the rules are fake changed. (Was that Plutarch’s whispering and planting? Or was Crane part of the Rebellion? Or was it just a poor stupid decision?)
And then! Katniss and Peeta out-survive Cato.
Remember how Peeta said he would be down to die to get Katniss home? Now’s the time to prove it! She’s risked a lot to save you, boy, return the favor and fulfill your promise! (thinks Snow, laughing at the Covey Girl playing tricks on a poor love sick boy)
Except she doesn’t kill him. And doesn’t passively wait for him to bleed out. And refuses to let the wolves come back. Instead she says “it’s both or neither.” And she means it. Them berries are in her mouth.
And Plutarch and BeeTee and Mags and probably Haymitch (and 13?) are all sitting there. Watching. If it’s in real time, they’re thinking “how can the Capitol edit this?” And the truth is, they can’t. There is no way to edit only one winner when Katniss brings out the berries. Maybe if they had time? But not 5 minutes. And if it’s post-edit broadcast they’re probably staring in gleeful disbelief that those two 16 year olds from 12 out smarted the editing room.
And here they are. Two (2) Winners.
And that breaks the real rules. No winner = nothing to lose, One winner = selfish hope, Two winners = daring hope
Better than any of the Haymitch or Maysilee Posters. Better than Snow cheating or Sejanus going in or Highbottom’s lack of circus. Better than whatever Johanna did.
Who knows if a Tribute was in on a secret mission. It wasn’t Katniss so, we don’t know. But finally the Rebellion sees a real impact. The break in the total image control the Capitol wields. And it’s their first real foothold nationally. It’s the first lasting crack. And now things can change.
Loved that Haymitch was locked in his room post-Games and was forced to see Lucy Gray’s performance on his TV while Katniss was locked in her room post-execution and started singing again, with cameras pointed at her so Plutarch can say she’s cray-cray at trial.
I can’t find the post, but someone on here (at least once) has predicted that Lenore Dove is going to do the arms out bow that Katniss and Lucy Gray do in their movie depiction. A nod to their similarities and all.
And while I do think it’s likely for the Sunrise movie, wouldn’t it be so much better if Maysilee gets to do it instead?
After Sunrise I’m wondering if the boy or the girl have a Covey name,
I’d like to think it’s the girl, because she has the dark hair and Lenore Dove & Lucy Gray have the larger impact on the story than Tam Amber & Clerk Carmine. She dances in the meadow. So much inherited potential.
But how wonderful if the boy does? How Peeta might have insisted as they learn about the Covey and Haymitch and Burdock more and more. Peeta the painter, lover of colors, and entranced by song. Both a continuation of the old but in a new light for the new world they forged.
Suzanne Collins has a lot of subtle details in the Hunger Games Books. She also double dips details and meanings. What I’m tryin to say is:
I don’t think Haymitch’s Birthday being Reaping Day is just about making him a sorrier story. Or about compounding on July 4th itself.
The Reaping is a Lottery (SO to Shirley Jackson) and what else in US history is a lottery that regularly takes the young and feeds them to horrors they didn’t vote for? The Draft.
And how did the U.S. make the Draft ‘random’ during Vietnam? They picked Birthdays. (The order the days were pick=the order the boys were recruited until no more were needed)
Yes, spoiler. A list, in a rough plot order, of aspects of the story that were very shocking (and a bit of commentary):
Haymitch being besties with Burdock Everdeen! Who is not Covey Named but is Covey related.
And helping with the bootlegging. Plus his take on the local alcoholic.
The lack of even a mention of the Electric Fence?? Guess that’s a Haymitch reaction?
No Maude Ivory, No Barb Azure. They’re likely Lenore Dove and Burdock’s maternal relatives respectively.
But yes Tam Amber and Clark Carmine!!
And Tam Amber making the Mockingjay Pin!
And Maysilee disliking it?? (Also showing the Capitol buy in of some of the more well-to-do even in 12)
Also the very Company Town vibes that Katniss never spoke of. Script money, Bosses, Company Store…
THE REAPING. Is there a rule that all the 12 Victors can’t be fairly reaped?? Except Peeta
1: the lady mayor. Glad to see the mayor isn’t a boy-only job! It might be a very discriminatory society, but at least the sexism is not overwhelming!
2: the real reaping. The shot. The reveal of a 5 minute delay. Haymitch Not Actually being reaped! You know all of it.
2.5: The lack of Goodbyes!
3: HEAVENSBEE! What is he doing here?!
Also how involved he was with the kids. I wonder when the Games stopped with the Personal Videographer? That could’ve been a fun extra addition for the trilogy’s Team 12 Dynamic (but then again, Portia wasn’t included and she was already there)
Effie! It was quite the Big Big Big surprise recognizing her! And how many of y’all had Effie being properly older than Haymitch on your SotR bingo sheet?? (Side note, can we get the Trinket scoop?? Or did I forget something in Songbirds?)
And that she saved the day with the outfits, do you think she’d have preferred to be a Stylist than Escort?
But backing up: Love that Maysilee went Mean Girl on the evil step sister. Dresilla?
And the Birthday cake! Way to really rub it in Capitol. Way to stand up for Haymitch Team 12!
SWEETHEART
The fact that the 50th still used students (tho University) for free labor. I would’ve bet Katniss’s Team was all paid professionals.
Also the fact that this was the first year Tributes had lodging!? That’s only 26 years of proper beds!
And can I just say: live reptile fashion?
I was also surprised by how looong it took to get to the Quarter Quell. The pacing was very much more CF than tHG or even BoSaS (as I expected it to be)
And President Snow showing up in Plutarch’s mansion. Well, the mansion for one, doesn’t Haymitch know to never go to a second location! But the main man himself wanting a private audience with our baby Haymitch… what would have happened if Snow died in the library I wonder…
Anyways; Snow unloading like that on Haymitch? Clearly Not Over It. Lucy Gray still be haunting him. Love that for them.
Then there’s Louella and LouLou. That was so heart breaking.
When Haymitch discovered Louella dead after the chariot throw and he ran the whole way, stealing D1 Panchino’s thunder
Plus it was almost Rue in accusation. “Known her since she was born” (ass would be Lou Lou’s)
Then when Lou Lou showed up! I had expected some trickery because the girl needs to be there for the interview and arena. But a tortured girl from likely-11 who was modified to pass? Oh no.
I had expected a Tribute switcheroo but I was leaning heavy on the voluntary Identical Twin angle, quickly dispelled.
Side note: at some point Plutarch points out that AI deepfakes don’t happen in this world. So there had to physically be a girl to film, (but it could’ve been in a studio?)
AND WIRESS! When Haymitch mentioned mentors I knew Mags, but I was delighted about Wiress
Fast forward to the end: Mags’s walking wasn’t all age, and Wiress’s singing babble was not from her Games.
AND BEETEE! She gave me nuts and bolts! In a Quell!
“I was reaped on the day you were born”
Oh, and poor Ampert… poor Beetee’s Wife.
The fact that Haymitch and Maysilee are like the mom and dad of the Newcomers?!
Loved when Lou Lou sang the 11 song, confirming for 12 and 11 that she’s from 11, somehow.
Songs unite and all that jazz.
I also have to be honest, no one is immune to propaganda. I did not expect so much to happen with Haymitch that was repackaged as seen in CF.
Makes me happier in a way: I now feel like most of the 72 other Games would have included acts of rebellion, proving the Districts didn’t just lay over. (And definitely more than Katniss would’ve realized)
Which makes extra sense; they pick teenagers for these Games. You know the most rash age group.
Then the fact that Haymitch was successful in his infiltration, but the return? That gave such strong echos of Finnick the mutts and the sewer systems. Of course it wasn’t someone left below who died.
The killing of Gamemakers in the Arena belongs here. The fact that with trackers in Tribute arms, and Snow’s own experience, there should be some sort of safety protocol about distance to the Tributes if anyone else goes in? I know it’s the first time but??? Really?
THEN MAYSILEE AND MARETTE KILLED ONE EACH! AND SILKA KNEW THAT WAS A DEATH SENTENCE AND HAYMITCH JUST FREEZING!
Up til then I was really thinking how Maysilee winning would have been better. The way out for Haymitch (with only a little death), but not afterwards.
Why do you let them? Why indeed.
Loved that Maysilee chewed him out! But if he had, there would be no one to remember everything. Silka didn’t even know the half of it.
Maysilee and Haymitch officially declaring their relationship as siblings!! Gave me life!
Just as did the reminder that Effie is a true believer.
Because I am a Haymitch/His Girl supporter from 2009 til I die. Haymitch/Lenore Dove 5ever.
Jumping: Love that he still has her after all these years. That she grew with him.
Haymitch accidentally won. Like he was 100% down to die…everyone else just did it first?
Then after the Games, when Snow essentially tortured Haymitch inside that apartment and he finally saw Lucy Gray. (Very Katniss-Post assassination)
It’s actually delightfully happy to me that that footage existed after 40 years. That Snow wasn’t able to erase her from everything. Because she can come back in post-trilogy fics.
From there ^ on out it was just depressing.
For a moment I did hope that Haymitch faked the alcoholism a bit for reputation and was active in the Rebellion building.
But no. This is a poor depressed man who lost everything.
Snow really did time everything perfectly.
A funeral of 6. Ma and Sid together! The way he called out Maysilee.That Wyatt’s father hung himself.
Poison for Lenore Dove was a shock. I really thought she’d have been hanged, on some bogus charges. But it makes more sense over all.
Then when Burdock showed him the graves…and he surrendered to Nevermore, the Namesong (Poe poem)
The other graves are Maude Ivory and Lucy Gray. Which leaves a few questions: who is the skeleton at the lake? Is Barb Azure dead (buried in the 12 cemetery) or alive? Were there more plots he didn’t register?
Side note, Haymitch throwing rocks?! To get everyone to leave him alone? Not expected. But the alternative would’ve been Burdock and Astread give up on him and that was unacceptable.
Loved that The Hanging Tree made a full appearance in this book too.
Finally: the ending felt so rushed. That or I read it too fast?
Like I get that Haymitch is out of it. The alcohol and any drugs would make everything dull. And the book is focused about the propaganda.
But between Lenore Dove’s poisoning and Victory Tour and the Epilogue with Katniss? I thought Collins could’ve given us a bit more.
BUT KATNISS GAVE HIM THE GEESE AFTER HE LET EVERYTHING OUT?! AND MAKING SURE THEY COULD BREED! AND PEETA SAYING KATNISS CARES (EVEN IF THEY HAD GOOSE FOR DINNER THAT NIGHT!)
I did think Collins would have brought the political philosophy in like she did with Hobbs and Songbirds. So not seeing that spelled out for everyone was a little disappointing.
Honestly finally: I was amazed how Collins used the title through the book. It was just everywhere and so perfect. So very pointed:
Just because it’s the way it was, doesn’t mean thats the way it must be. And one day it won’t be.
