*Warning: This piece does contain spoilers
“The Hunger Games” series has returned, with the fifth installment of the franchise; “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” It introduces another tale of a tragic romance that led to the rise of the true antagonist of the series, Coriolanus Snow. This prequel takes place before the first four films and explores the compelling origins of the tyrannical president of the fictional city, Panem. It begins 64 years before Katniss Everdeen’s story, featuring an 18-year-old Coriolanus amidst the events of the 10th annual Hunger Games.
Before his days of reign, Coriolanus, played by Tom Blyth, was an impoverished teen living with his cousin Tigris, played by Hunter Schafer, and grandmother, played by Fionnula Flanagan. Striving to live up to his late father’s image, he is an opportunistic student trying to pave his way to greatness in the Capitol Academy.
In an attempt to make the games more entertaining to watch, Coriolanus and his peers are selected to be mentors to the tributes for the games. He is paired up with a wild card tribute from District 12, Lucy Gray Baird, played by Rachel Zegler, and is not thrilled with his pick of the litter. Coriolanus becomes enamored by Lucy Gray, which causes some internal conflict within himself as he tries to balance his feelings for the tribute and his eagerness to win the Games. Coriolanus’ actions during the 10th Hunger Games leaves the audience with many questions about how he truly feels for Lucy. He ends up cheating and helps her win the Games. Snow has everyone questioning his intentions; Did he want to save Lucy because he loved her? Or did he want to win the Games for his own image?
After the Games, Snow faces repercussions for cheating and is sent away to the districts to be a peacekeeper. He chooses to be located in District 12, in hopes to see Lucy Gray again. Even with their apparent differences, they rekindle their romance. Snow’s friend from the academy, Sejanus, is also forced to be a peacekeeper in District 12 and starts to work with a few rebels on a plan to escape to the north. Snow learns of his plans and alerts the Capitol and Dr. Volumnia Gaul, played by Viola Davis, the founder of the Hunger Games. A series of killings and his betrayal of his friend Sejanus causes Lucy and Snow to leave District 12 and flee to the north.
The ending of their story is described to be up for interpretation as no one is sure if Lucy survives at the end of the film. Their relationship starts to crack when Lucy learns of Snow’s betrayal of his friend Sejanus and no longer trusts him. She leaves him in the woods and seems to have set a trap for him, hiding a snake that bites him. This sends him into a craze, thinking that Lucy Gray was trying to kill him and he takes a shot at her in the woods. It is unclear if it connects as we hear a scream, but we do not see Lucy Gray’s body; only her earring.
The popular belief is that he is hallucinating from the snake bite and it was all his imagination. It is possible that Lucy did not intend to set a trap and the snake bite was a coincidence. Regardless, his distrust towards the districts manifested itself in this scene, even if it meant trying to kill the one he loves. The resentment and hostility towards the district creates a fine line between his love for Lucy and his duties to the Capitol.
Countless theories have been thrown around since the original book release and more are being created daily. The most popular theory is that Lucy escaped and continued to live her life in the north in a place like District 13 or she met her demise in the forest and was killed by Snow.
Even with Lucy’s whereabouts remaining unknown, we all know where now ends up as Coriolanus always says, “Snow lands on top.” Leaving all of the past with Lucy Gray behind, Snow completely embraces his father’s image and transforms into the sadistic president of Panem we know and do not love from the original Hunger Games trilogy.
The biggest question besides the ending of Lucy Gray is whether or not Snow truly loved Lucy. I believe he did love her at one point, but their relationship was always on thin ice. To become a legitimate force in the Capitol, he could not be distracted by such things, especially with a girl from one of the districts in which he despised. Ultimately, Snow was not able to compromise his love for Lucy and his loyalty to the Capitol. In the end, his lust for power became his one true love.
I am still speechless and left with many questions, especially with the uncertainty of Lucy Gray’s fate at the end of the film. It is refreshing to finally get another Hunger Games movie without the story being too repetitive of the first four films. This made the movie memorable, enjoyable and one I would certainly watch again.
Edited by Jeremy Ford and Aja Carter
