#peeta and gale's relationship strengthening....

[brimay]

Lord tell me why I'm thinking about companion pieces for Our Little Fires...

[ongreenergrasses]

i've been having gale thoughts thanks to the exhausting portrayal of him on other socmed platforms. specifically a lot of people justify that their hatred for gale isn't just on his revolutionary involvement but rather his treatment of katniss/peeta especially his jealousy at their relationship they used for survival. but i feel like this is a bad faith understanding of him, he wasn't just simply jealous bc of being spurred romantically (while it was in some part of it), the capitol having them play romance for their entertainment was an example of the capitol exerting control and commodification of someone he cared about.

I think so many people get caught up in Katniss’s narration and biases and use it to vilify Gale without looking any deeper. Firstly a) jealousy is a normal human emotion. it is normal and it is fine to be jealous, especially if you’re a teenager and your crush is dating someone else. even if they’re not actually dating, because at first Gale doesn’t know that. it’s weird imo to try and justify this level of vitriol towards a character based on the fact that he feels jealousy. But b) it is absolutely a bad faith understanding! that is his best friend! we know from the outset that Gale hates the Capitol and their exploitation of the districts, he’s not quiet about that, and Katniss going into the Games strengthens his hate for the Capitol and they way they treat district people. It is painful and difficult for Gale to watch the way Katniss is mistreated, and a lot of his anger stems from that.

In the end, I don’t think he’s necessarily even that jealous, like you say. I think Katniss assumes that he’s jealous because she takes Gale’s expression of feelings for her and assumes that because he has feelings for her, he just must be jealous that she’s with someone else (because she is a teenager. she’s traumatized and can barely think about the Games during cf when a lot of this unfolds) and that’s why he’s acting that way. She doesn’t realize that his unhappiness is coming at least in part from the way she’s been commodified and coerced (because in thg, she was coerced) into a relationship to entertain the people watching her fight to the death, even though iirc Gale literally says something to that effect once he realizes the relationship is an act.

[alyssalikestoreadbooks]

Mocking Jay - Suzanne Collins

"My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans—except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay—no matter what the personal cost."

Read Date - June 2nd, 2025

Length - 390 Pages

Genre - Dystopian, Romance, Fantasy

Rating - 9/10

Stars - ★★★★☆

Notes - hearing that District 12 has been wiped off the map is just... horrifying. its like a genocide, but i think i might be a bit dramatic saying that? im not sure! Peeta calling for a ceasefire and the talks of "a ceasefire could only result in a previous return to our status, or worse" just reminds me of Palestine. it does. it really really does. Cinna being killed during an interrogation is so sad. I loved him so much. I like Gale and Katniss' interactions together. seeing Gale not being so against her and upset is just... nice. Them choosing to fake a miscarriage is honestly strong emotionally in theory but in the book its played out as nothing. I'd like to imagine that this would only strengthen the peoples connection with Katniss. They think she's lost everything from this, her future family and she's on opposing sides as her apparent lover. it's going to affect how people feel about her. seeing Katniss struggle with becoming the Mocking Jay is a very tough decision because she has to make her OWN mark, instead of following somebody elses. getting to hear the hanging tree in context? I never knew it was from the hunger games series. i just knew it was from the radio that played occasionally. It being put into context is just so mind blowing. Prim growing up throughout these books and maturing is so insane to me. she shouldnt HAVE to grow up, but she has, and she wants to become a medic. I wonder what IS happening to Peeta. I don't think he IS being tortured. I might be wrong, but i think it's the same thing as the JabberJays from book 2. I think they're faking these things to torment the rebels and Katniss. The reveal that Finnick was being sex trafficked basically? i mean not basically thats exactly what it is lets be real. SNOW WAS PIMPING PEOPLE OUT! i literally cannot fathom them, especially after that one twitter post went viral talking about how sex isnt political. it is. it very much is. Peeta being brainwashed is SO FUCKED UP. WHY CANT THEY JUST BE HAPPY ARRRHGHHGHSD. The rebels and Katniss deciding to blow up the nut is a really tough situation because it's a casualty of war. people die. it does happen and its horrific and beyond tragic and hard to mourn because you never even get confirmation that they're gone. you're left wondering what happened, if they were involved, if they died in pain, it just horrible. Katniss telling the survivor that she CANT defend herself because she recognizes how bad what they did was? Perfect writing. Perfect scene. Knowing that Peeta just.. doesn't love Katniss anymore is TOUGH AS FUUUCK. I don't really ship them the way other people do but it clearly affects Katniss. I like her and Joanna's relationship together. the dynamic is very very different for this book and maybe the first female Katniss' age that she can ally with. Finnick dying to the muts is sooo fucked up. I hate everything about his death. I liked him a LOT. AND PRIM. FUCKING PRIM. THERE ARE NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE HOW UPSET I AM. IM TOO MAD TO CRY. I DIDNT EXPECT THIS IN THE LEAST BIT. WHAAAT THE HORRIFYING FUCK IS GOING ONNNNN. Katniss deciding to continue on the hunger games with Capital children? I don't know if its the right option, but its beyond powerful. Katniss killing Coin?? Holy fuck. a twist I was NOT EXPECTING. AGAIN. Suzanne Collins is VERY VERY good at twists. Katniss bonding with the cat, Buttercup, is so bittersweet. It did make me tear up. I hate when animals are involved, it just hurts so much. The book ending with Katniss choosing Peeta was... different. Not what I expected. Again, I am not a Peeta truther. Im a Gale GirlTM. So this isn't my favorite ending. That's why i love the epilogue. the line of "there are better games to play" just rings so deep knowing that Katniss did go on to have children. That the hunger games are over. That everyone is free. Its... still bittersweet. It hurts knowing she's one of the last few surviving. The few who knows what happened. It'll be forgotten one day. I don't know. This was such a good but hard emotionally to read.

[xxtherookxx]

Taylor Swift Songs as The Hunger Games Series Pt. 2: The Archer

Finally, I’m at it again! Only took me like a year to get around to posting part 2 (lmao). Here's the run-down for those who haven’t seen my first post: I was obsessed with The Hunger Games series as a preteen and I also love Taylor Swift, so (naturally) my brain often mixes the two together. Today, I’ve chosen to explore the song ‘The Archer’ and how it--unintentionally--relates to our main girl, Katniss Everdeen, specifically regarding her mental/emotional battle with the rebellion and her fellow victor, Peeta Mellark. So, without further Ado, here’s my unnecessarily thorough analysis :)

Verse 1:

Combat, I'm ready for combat

I say I don't want that, but what if I do?

These lines are reminiscent of Katniss’ initial hesitation toward the very idea of a rebellion, which is explored during Catching Fire. For most of her life, she’s written off the hope of a rebellion, as it would (1) put herself and--more importantly--Prim in danger, and (2) distract her from the daily task of simply surviving. In the first book, she even writes off Gale’s rebellious rants as essentially useless as they don’t aid him in daily survival (p. 14). Katniss keeps this stance through the Victory Tour, as she devotes herself to easing the tension between the districts and the Capitol. However, as she travels and sees the greater cruelty of the Capitol, she begins to reconsider her previous stance on the benefit of a rebellion. She becomes more open to the idea of stirring the pot, which is a stance that becomes more cemented after Gale’s whipping.

These lines could also apply to her relationship with Hijacked!Peeta during the second half of Mockingjay. In this instance, the notion of “combat” would refer to the process of helping him recover and heal from his hijacked state. When they first made the discovery of Peeta’s new mental state, Katniss attempted to distance herself from him and reject the idea of a possible recovery. However, her pessimistic stance would often waver as Peeta continued to show small signs of healing, only to strengthen during periods of struggle. At any rate, during her time at District 13, Katniss consistently doubts herself and the effectiveness of fighting back against the hijacked mindset.

‘Cause cruelty wins in the movies

I've got a hundred thrown-out speeches I almost said to you

From Katniss’ point of view, the Capitol has consistently won its battles for over 75 years, as they have had control over the information pushed on television (aka “movies”) and the schooling curriculum throughout Katniss’ life. Because of the propaganda pushed, the idea of an uprising was out of the question for many citizens, including Katniss, before she stumbled upon the truly fragile nature of Snow’s empire. Katniss also often struggles with words--or rather expressing care/affection through words as appose to actions. Moreso, this last line is reminiscent of a moment in Catching Fire when Katniss and Peeta were robbed of their goodbyes after the reaping. Instead of writing letters to those she wished to say goodbye to, she simply let them go, effectively throwing out her speeches.

Connecting these lines back to Katniss’ experiences with the hijacking of Peeta, her pessimism in regards to his condition was likely aided by the propaganda pushed on her throughout her life. Despite her personal success in pushing back against the Capitol and the systems they have created, she still initially believed that the cruelty of the Capitol would win in the case of Peeta’s hijacking. As for the final line of this verse, Katniss has often held back in her communication with Peeta, stemming all the way back to her inability to verbally thank him for the burnt bread. Particularly, throughout Mockingjay, Katniss longs for and struggles with communicating with the new version of Peeta, which often results in ‘thrown out speeches’ (or rather the internalization of her feelings towards him and the situation).

Pre-chorus:

Easy they come, easy they go

I jump from the train, I ride off alone

From allies like Rue to enemies like Coin, the people in her life are rarely stable figures and tend to leave just as quickly as they came. Due to her unfortunate reality, many of these people leave her life as a consequence of dying, which undoubtedly results in a hesitance to trust and let others in. As a result, Katniss also has a reputation for being a loner, which she has admitted to herself multiple times throughout the series. She also has a tendency to go off and do her own thing, which is especially notable in Mockingjay with her resistance to following orders. Interestingly, there have been a few occasions where Katniss has literally walked off of trains alone, most notably in Catching Fire during the Victory Tour after an argument with Effie Trinket. 

I never grew up, it’s getting so old

Help me hold onto you

I interpret the line “I never grew up, it’s getting so old” as Katniss being unable to trust in others and truly evolve as a result of the constant trauma she has been exposed to throughout her life. Living in an oppressive system is traumatizing within itself, however, Katniss has been in fight or flight mode ever since her father died at age 11. Since then, she has been the sole provider for her household of three--which is a heavy burden for anyone to carry, let alone a child--had to fight for her life in the arena twice, and became the figurehead for the rebellion. If you know anything about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, you’d know that if you struggle to meet your basic survival needs, matters of personal/emotional evolution and health are set on the back burner. In other words, as a result of unmet survival needs, your emotional and mental maturity becomes stunned as you devote your time and energy to simply surviving. Undoubtedly, Katniss is no different, as she obviously struggles with emotional expression, trust, communication, self-esteem, and feelings of stability/safety. After the rebellion, it is clear that Katniss will need help with properly developing these skills outside of fight or flight.

Verse 2:

Dark side, I search for your dark side

But what if I’m alright, right, right, right here?

As mentioned before, Katniss has a hard time trusting others and believing that people want what’s best for her. As a result, she often looks for the bad in others--or in the case of Peeta in the first book, creates an alternative narrative where genuine kindness is just an attempt to manipulate.  However, as those in her life stick around and continue to prove themselves as genuine people, Katniss slowly begins to realize that they are not a danger to her. This is a process that occurs with virtually every ally that exists in Katniss’ life (Peeta, Haymitch, Finnick, Johanna, Boggs, etc.). Although, it is important to note that Katniss is rightfully quizzical of those around her, and it is this tendency to look for the bad that leads to the discovery of Coin’s true intentions. 

Returning back to the more specific lens of Katniss’ experience with hijacked!Peeta, these lines become reminiscent of their experiences in the Star Squad, as Katniss has to learn to trust (or rather accept) this new version of Peeta. She is initially (and understandably) wary of his presence, but as time goes on, she slowly realizes that the danger he presences to her is relatively minimal and certainly manageable.

And I cut off my nose just to spite my face

Then I hate my reflection for years and years

Katniss is certainly prone to self-sabotage and has plenty of regrets, which is exactly what these lines speak of. Interestingly enough, most of the instances of self-sabotage in the series (that I can think of) center around Peeta Mellark. For example, in Catching Fire, Katniss shuns Peeta for the first few nights at the Training Center due to petty arguments, yet comes to regret it during their last night before the arena--as she had been depriving herself of a source of much-needed comfort. The biggest example of self-sabotage due to Katniss’ stubbornness, however, is her refusal to aid in Peeta’s recovery process while in District 13 (imo anyway). These lines in particular do an excellent job of highlighting the shame Katniss felt after her conversation with Haymitch at base camp in Mockingjay. Not only was she depriving Peeta of a vital recovery tool, but she was also exiling herself to a state of hopelessness and regret (as well as depriving herself of any possible closure). Other important examples of self-sabotage are Katniss’ unwillingness to go through the motions for the majority of her time in District 13 and her primary refusal to take medication and go through therapy with Dr. Aurelius.

Pre-chorus:

I wake in the night, I pace like a ghost

The room is on fire, invisible smoke

Katniss is no stranger to nightmares. Even before her ventures into the arena, she often had nightmares surrounding her father’s gruesome death (p. 5, The Hunger Games). After her experiences in the arenas and in war, her night terrors have, undoubtedly, only gotten worse alongside her anxiety (which is what the second line illustrates). The verbiage of pacing like ‘a ghost’ is also increasingly relevant to Katniss, as most of her nightmares are about herself dying or those around her who have already died. Moreover, the symbolism of fire can be directly linked to Katniss, as she is known as ‘the girl on fire’. Morbidly enough, a handful of those around her have died in fire-related incidents as well (her father, Prim, Finnick, etc.), which strengthens the idea of her room being symbolically on fire (as she was dreaming of those deaths).

And all of my heroes die all alone

Help me hold onto you

There are two possible ways to interperate/define ‘hero’ in this context. A hero could be someone of a higher status (ex: age, social standing, etc.) who you look up to and also are inspired/motivated by. A hero can also be someone who saves/protects you from some sort of danger. If we’re going by the first interpretation, I would argue that Katniss only has two real heroes: her dad and Cinna, both of which die in horrific circumstances, away from their family and friends. I could see an argument for Peeta or Prim to be in this category, however, I personally think they fit better in the second interpretation. Going by the second definition, Katniss certainly has had more heroes in her life, but many of them still die horrifically and/or alone (Finnick and Prim are two of the first to come to mind under this definition). As we’ve discussed before, the unstable nature of those who enter and impact her life has drastically impacted her mental health and her ability to feel secure. It is these feelings that have led to her desperate need to protect and cling to those around her, as she lives in constant fear of losing those important to her.

Bridge:

Cause they see right through me

They see right through me

They see right through me

Throughout the book, Katniss often wonders if others know when she’s lying or not being entirely genuine. This need to project a certain image is often a main source of anxiety, especially during the Victory Tour days. When forced to perform as a star-crossed lover, she reasonably experienced a lot of doubt in herself and anxieties that others will see her performance as just that: a ruse. This anxiety is only strengthened as the stakes become even higher as she is forced into becoming the rebellion’s Mockingjay. I feel as if this anxiety is especially highlighted in Mockingjay, as she struggles with balancing her true desires with what she is expected to do.

Can you see right through me?

They see right through

They see right through me

The subtle switch up from the line ‘they see right through me’ to ‘can you see right through me’ brings to mind a passage in Mockingjay after a particularly potent moment between Katniss and Hijacked!Peeta: “Finally, [Peeta] can see me for who I really am. Violent. Distrustful. Manipulative. Deadly. And I hate him for it” (p. 232). 

The subtle switch also makes the line more personal and shows how extreme the anxiety she feels really is. In Katniss’ case, it reflects her desire to hide from those around her, no matter how close they are to her, due to the juxtaposition between her self-perception and how she is expected to behave/feel.

I see right through me

I see right through me

By the time the uprising is reaching its conclusion, Katniss has been stretched past her physical, mental, and emotional limits. At only 17 years old, her self-esteem has been shattered and shaped by the violent circumstances she has been thrown into. She becomes convinced that the circumstances she has been through are what define her. As highlighted by the passage shared earlier, she sees herself as violent, distrustful, and manipulative--which are all characteristics of the arena and of war. She becomes convinced that she knows what/who she is and that she doesn’t deserve the help and kindness continually extended to her. More importantly, it is during this time that she finally begins the process of recognizing who she actually is, which is a broken child who has been through circumstances that no one should ever have to face.

Pre-chorus:

All the king’s horses and all the king’s men

Couldn’t put me together again

Cause all of my enemies started out friends

By the time the war has reached its conclusion, Katniss has lost--not only herself--but also the most important person in her life: Prim. After traumatically witnessing the violent death of her baby sister, Katniss develops traumatic mutism, stumping the doctor’s around her. And despite their best efforts, Katniss refuses to accept any of the medication (besides morphling) or therapeutic help offered to her by staff at the presidential mansion. In her eyes, in that moment of time, there is no putting herself back together. No doubt this feeling of hopelessness is only aided by Katniss’ realization of the true extent of Coin’s corruptness. District 13--a place once thought to be the rebellion’s greatest ally--turned out to be their biggest threat, being ready and willing to bomb innocent children to get the power they want.

((kind of a side note: the last line also reminds me of Katniss’ nightmares and how those who haunt her dreams tend to be the people she considered friends before their passing))

Help me hold onto you

To me, this line is Katniss’ final, inner plea to those left in her life. By this point, she has lost so much and has been worn down to her skin and bones. By the time she returns to District 12, Katniss has reached her limit and barely has the ability to hold onto herself, let alone anyone else. Katniss still craves human connection and affection, yet is mentally trapped by the trauma she has endured, which is exactly why the effort has to be extended by the other party. Personally, I think this is one of the reasons why Peeta was able to reconnect with Katniss so successfully. He was ready and able to extend his hand towards her and help her in holding onto him.

Chorus:

I’ve been the archer, I’ve been the prey

Katniss--whose weapon of choice happens to be a bow and arrow--has hunted others, just as others have hunted her, in both literal and figurative senses. Similarly, she has been the one to inflict pain upon others just as others have inflicted pain upon her. She has seen what it means to be the archer and she has seen what it means to be the prey. In this sense, Katniss has truly seen it all, and she knows that neither side is particularly pleasant. To me, this line represents Katniss’ recognition of the game she’s been playing throughout the series and her final rejection of it.

Who could ever leave me, darling

But who could stay?

Throughout the series, many people have stuck by her side and shown her endless support. Unfortunately, many of these people have also ended up dead, simply due to the nature of the arena and war. These lines could also represent the difference Katniss feels in moments of confidence versus moments of sorrow. During Katniss’ moments of confidence, she feels powerful, irreplaceable, and inspirational words come easily to her (“I am not pretty. I am not beautiful. I am as radiant as the sun” energy). However, during her moments of desolation, she caves in on herself, seeing herself as deadly and a burden to those around her, often wondering why help and support are continuously extended to her.

Who could stay?

Who could stay?

Who could stay?

Looking at these lines in relation to Katniss and her experiences with the uprising, these lines represent the depression she entered after the rebellion and after Prim’s death. For months in confinement, she stayed and let herself drown in the horrors she experienced. Once she returned to 12, she stayed in her living room/kitchen, barely eating or drinking, waiting for a reason to live. Eventually, that motivation came.

You could stay

You could stay

Once Peeta returns from the Capitol and plants the primroses outside of Katniss’ house, she realizes that there is a real chance that life can move forward and have meaning again. She slowly begins to realize that rebuilding is possible and that she can rebuild herself alongside Peeta. She realizes that he could stay.

Outro:

Combat, I’m ready for combat

In this final line of the song, Katniss commits to rebuilding the country, herself, and her relationship with Peeta. She’s ready to put in the effort of going through the motions and to work to keep what those around her have died for. Katniss, for the first time, is finally, truly ready to heal.

[panemposts]

In your opinion, please rate thg movie series with 1-5 scale.

(1 = I hate it, 3=neutral, 5 = I love it.)

1.The Hunger Games :

Things that you like :

Things that you don't like :

2.Cathing Fire :

Things that you like :

Things that you don't like :

3.Mockingjay

Movie 1 :

Movie 2 :

Things that you like :

Things that you don't like :

Thank you 😊

@curiousnonny

This is not as easy as it looks Nonny! I have a love/hate relationship with The Hunger Games movies. Some parts I absolutely LOVE! others, well, they ruin so much for me. Here's what I think:

The Hunger Games: I'll give it a 3/4, but that's in retrospect after watching Mockingjay part 2.

Things I like: The scenes from D12- Gary Ross did that SO WELL!

Things I didn't like: The cat, of course. I think they weakened Peeta's character in order to make Katniss's stronger. The saddest part of that is there was no need to, but they have their "formulas" and such. If only they'd listen to the people.

2. Catching Fire: I give this a 4. Not perfect, but very enjoyable.

Things I like: The cat, lol. And I like the way they strengthened Katniss and Peeta's relationship.

Things I didn't like: The added Galeness. I don't like how they tried to build up a love triangle, that really wasn't as prominent in the books as it was made to be onscreen.

3. Mockingjay: I give both of these a 2. I know you have them separate, but I have to put them together.

Things I like: The cinematography. They did an excellent job showing the ruins of a past civilization while still showing the world of Panem.

Things I didn't like: Oh where to start... I HATE that they used Jennifer Lawrences nephews in the epilogue. I HATE that they got rid of the Dancing Girl. I HATE that they didn't see the importance of the first born child being a GIRL. I hate that so much.

And I hate that they had Katniss "healed" before Peeta came back to 12. They took this beautiful, complex, broken yet strong character and turned her into a typical Hollywood action hero. They totally missed the point of it all, and because of that, it totally ruined the movies from Part 2 all the way back to the original- though I can watch THG without getting irrationally angry, the rest, I just can't.

As you can see, I have strong feelings, Nonny! Thank you for asking ❤️

[ofprincessesandqueens]

duchess-of-lara ha respondido a tu publicación “The year is 2020 and somebody on Twitter was writing up some...”

Honestly I was soooo disappointed!! Peeta didn't made sense for me, she just felt guilty (because he was in love with her and she wasn't but had to make the word believe that) and in debt with him (because he literally saved her life and her family with the bread). But she had a relationship with Gale!! They were friends to the point that they would care for each other's families if they died in the games. Imo she never wanted to develop a romantic thing with him...

Because she didn't wanted to have kids. But she even tells him to run away with her (I think so at least, it's been so long since I read it). Collins just half assed that last book and will stay mad for ever about it. She just decided to make Gale the guilty for Prims death and obs that was the end for them, but to insinuate that him taking part in the war was bad... Like... What?

Arrrrrgggggg Sigo cabreada y lo estaré toda mi vida ��

DILOOOOOO

I always found Peeta pretty disturbing, tbh, which it wouldn’t have bothered me if they didn’t paint him as an one dimensional “good boy”. He creates that love story without Katniss’ consent. He goes to the arena knowing he would very likely die and all he seems to care about is forcing Katniss to be associated with him forerever, even in death. And she can’t actually refute that story because everybody is so obsessed with it that if she were to do it, it would turn on her. He forces that role on her and then he is SHOCKED when he finds  out it wasn’t real, stop talking with her and manipulate her so bad to the point she blames herself and feels guilty because she is not in love with him? You all???? Where the hell is the romance????? And he does that constantly, even when he gives her the necklace in the beach. He guilt trips her and manipulates her all the time. That love story contributed to save her life, but it also took away her agency. And the fact that he was obsessed with her since he was a child???? YIKES YIKES YIKES

It’s normal that she cares for him and that they have a connection. They lived through an unique trauma together and that creates and strengthens bonds. But I don’t feel she is in love, I think she is dependent on him and feels guilty because she doesn’t want to hurt him and she is also so thankful because of the bread. But it’s very telling that she never actively chooses him. Gale leaves and Peeta comes back. That’s all that happens. You know it’s a lazy ending of a love triangle when you have to villify one of the members to finish it.

What I loved about the relationship between Gale and Katniss was that there was a friendship there first. There was a genuine conection. I’m a sucker for the kind of story where people can communicate with the other withour words, understand each other so deeply that they know what they are thinking, why they are thinking that and where do they come from with those ideas even if they don’t share them.

I can’t believe we went from the “a relationship with Peeta is the Capitol’s design” to the meadow, but there isn’t an actual evolution in the last book to justify that and I can’t believe the people who ship them were happy with it. I mean, the last time Gale was mentioned, Katniss was on their meeting place wondering if he was kissing “another pair of lips” in District 2, but, welp, LMAO.

[bestloversfan]

I've been thinking about this old meta of mine, and I realized that Psychological Reactance Theory totally explains why Katniss felt that way here:

"Reactance is an unpleasant motivational arousal (reaction) to offers, persons, rules, or regulations that threaten or eliminate specific behavioral freedoms. Reactance occurs when a person feels that someone or something is taking away their choices or limiting the range of alternatives.

Reactance can occur when someone is heavily pressured to accept a certain view or attitude. Reactance can cause the person to adopt or strengthen a view or attitude that is contrary to what was intended, and also increases resistance to persuasion."

The Capitol was forcing Katniss into a relationship with Peeta, so she unconsciously attempted to regain her lost freedom by convincing herself that she should want Gale. But the truth is that she never loved Gale in a romantic way, and never wanted a future with him, and she said it herself multiple times. What bothered her wasn't the fact that she could not have a future with him, but the fact that the Capitol was taking away her freedom of choice and limiting her range of alternatives.

When the Capitol stopped forcing Katniss into a relationship with Peeta, she stopped fighting her feelings for him and let go of Gale, as we can see in her interactions with Peeta before/during the Quarter Quell (beach kiss, helloooo). And when she was free to choose Gale after the QQ, she didn't do so. In fact, all she thought about was Peeta, and her plan was to kill Snow for what he did to him and then die.

Next time you see someone saying that Katniss "choosing" Gale in Catching Fire is a proof that she wanted him, just tell them this. Lol 😂

Catching Fire reread: Chapter 9

Hello, guys! I’ve been reading many amazing analyses about the books since the THG reread started, but I’ve never made an analysis myself until now. My first language isn’t English and my books are in Portuguese, so it’s difficult to me. But there’s a quote in this chapter that I have to talk about:

“I wish Peeta were here to hold me, until I remember I’m not supposed to wish that anymore. I have chosen Gale and the rebellion, and a future with Peeta is the Capitol’s design, not mine.”

I find this quote very interesting, because we can see here one of the reasons why Katniss couldn’t accept she had feelings for Peeta. He was the one the Capitol forced into her life, the one the Capitol was forcing her to marry. She didn’t have a choice about it. Gale, on the other hand, she could choose. He wasn’t being forced into her life, and she didn’t associate him with the Capitol. She associated him with the rebellion, with her old life as a survivor. So she thought she was supposed to want him, and not Peeta.

But the heart wants what it wants, and she couldn’t stop having feelings for Peeta. She still wished he was there with her, holding her, comforting her in the way only he could manage to. Some people say she didn’t love him yet at this point, but the truth is: She did. She just couldn’t accept it yet.

[readbookywooks]

17 Blindsided. That's how I feel when Haymitch tells me in the hospital. I fly down the steps to Command, mind racing a mile a minute, and burst right into a war meeting. "What do you mean, I'm not going to the Capitol? I have to go! I'm the Mockingjay!" I say. Coin barely looks up from her screen. "And as the Mockingjay, your primary goal of unifying the districts against the Capitol has been achieved. Don't worry - if it goes well, we'll fly you in for the surrender." The surrender? "That'll be too late! I'll miss all the fighting. You need me - I'm the best shot you've got!" I shout. I don't usually brag about this, but it's got to be at least close to true. "Gale's going." "Gale has shown up for training every day unless occupied with other approved duties. We feel confident he can manage himself in the field," says Coin. "How many training sessions do you estimate you've attended?" None. That's how many. "Well, sometimes I was hunting. And...I trained with Beetee down in Special Weaponry." "It's not the same, Katniss," says Boggs. "We all know you're smart and brave and a good shot. But we need soldiers in the field. You don't know the first thing about executing orders, and you're not exactly at your physical peak." "That didn't bother you when I was in Eight. Or Two, for that matter," I counter. "You weren't originally authorized for combat in either case," says Plutarch, shooting me a look that signals I'm about to reveal too much. No, the bomber battle in 8 and my intervention in 2 were spontaneous, rash, and definitely unauthorized. "And both resulted in your injury," Boggs reminds me. Suddenly, I see myself through his eyes. A smallish seventeen-year-old girl who can't quite catch her breath since her ribs haven't fully healed. Disheveled. Undisciplined. Recuperating. Not a soldier, but someone who needs to be looked after. "But I have to go," I say. "Why?" asks Coin. I can't very well say it's so I can carry out my own personal vendetta against Snow. Or that the idea of remaining here in 13 with the latest version of Peeta while Gale goes off to fight is unbearable. But I have no shortage of reasons to want to fight in the Capitol. "Because of Twelve. Because they destroyed my district." The president thinks about this a moment. Considers me. "Well, you have three weeks. It's not long, but you can begin training. If the Assignment Board deems you fit, possibly your case will be reviewed." That's it. That's the most I can hope for. I guess it's my own fault. I did blow off my schedule every single day unless something suited me. It didn't seem like much of a priority, jogging around a field with a gun with so many other things going on. And now I'm paying for my negligence. Back in the hospital, I find Johanna in the same circumstance and spitting mad. I tell her about what Coin said. "Maybe you can train, too." "Fine. I'll train. But I'm going to the stinking Capitol if I have to kill a crew and fly there myself," says Johanna. "Probably best not to bring that up in training," I say. "But it's nice to know I'll have a ride." Johanna grins, and I feel a slight but significant shift in our relationship. I don't know that we're actually friends, but possibly the wordallies would be accurate. That's good. I'm going to need an ally. The next morning, when we report for training at 7:30, reality slaps me in the face. We've been funneled into a class of relative beginners, fourteen- or fifteen-year-olds, which seems a little insulting until it's obvious that they're in far better condition than we are. Gale and the other people already chosen to go to the Capitol are in a different, accelerated phase of training. After we stretch - which hurts - there's a couple of hours of strengthening exercises - which hurt - and a five-mile run - which kills. Even with Johanna's motivational insults driving me on, I have to drop out after a mile. "It's my ribs," I explain to the trainer, a no-nonsense middle-aged woman we're supposed to address as Soldier York. "They're still bruised." "Well, I'll tell you, Soldier Everdeen, those are going to take at least another month to heal up on their own," she says. I shake my head. "I don't have a month." She looks me up and down. "The doctors haven't offered you any treatment?" "Is there a treatment?" I ask. "They said they had to mend naturally." "That's what they say. But they could speed up the process if I recommend it. I warn you, though, it isn't any fun," she tells me. "Please. I've got to get to the Capitol," I say. Soldier York doesn't question this. She scribbles something on a pad and sends me directly back to the hospital. I hesitate. I don't want to miss any more training. "I'll be back for the afternoon session," I promise. She just purses her lips. Twenty-four needle jabs to my rib cage later, I'm flattened out on my hospital bed, gritting my teeth to keep from begging them to bring back my morphling drip. It's been by my bed so I can take a hit as needed. I haven't used it lately, but I kept it for Johanna's sake. Today they tested my blood to make sure it was clean of the painkiller, as the mixture of the two drugs - the morphling and whatever's set my ribs on fire - has dangerous side effects. They made it clear I would have a difficult couple of days. But I told them to go ahead. It's a bad night in our room. Sleep's out of the question. I think I can actually smell the ring of flesh around my chest burning, and Johanna's fighting off withdrawal symptoms. Early on, when I apologize about cutting off her morphling supply, she waves it off, saying it had to happen anyway. But by three in the morning, I'm the target of every colorful bit of profanity District 7 has to offer. At dawn, she drags me out of bed, determined to get to training. "I don't think I can do it," I confess. "You can do it. We both can. We're victors, remember? We're the ones who can survive anything they throw at us," she snarls at me. She's a sick greenish color, shaking like a leaf. I get dressed. We must be victors to make it through the morning. I think I'm going to lose Johanna when we realize it's pouring outside. Her face turns ashen and she seems to have ceased breathing. "It's just water. It won't kill us," I say. She clenches her jaw and stomps out into the mud. Rain drenches us as we work our bodies and then slog around the running course. I bail after a mile again, and I have to resist the temptation to take off my shirt so the cold water can sizzle off my ribs. I force down my field lunch of soggy fish and beet stew. Johanna gets halfway through her bowl before it comes back up. In the afternoon, we learn to assemble our guns. I manage it, but Johanna can't hold her hands steady enough to fit the parts together. When York's back is turned, I help her out. Even though the rain continues, the afternoon's an improvement because we're on the shooting range. At last, something I'm good at. It takes some adjusting from a bow to a gun, but by the end of the day, I've got the best score in my class. We're just inside the hospital doors when Johanna declares, "This has to stop. Us living in the hospital. Everyone views us as patients." It's not a problem for me. I can move into our family compartment, but Johanna's never been assigned one. When she tries to get discharged from the hospital, they won't agree to let her live alone, even if she comes in for daily talks with the head doctor. I think they may have put two and two together about the morphling and this only adds to their view that she's unstable. "She won't be alone. I'm going to room with her," I announce. There's some dissent, but Haymitch takes our part, and by bedtime, we have a compartment across from Prim and my mother, who agrees to keep an eye on us. After I take a shower, and Johanna sort of wipes herself down with a damp cloth, she makes a cursory inspection of the place. When she opens the drawer that holds my few possessions, she shuts it quickly. "Sorry." I think how there's nothing in Johanna's drawer but her government-issued clothes. That she doesn't have one thing in the world to call her own. "It's okay. You can look at my stuff if you want." Johanna unlatches my locket, studying the pictures of Gale, Prim, and my mother. She opens the silver parachute and pulls out the spile and slips it onto her pinkie. "Makes me thirsty just looking at it." Then she finds the pearl Peeta gave me. "Is this - ?" "Yeah," I say. "Made it through somehow." I don't want to talk about Peeta. One of the best things about training is, it keeps me from thinking of him. "Haymitch says he's getting better," she says. "Maybe. But he's changed," I say. "So have you. So have I. And Finnick and Haymitch and Beetee. Don't get me started on Annie Cresta. The arena messed us all up pretty good, don't you think? Or do you still feel like the girl who volunteered for your sister?" she asks me. "No," I answer. "That's the one thing I think my head doctor might be right about. There's no going back. So we might as well get on with things." She neatly returns my keepsakes to the drawer and climbs into the bed across from me just as the lights go out. "You're not afraid I'll kill you tonight?" "Like I couldn't take you," I answer. Then we laugh, since both our bodies are so wrecked, it will be a miracle if we can get up the next day. But we do. Each morning, we do. And by the end of the week, my ribs feel almost like new, and Johanna can assemble her rifle without help. Soldier York gives the pair of us an approving nod as we knock off for the day. "Fine job, Soldiers." When we move out of hearing, Johanna mutters, "I think winning the Games was easier." But the look on her face says she's pleased. In fact, we're almost in good spirits when we go to the dining hall, where Gale's waiting to eat with me. Receiving a giant serving of beef stew doesn't hurt my mood either. "First shipments of food arrived this morning," Greasy Sae tells me. "That's real beef, from District Ten. Not any of your wild dog." "Don't remember you turning it down," Gale tosses back. We join a group that includes Delly, Annie, and Finnick. It's something to see Finnick's transformation since his marriage. His earlier incarnations - the decadent Capitol heartthrob I met before the Quell, the enigmatic ally in the arena, the broken young man who tried to help me hold it together - these have been replaced by someone who radiates life. Finnick's real charms of self-effacing humor and an easygoing nature are on display for the first time. He never lets go of Annie's hand. Not when they walk, not when they eat. I doubt he ever plans to. She's lost in some daze of happiness. There are still moments when you can tell something slips in her brain and another world blinds her to us. But a few words from Finnick call her back. Delly, who I've known since I was little but never gave much thought to, has grown in my estimation. She was told what Peeta said to me that night after the wedding, but she's not a gossip. Haymitch says she's the best defender I have when Peeta goes off on some kind of tear about me. Always taking my side, blaming his negative perceptions on the Capitol's torture. She has more influence on him than any of the others do, because he really does know her. Anyway, even if she's sugarcoating my good points, I appreciate it. Frankly, I could use a little sugarcoating. I'm starving and the stew is so delicious - beef, potatoes, turnips, and onions in a thick gravy - that I have to force myself to slow down. All around the dining hall, you can feel the rejuvenating effect that a good meal can bring on. The way it can make people kinder, funnier, more optimistic, and remind them it's not a mistake to go on living. It's better than any medicine. So I try to make it last and join in the conversation. Sop up the gravy on my bread and nibble on it as I listen to Finnick telling some ridiculous story about a sea turtle swimming off with his hat. Laugh before I realize he's standing there. Directly across the table, behind the empty seat next to Johanna. Watching me. I choke momentarily as the gravy bread sticks in my throat. "Peeta!" says Delly. "It's so nice to see you out...and about." Two large guards stand behind him. He holds his tray awkwardly, balanced on his fingertips since his wrists are shackled with a short chain between them. "What's with the fancy bracelets?" asks Johanna. "I'm not quite trustworthy yet," says Peeta. "I can't even sit here without your permission." He indicates the guards with his head. "Sure he can sit here. We're old friends," says Johanna, patting the space beside her. The guards nod and Peeta takes a seat. "Peeta and I had adjoining cells in the Capitol. We're very familiar with each other's screams." Annie, who's on Johanna's other side, does that thing where she covers her ears and exits reality. Finnick shoots Johanna an angry look as his arm encircles Annie. "What? My head doctor says I'm not supposed to censor my thoughts. It's part of my therapy," replies Johanna. The life has gone out of our little party. Finnick murmurs things to Annie until she slowly removes her hands. Then there's a long silence while people pretend to eat. "Annie," says Delly brightly, "did you know it was Peeta who decorated your wedding cake? Back home, his family ran the bakery and he did all the icing." Annie cautiously looks across Johanna. "Thank you, Peeta. It was beautiful." "My pleasure, Annie," says Peeta, and I hear that old note of gentleness in his voice that I thought was gone forever. Not that it's directed at me. But still. "If we're going to fit in that walk, we better go," Finnick tells her. He arranges both of their trays so he can carry them in one hand while holding tightly to her with the other. "Good seeing you, Peeta." "You be nice to her, Finnick. Or I might try and take her away from you." It could be a joke, if the tone wasn't so cold. Everything it conveys is wrong. The open distrust of Finnick, the implication that Peeta has his eye on Annie, that Annie could desert Finnick, that I do not even exist. "Oh, Peeta," says Finnick lightly. "Don't make me sorry I restarted your heart." He leads Annie away after giving me a concerned glance. When they're gone, Delly says in a reproachful voice, "He did save your life, Peeta. More than once." "For her." He gives me a brief nod. "For the rebellion. Not for me. I don't owe him anything." I shouldn't rise to the bait, but I do. "Maybe not. But Mags is dead and you're still here. That should count for something." "Yeah, a lot of things should count for something that don't seem to, Katniss. I've got some memories I can't make sense of, and I don't think the Capitol touched them. A lot of nights on the train, for instance," he says. Again the implications. That more happened on the train than did. That what did happen - those nights I only kept my sanity because his arms were around me - no longer matters. Everything a lie, everything a way of misusing him. Peeta makes a little gesture with his spoon, connecting Gale and me. "So, are you two officially a couple now, or are they still dragging out the star-crossed lover thing?" "Still dragging," says Johanna. Spasms cause Peeta's hands to tighten into fists, then splay out in a bizarre fashion. Is it all he can do to keep them from my neck? I can feel the tension in Gale's muscles next to me, fear an altercation. But Gale simply says, "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself." "What's that?" asks Peeta. "You," Gale answers. "You'll have to be a little more specific," says Peeta. "What about me?" "That they've replaced you with the evil-mutt version of yourself," says Johanna. Gale finishes his milk. "You done?" he asks me. I rise and we cross to drop off our trays. At the door, an old man stops me because I'm still clutching the rest of my gravy bread in my hand. Something in my expression, or maybe the fact that I've made no attempt to conceal it, makes him go easy on me. He lets me stuff the bread in my mouth and move on. Gale and I are almost to my compartment when he speaks again. "I didn't expect that." "I told you he hated me," I say. "It's the way he hates you. It's so...familiar. I used to feel like that," he admits. "When I'd watch you kissing him on the screen. Only I knew I wasn't being entirely fair. He can't see that." We reach my door. "Maybe he just sees me as I really am. I have to get some sleep." Gale catches my arm before I can disappear. "So that's what you're thinking now?" I shrug. "Katniss, as your oldest friend, believe me when I say he's not seeing you as you really are." He kisses my cheek and goes. I sit on my bed, trying to stuff information from my Military Tactics books into my head while memories of my nights with Peeta on the train distract me. After about twenty minutes, Johanna comes in and throws herself across the foot of my bed. "You missed the best part. Delly lost her temper at Peeta over how he treated you. She got very squeaky. It was like someone stabbing a mouse with a fork repeatedly. The whole dining hall was riveted." "What'd Peeta do?" I ask. "He started arguing with himself like he was two people. The guards had to take him away. On the good side, no one seemed to notice I finished his stew." Johanna rubs her hand over her protruding belly. I look at the layer of grime under her fingernails. Wonder if the people in 7 ever bathe. We spend a couple of hours quizzing each other on military terms. I visit my mother and Prim for a while. When I'm back in my compartment, showered, staring into the darkness, I finally ask, "Johanna, could you really hear him screaming?" "That was part of it," she says. "Like the jabberjays in the arena. Only it was real. And it didn't stop after an hour. Tick, tock." "Tick, tock," I whisper back. Roses. Wolf mutts. Tributes. Frosted dolphins. Friends. Mockingjays. Stylists. Me. Everything screams in my dreams tonight.

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The Hunger Games: Catching Fire [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD]

In the thrilling sequel THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE, Katniss Everdeen and fellow tribute Peeta Mellark have barely returned home after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games when they are whisked away once again by the Capitol. Forced to leave her family and best friend Gale, Katniss is dispatched on a victory tour of Panem with Peeta, where rebellion is seething in all 12 districts. The Capitol is enraged and ready to strike back… as President Snow prepares the most diabolical edition of the Hunger Games yet.When it comes to blockbuster franchises, the first sequel frequently offers pumped-up versions of the initial thrills–to diminishing results. Catching Fire, however, the second adaptation drawn from Suzanne Collins’s Hunger Games trilogy, defies that trend with more finely drawn relationships. With the 74th Games in the history books, Katniss (Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence, as comfortable in warrior garb as in designer couture) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson, better than ever) set out on a victory tour across Panem with Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) and Effie (Elizabeth Banks). Despite her best efforts to feign romance with her co-competitor and to keep posttraumatic stress at bay, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) fears that Katniss’s defiant nature will incite rebellion, so he takes a tip from new gamemaker Plutarch (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and launches a Quarter Quell in which past champions, such as the hilariously bitter Johanna (Jena Malone) and the deceptively arrogant Finnick (Sam Claflin), will fight to the death. Not all tributes are quite so young, like Mags (Lynn Cohen), a senior citizen who suits up for battle and establishes a touching bond with Finnick (Jeffrey Wright and Amanda Plummer play the craftiest teammates). Until the cliffhanger ending, director Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) serves up an array of splendors, from killer baboons to the ever-amazing outfits of Effie and Caesar (Stanley Tucci). Most significantly, the script from cowriter Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) strengthens the bonds between Katniss and Peeta and Gale (Liam Hemsworth), who prove themselves more worthy than ever of Katniss’s affections. –Kathleen C. Fennessy

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Release Date: 9/30/2014

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