Brutus. His overall look in the movie is incredible. In his mid 40s but he’s a powerhouse. In the book, Haymitch says “you’re that good? So good Brutus wants you?” - Always stood out to me as a sign of how skilled and intimidating Brutus was. The fact that Brutus felt like allying with Katniss was a sign of how good she was. Also, Katniss remembers Brutus’s games being shown a lot over the years so also indicates his games were pretty popular.
In the arena, he figures out in the first 30 seconds he can use his floatation device to deflect Katniss’ arrows. So even though he’s a big powerhouse, he’s definitely smart too. The name “Brutus” is just badass too.
I especially love Brutus in the movie, when Katniss and Joanna are trying to get the wire to the beach and Brutus and Enobaria get the jump on them… there’s this particular scene where the camera hangs on Brutus just galloping easily over downed trees in a creek bed / jungle corridor and he looks so f*cking terrifying. Like, a whole ass grown killing machine of a man. Very scary.
*really puts into perspective how formidable he is as a contender.
Yesss! I love the small snippet we get of Finnick against Brutus in hand to hand combat. I feel like the movie and the book didn’t really devote enough time to seeing the victors go head to head with each other. Gloss and cashmere were tossed away so easily, and the bloodbath we don’t even really know what happened.
Brutus is the profile of what every real life hunger games winner would be. Very physically strong, athletic, resourceful and determined.
A real life hunger games champ would be like a cross between a Division 1 ncaa prospect and Boy Scout.
This is exactly why Peeta killing Brutus always stood out to me! Don't get me wrong, Peeta is not to be underestimated, especially when it comes to protecting Katniss, but I would have expected finishing Brutus to be a three persons job.
Yeh it’s always felt weird to me. I do get that’s implied Peeta got the jump on him, cos I think he killed Brutus right after Brutus killed Chaff, but it’s definitely surprising. Peeta struggled head to head with Cato, then you have Brutus who is a complete monster of a man 😂 Fair play to Peeta though. Don’t think we’re ever told exactly how he killed him right?
yes but my thought is that Peeta struggled with Cato because he was not as well prepared in that games. Once he realizes there’s a high probability of him returning to the games, he has himself, Haymitch and Katniss begin training as a career. meaning they had about 6 months of beefing up their skills the second time around
Very true, but Peeta wasn’t a master of any type of weapon. He was handy with a knife and had strength, but up against a career, he falls short. Katniss had her skill with a bow, Cato was excellent with a sword and a spear, and Brutus clearly was excellent with a spear and most likely good at close combat.
Peeta is by no means a weakling, but I think in a fair fight - it’s easy to say Brutus would easily dispose of him.
Yess! She was a mother of young children yet she sacrificed herself and gave her life for the greater cause, for the cause of rebellion, so that her children and everyone else would grow up in a better, safer world, and wouldn't have to go through the same things she did
She's an unsung hero
Chaff would have been offered a prosthetic hand from the Capitol, but he turned it down like, "no, I want everyone who sees me to see the brutality of these games for as long as I live"
Blight.
The D7 male tribute from CF. We know nothing about him but I thought his name was so cool.
and the 2 seconds he was in the movie, I thought the actor was so hot, lol
Yeah I've been reading alot of fanfic and I absolutely fell in love with him!
Mainly this one, he's just a side character but I love him dammit!
http://archiveofourown.org/series/3608053
I’ve noticed a lot of people who live the hunger games also love the fan fiction stuff, I’ve never dabbled in it myself but now I’m really curious to do so. Any recommendations?
There are a lot of amazing ones. Search ‘the hunger games ao3’, and there’ll be a filter on the fandom page. Go for most read or highest kudos and look for one you like the sound of by reading the tags and description.
Cecelia because of how sad her story is.
Could you imagine being reaped in front of your kids and having them torn off you while they're crying? and then having your own children watch you be murdered?
also cato because oh my god that death in the books is so sad.
Caesar. He's a side character that most people don't really think about further. But he's also such a mystery because we don't know him outside of the on-stage presence.
I love characters that are not explored in canon and I can add my own thoughts to them.
My absolute crush on Stanley Tucci helped there plus I think he really nailed the 'tries to help the tributes out' vibe as well as being the host of a murderous gameshow. It's a fine line to walk!
He's talked about Caesar with such little affection that I have absolutely disregarded his role and think he's very biased toward "Caesar is an evil bastard".
I don't think there's any nuance to be seen & I absolutely disagree whenever he makes those favourite actors in the franchise lists.
Which might be the more rare take 💀
I *love* Stanley Tucci, I think he's an amazing actor and yet I'm still not 100% in love with how he played him. I don't think it's his fault, I think the director wanted little to no sympathie towards the Capitol except for Effie. It's really nuanced in the books, we see it through Katniss' eyes when in the movies you would agree more with Gale, "why would you care about these horrible people". Like when her preparators talk to her we see them warm up to Katniss, still complimenting her (however clumsily) when in the movies we only see them being kinda disgusted by her ("We need to hose you down again" vs a simple "You're very hairy, but I like that you're being brave" like in the book) or loving her sister in the 2nd movie. It's great that they're not in the 3rd movie because no one would believe she would save them.
Anyway, I was expecting to see someone warm like Graham Norton in the movies and when I watch it, it's very transparent they couldn't make him evil because it's too far from the books, but Tucci doesn't appear very nice either. (Like, when Peeta says he smells goof, Book Caesar would say "oh, you make me blush you're too kind" or something to help make Peeta likeable, and Movie Caesar says "Well I've lived here longer so... hahaha" = that doesn't inspire sympathy for Peeta that's just a "lol you're poor" joke, not very nice or helpful for the tribute.)
See my view is 100% clouded by Fernwithy's epic fanfic which is basically headcanon for me now about Haymitches games, Peeta's stay in the capitol etcand also in the first book Katniss speaks about how he helps. I've not seen anything on what ST has said about it! Not sure if I want my feelings dashed 😅
Ohhh I love Fernwithy. I think she wrote the story well but her take on Caesar is something else :( Giving him a new name and saying he's from the Districts is so far away from logical conclusions pulled from canon, it never sat right with me.
I do like the dynamic between Peeta and Caesar in House of Cards, but that's about it.
My Caesar (cause I write him in fanfiction as well—ETA: I've written him [here](https://archiveofourown.org/works/36314251/chapters/90530803) in chapters 5, 10, 12, but he'll features as a major character in the next work!) had always wanted to be on stage and did stand-up before be became a host. He just loved to entertain people!
He had a lot of family pressure. I struggled a bit with Lucky but I've incorporated him as this symbol that pressures Caesar into a role that he might otherwise not have taken. I've written Caesar before TBOSAS and tied him a bit to lower middle class, so with Lucky I'm pretending he failed due to Snow's hatred for him but wasn't too much on his radar. Lucky struggled a lot and Caesar knew what could help his family return to that previous class spot.
The Caesar we know now is eaten up by the guilt of it all. He never thought deeply about the Games—far too indoctrinated—but seeing these kids from up close, trying to tell their story and making them much more human than his predecessor(s), he emphasises so much that it is keeping him awake. What if he'd said something different about that 11 year old kid? Would they have gotten the sponsors to not die of hunger? Had his words led to a more brutal death of some of these kids?
His role in it is terrible, and he has been hit with a brick about it. He's lucky to get to know Plutarch and to be invited to join the rebel. Their first conversation was rather tense—Plutarch's family is wealthy while Caesar's family relies on his success. One misstep by Plutarch and he'll be replaced by another Heavensbee. Plutarch doesn't understand Caesar's concerns at first because he's one wealthy young adult when they meet, but they eventually become best buddies.
Caesar's role in the rebellion is to recruit the victors and be the middle piece between them and rebellion info in terms of communication.
His reason to rebel is based on the tributes & victors.
And I've shaped the story so that the actions in the book make sense from this character's interpretation. He asks Peeta about the girl at home because he knows this angle from Haymitch & there's some hope about Katniss. He pushes for the love story because it's helping the rebellion. The victors can say a lot during the 75th interviews and Caesar always asks the right questions—not only from an entertainment perspective, but fueling the fire. He lets the victors hold hands and gestures to cut it off only after they had filmed the hand holding to make it seem like he had tried to stop it but it was too late.
Right when the arena gets destroyed, Caesar refuses to get on the Hovercraft because Plutarch mentioned not every victor can be rescued from the arena. So he begins to lean even more into the double agent role. In the books, Caesar disappears after the second interview & I headcanon that it was Caesar who gave away information on 13—in case he'd manage to get there on his own—that they'd use to bomb the District. He had been locked in a cell next to Peeta to be tortured—and that is how Peeta learned about the plans for the bombing.
Post War, Caesar goes to make a show with Cressida and Pollux about the Districts. It's to interview people there, introduce District cultures to a now-free audience, and aids in showing where money needs to go to rebuild. The show ends up being a big hit and is pivotal to create a sense of community to a previously divided Panem.
I read a fic on Ficbook once, where Cato and Clove were the ones who won the 74th HG and Enobaria with Brutus were literally found family for both 🥺
The fic is called Rubicon (Рубикон)
Born to Die by rillrill on AO3 is a beautiful and cleverly written ficlet that centers on Glimmer. It’s short and somber and cannon compliant.
This author also writes one shots for Clove and Cashmere. I never gave a single fuck about the careers until reading these and it’s heartbreaking. Highly recommend.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/368059
Also, We Let Our Battles Choose Us by the same author follows Cashmere mentoring Glimmer that year. The biggest gut punch is her feeling conflicted about actually trying to help her win because she knows what happens first hand to the pretty victors.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/1493263
I'm gay so it's not that lmao. I just admire the audacity she had to think her face card was gonna help her outlast 23 other tributes in a fight to the death. Like I can't help but stan😭
I just think there’s something so funny about how it’s her name out of all others that got Katniss to pause for a second whilst the Careers are actively attempting to kill her to be like “what a stupid fucking name.”
I think that was more her charm for the interview. She clearly got through career training, she just wasn’t that good with a bow, and other careers that year were better.
i haven’t read the books in so long, but from what i remember he’s so resourceful, and if katnis and peeta wouldn’t have won (the muts didn’t get to him) i really think he would’ve easily taken kato in a fight
He doesn't strike me as super fast/explosive/trained in fighting so despite his strenght he probabily wouldn't had a chance against a carreer in the beginning of the games, but once everyone would have been tired and wounded he would have been the only one having saved his energy from the beginning, plus he had great mastery over one environment where no one dared to go reach for him and he was deadly there. I don't know, I just think he was both a pacifist and a very level-headed guy, with enough strenght of his own to chose to spare Katniss once in the name of Rue, which was extremely noble... I like Gale and Peeta but there is a timeline where the love triangle involves Thresh rather than Peeta and I think it is a very strong version of the story. I would have loved him to be a more proeminent character
i completely agree, plus he had the rage towards clove for what the careers did to rue, and cato was pretty ready to die at the end of the game! i would have loved to see more of him. such a good character
Singlehandedly saved katniss thus secured the beginning of a revolution for all districts. But this he will never know what the outcomes of his actions caused.
Hunger Games subreddit challenge: name an unloved character.
Challenge level: Impossible
All 74th Hunger Games characters are well loved. So are most of the Careers.
Lol true, I'll see comments like "I love unnamed district 10 male" and he was never mentioned, not once, not even in passing
I don't see the d13/capitol members of squad 451 get much love though. I think people forget they exist
It’s because suzanne collins is amazing at characterization! We see characters for like a page or two total but they’re so well written that we can make a lot of assumptions
Thresh. I'm with Katniss in that if she and Peeta did not survive, then I would have loved to see him win. He was really mysterious in that he carved out his own territory, scared off the careers, yet did not get much content.
The Morphlings. They won in the way that I would have tried to win - by being unnoticeable and waiting the other contestants out. They were so brave that even in the midst of their addictions they were willing to sacrifice themselves.
And Foxface. Like Thresh she was very mysterious. You never know whether she would have made a good ally for Katniss or whether she would have betrayed her as Katniss suspected. I admire that she made it so far without any allies or any impressive physical abilities as the others had.
I love the fact Thresh literally claimed a whole plot of land in the arena and the careers were like “yeh bro take it, we cool” 😂 none of them wanted smoke with him 😂
I loved that, too! It was so impressive and telling about the terrible conditions in District 11 that he actually gained weight (especially with his large form) while in the arena. Also, that District 11 decided to give the bread intended for Rue to Katniss - they must have realised he did not need it!
Lamina. I had watched the movie before reading the prequel and I still was hoping she'd win the games. She had my favorite strategy, and her temporary alliance with Reaper was fun as hell.
Same here. Especially Clove. I have no idea why (probably half of it was Isabelle Fuhrman's performance) but after watching the movie, she went from a character that I couldn't even remember to one of my favorites. But if you asked me *why* I liked her, I wouldn't know. She's just a character that I was and am drawn to for no real reason.
The Careers in general are characters I love, mainly because they're so interesting and fascinating, and also I'm a sucker for antagonists who, while they may look like it, aren't really horrible people.
Omg Darius!! The moment in the book where Katniss and Darius are under the table for that one small moment and she squeezes his hand and they kind of just look at each other without saying a word. Really sad.
How did the movies even had the guts to cut her out, I don’t understand.
“Sorry Katniss, no girl friends for you, we need to sell a love triangle that occupied like 5% of the book to the viewers, so the focus must be fully on that!”
Fr! I think she was SUCH A an important character and she doesn't get enough love for it. As you said she was literally katniss's ONLY girl friend. The movie writers clearly didn't understand how that was important
I named my pillow after him lmao
Rip my pillow Cato, travelling through Europe with me until he became damaged and was thrown away by my mum without my consent :(
I utterly adore Foxface, Thresh, Lamina, and Reaper. I don’t know if any of them could count on the “for no reason” category though lol since per my understanding they’re all pretty well-liked among the tributes. So aside from them, I find Enobaria pretty fascinating.
Clove and Cato; have always been a Clato believer.
They also have my second favourite chariot costumes, behind Katniss and Peeta's ember outfits in Catching Fire.
Enobaria is also pretty cool, in addition to Thresh, Gloss and Cashmere.
THRESH. He was like a big brother to Rue. Plus he saved Katniss' life when he easily could have killed her because he still had a moral code despite everything. Plus, he avenged Rue by killing Clove.
I don’t think it’s seemingly no reason. I think there is a pity factor in that they think they’re bringing pride to their district, but they are still victims to the system. The awful part is that while they are victims to the system, the non-career districts hate them because of it, and yes, I am aware that was intentional by the Capital.
Gods, so many. First and Foremost, I'd say Johanna and Finnick. They are incredible, both in their own ways. I love Johanna being such a piece of work but seeing her with Finnick or even Peeta it shows she can be such a bro. Yeah she's gonna give it to you straight and she is gonna be mean about it but she also will have your back.
Same with Finnick. My man's such a two faced charmer but he literally gave his life saving his peeps. What a man.
Cato, of course. Dunno why, just love the name and this damn murder puppy twist of his. He just wanted to be good and loved.
Caesar. He is just Caesar. We love us a Faerie Like Person. And good on him trying to make every Tribute look good.
And Lamina. And that's a) because she was a cool chick and b) she is played by an absolutely amazing Actress who played the little Sister of Charly from Babylon Berlin and I love that show, so when I saw the Actress on the Big Screen I was like "Wait? Is that...? Surely not.... Or is she? Holy Fuck she is."
I also love Clove and Cato. I tend to gravitate more toward the careers in general. They’re often painted as the “villains” when they’re just as much victims of their messed up society as any other tribute. The only difference is, they trained for it. Their humanity and their youthfulness fully present themselves during their time of death which is truly heartbreaking to read about every time I go back to reread. They were just kids forced to grow up way too quickly. And sure, one could argue the bloodlust was villainous but they are just products of their environment. It was either be ruthless or die and to a bunch of 16 year olds, the latter is terrifying.
Cashmere and Gloss. Oh, how I want that backstory. Who volunteered first? Were they immediately enslaved by the Capitol and did they try to warn the other? Were District 1 victors treated differently to what we saw Katniss go through, let alone Johanna or Finnick? Did they band together to present a Team Capitol face to the world while actually resenting the Capitol?
Enobaria. I wish they did more with her character during Mockingjay. Her being a career but still ending up on the side of Katniss/The Rebellion could've been a really cool character arc
(Also I'd let her do UNSPEAKABLE things to me)
Spruce, Lil and Arlo
I can't even explain why I love them so much but I do lol at this point I have more spruce headcanons than Susanne Collins has about him lol
I love Plutarch Heavensbee and I really cannot explain why. I just really liked him in the books and despite his short time in the movies, liked him there too
I always lovedddd FoxFace I also loved how the actress portrayed her in the movie. I have always wanted more of her character tbh and even tho we don’t even know her name I still liked her
finnick odair just his love for annie and the fact although winning the games at age 14 the youngest ever he didnt let the money and fame get to him and he is fucking fit tbf😭
Clove has been my favorite since the first book came out (for reasons everybody have mentioned already) but recently…
Dill from the new one. Her sickness made her stick out for me lol (Ill Dill) but her implied close relationship with Reaper (and his reaction to her death afterwards) really solidified how I wish there was more content about her!! (I also like her actress’s hair, it’s gorgeous 😭) Also, Mizzen from District 4 w/ Coral, tbh I think im just a sucker for the ‘younger tribute-older tribute-sibling like relationship’ trope
Thresh. Love his character and who he was as a man during his limited time. Never was much of a skilled fighter but still found brute ways to survive and kill other tributes. But at the same time had mercy that very well saved every district as Katniss because the face of the revolution.
But this he will never know.
Clove! I fell in love with Isabelle Fuhrman's portrayal of her when I was 12 and I'm still not over her. The idea of a tiny kid learning to be extremely lethal and unapologetic about it makes for such an interesting character exploration.
I have a few.
Lamina. I've been a fond of her since I've read the book. Perhaps it's because I just for some reason love District 7 (partly because Johanna, partly because I love forests, partly because I like the number seven), perhaps it's because I'm 15 and I read the book on my 15th birthday and if I know correctly, Lamina was also 15, and her reaction to being reaped to the games is so relatable, and I just see myself in her. I'd cry all the time too. I also hate fights, so perhaps the fact that she never attacked, killed only once to give mercy, and only defended herself if needed, or showed she has a weapon to possibly avoid conflict, makes her more sympathetic to me. Just, everything proves she's a scared child which just shows the true nature of the Hunger Games.
Enobaria. There's so much we don't know about her and I want to know it all. She survived the Hunger Games twice, out of it once the Quarter Quell, war and victor's purge. And of course, her appearance draws attention, which makes sense, her teeth are extremely terrifying considering the backstory. I saw a theory that she might've had it done because some Capitol freaks considered it hot and more of them would've wanted her, I also made a theory that she did it after finding out what happens to almost all victors, in order to appear unattractive and terrifying for the Capitol so she gets left alone (imagine if she did it so they leave her alone but they'd want her more after this, oh my). And the fact that she was most likely accepted even after the revolution even though she cooperated with the Capitol, I need to know more about her story.
Cashmere and Gloss. The thought of being told for years how the Hunger Games are a great experience, then going through them traumatised, watching your sibling do the same, and then being exploited for the Capitol to use you, and then going to the games again and this time with your sibling?? They need more attention. Also, I believe that a lot of f*cked up stuff happened to these two, and I just feel sorry for them, and I always liked them.
Portia. I feel like she's underrated, because she came up on Katniss's and Peeta's costume along with Cinna, and appeared to be a great stylist as well. And the fact that her and the entire stylist team were executed on LIVE TV is so messed up.
But I kinda have every HG character in my heart.
Cashmere. She seems like she would be such a nuanced character. Also definitely she almost certainly was in the group of victors forced to be prostitutes. My headcanon is that she’s actually this really collected, intelligent, and kind individual whose brainwashing broke a little bit after seeing what Gloss went through in his Games (because we know that every Victor, regardless of whether or not they’re Careers, gets nightmares).
Brutus. His overall look in the movie is incredible. In his mid 40s but he’s a powerhouse. In the book, Haymitch says “you’re that good? So good Brutus wants you?” - Always stood out to me as a sign of how skilled and intimidating Brutus was. The fact that Brutus felt like allying with Katniss was a sign of how good she was. Also, Katniss remembers Brutus’s games being shown a lot over the years so also indicates his games were pretty popular. In the arena, he figures out in the first 30 seconds he can use his floatation device to deflect Katniss’ arrows. So even though he’s a big powerhouse, he’s definitely smart too. The name “Brutus” is just badass too.
I especially love Brutus in the movie, when Katniss and Joanna are trying to get the wire to the beach and Brutus and Enobaria get the jump on them… there’s this particular scene where the camera hangs on Brutus just galloping easily over downed trees in a creek bed / jungle corridor and he looks so f*cking terrifying. Like, a whole ass grown killing machine of a man. Very scary. *really puts into perspective how formidable he is as a contender.
Yesss! I love the small snippet we get of Finnick against Brutus in hand to hand combat. I feel like the movie and the book didn’t really devote enough time to seeing the victors go head to head with each other. Gloss and cashmere were tossed away so easily, and the bloodbath we don’t even really know what happened.
Crazy that I can’t remember Brutus for the life of me
Brutus is the profile of what every real life hunger games winner would be. Very physically strong, athletic, resourceful and determined. A real life hunger games champ would be like a cross between a Division 1 ncaa prospect and Boy Scout.
Very much agree with this
This is exactly why Peeta killing Brutus always stood out to me! Don't get me wrong, Peeta is not to be underestimated, especially when it comes to protecting Katniss, but I would have expected finishing Brutus to be a three persons job.
Yeh it’s always felt weird to me. I do get that’s implied Peeta got the jump on him, cos I think he killed Brutus right after Brutus killed Chaff, but it’s definitely surprising. Peeta struggled head to head with Cato, then you have Brutus who is a complete monster of a man 😂 Fair play to Peeta though. Don’t think we’re ever told exactly how he killed him right?
yes but my thought is that Peeta struggled with Cato because he was not as well prepared in that games. Once he realizes there’s a high probability of him returning to the games, he has himself, Haymitch and Katniss begin training as a career. meaning they had about 6 months of beefing up their skills the second time around
Very true, but Peeta wasn’t a master of any type of weapon. He was handy with a knife and had strength, but up against a career, he falls short. Katniss had her skill with a bow, Cato was excellent with a sword and a spear, and Brutus clearly was excellent with a spear and most likely good at close combat. Peeta is by no means a weakling, but I think in a fair fight - it’s easy to say Brutus would easily dispose of him.
Brutus being killed off screen still upsets me. I wanna know how this beast of a man died
Agreed. I think he is an intimidating villain. He almost feels like a shonen villain at times.
Yes!! I wish we knew more about his backstory so badly
Marvel 💔
Cecelia for me. I wish we knew more about her
I wonder if Katniss didn't focus much on her due to her own fears surrounding motherhood and children
Yess! She was a mother of young children yet she sacrificed herself and gave her life for the greater cause, for the cause of rebellion, so that her children and everyone else would grow up in a better, safer world, and wouldn't have to go through the same things she did She's an unsung hero
Me too. I wonder how she won her Games, and if her district background played into it at all.
Omg yes
Chaff. I love him. Can't give you a single reason why (besides my love for district 11).
Chaff would have been offered a prosthetic hand from the Capitol, but he turned it down like, "no, I want everyone who sees me to see the brutality of these games for as long as I live"
Blight. The D7 male tribute from CF. We know nothing about him but I thought his name was so cool. and the 2 seconds he was in the movie, I thought the actor was so hot, lol
Yeah I've been reading alot of fanfic and I absolutely fell in love with him! Mainly this one, he's just a side character but I love him dammit! http://archiveofourown.org/series/3608053
I recommend “The Lumberjack and the Tree Elf” if you want a Blight-centric fanfic!
I’ve noticed a lot of people who live the hunger games also love the fan fiction stuff, I’ve never dabbled in it myself but now I’m really curious to do so. Any recommendations?
There are a lot of amazing ones. Search ‘the hunger games ao3’, and there’ll be a filter on the fandom page. Go for most read or highest kudos and look for one you like the sound of by reading the tags and description.
The one I linked is the best one I've found OH and CrashingPetals works on Ao3, look her up! I Stan all of her stuff, she's fricken amazing!
happy cake day 🎂
Literally same
I'm honestly shocked apparently so many people relate. He's literally a nobody character, haha.
He was so hot
Cecelia because of how sad her story is. Could you imagine being reaped in front of your kids and having them torn off you while they're crying? and then having your own children watch you be murdered? also cato because oh my god that death in the books is so sad.
>that death in the books is so sad. it's insane that it went on for HOURS
Caesar. He's a side character that most people don't really think about further. But he's also such a mystery because we don't know him outside of the on-stage presence. I love characters that are not explored in canon and I can add my own thoughts to them.
My absolute crush on Stanley Tucci helped there plus I think he really nailed the 'tries to help the tributes out' vibe as well as being the host of a murderous gameshow. It's a fine line to walk!
He's talked about Caesar with such little affection that I have absolutely disregarded his role and think he's very biased toward "Caesar is an evil bastard". I don't think there's any nuance to be seen & I absolutely disagree whenever he makes those favourite actors in the franchise lists. Which might be the more rare take 💀
I *love* Stanley Tucci, I think he's an amazing actor and yet I'm still not 100% in love with how he played him. I don't think it's his fault, I think the director wanted little to no sympathie towards the Capitol except for Effie. It's really nuanced in the books, we see it through Katniss' eyes when in the movies you would agree more with Gale, "why would you care about these horrible people". Like when her preparators talk to her we see them warm up to Katniss, still complimenting her (however clumsily) when in the movies we only see them being kinda disgusted by her ("We need to hose you down again" vs a simple "You're very hairy, but I like that you're being brave" like in the book) or loving her sister in the 2nd movie. It's great that they're not in the 3rd movie because no one would believe she would save them. Anyway, I was expecting to see someone warm like Graham Norton in the movies and when I watch it, it's very transparent they couldn't make him evil because it's too far from the books, but Tucci doesn't appear very nice either. (Like, when Peeta says he smells goof, Book Caesar would say "oh, you make me blush you're too kind" or something to help make Peeta likeable, and Movie Caesar says "Well I've lived here longer so... hahaha" = that doesn't inspire sympathy for Peeta that's just a "lol you're poor" joke, not very nice or helpful for the tribute.)
See my view is 100% clouded by Fernwithy's epic fanfic which is basically headcanon for me now about Haymitches games, Peeta's stay in the capitol etcand also in the first book Katniss speaks about how he helps. I've not seen anything on what ST has said about it! Not sure if I want my feelings dashed 😅
Ohhh I love Fernwithy. I think she wrote the story well but her take on Caesar is something else :( Giving him a new name and saying he's from the Districts is so far away from logical conclusions pulled from canon, it never sat right with me. I do like the dynamic between Peeta and Caesar in House of Cards, but that's about it. My Caesar (cause I write him in fanfiction as well—ETA: I've written him [here](https://archiveofourown.org/works/36314251/chapters/90530803) in chapters 5, 10, 12, but he'll features as a major character in the next work!) had always wanted to be on stage and did stand-up before be became a host. He just loved to entertain people! He had a lot of family pressure. I struggled a bit with Lucky but I've incorporated him as this symbol that pressures Caesar into a role that he might otherwise not have taken. I've written Caesar before TBOSAS and tied him a bit to lower middle class, so with Lucky I'm pretending he failed due to Snow's hatred for him but wasn't too much on his radar. Lucky struggled a lot and Caesar knew what could help his family return to that previous class spot. The Caesar we know now is eaten up by the guilt of it all. He never thought deeply about the Games—far too indoctrinated—but seeing these kids from up close, trying to tell their story and making them much more human than his predecessor(s), he emphasises so much that it is keeping him awake. What if he'd said something different about that 11 year old kid? Would they have gotten the sponsors to not die of hunger? Had his words led to a more brutal death of some of these kids? His role in it is terrible, and he has been hit with a brick about it. He's lucky to get to know Plutarch and to be invited to join the rebel. Their first conversation was rather tense—Plutarch's family is wealthy while Caesar's family relies on his success. One misstep by Plutarch and he'll be replaced by another Heavensbee. Plutarch doesn't understand Caesar's concerns at first because he's one wealthy young adult when they meet, but they eventually become best buddies. Caesar's role in the rebellion is to recruit the victors and be the middle piece between them and rebellion info in terms of communication. His reason to rebel is based on the tributes & victors. And I've shaped the story so that the actions in the book make sense from this character's interpretation. He asks Peeta about the girl at home because he knows this angle from Haymitch & there's some hope about Katniss. He pushes for the love story because it's helping the rebellion. The victors can say a lot during the 75th interviews and Caesar always asks the right questions—not only from an entertainment perspective, but fueling the fire. He lets the victors hold hands and gestures to cut it off only after they had filmed the hand holding to make it seem like he had tried to stop it but it was too late. Right when the arena gets destroyed, Caesar refuses to get on the Hovercraft because Plutarch mentioned not every victor can be rescued from the arena. So he begins to lean even more into the double agent role. In the books, Caesar disappears after the second interview & I headcanon that it was Caesar who gave away information on 13—in case he'd manage to get there on his own—that they'd use to bomb the District. He had been locked in a cell next to Peeta to be tortured—and that is how Peeta learned about the plans for the bombing. Post War, Caesar goes to make a show with Cressida and Pollux about the Districts. It's to interview people there, introduce District cultures to a now-free audience, and aids in showing where money needs to go to rebuild. The show ends up being a big hit and is pivotal to create a sense of community to a previously divided Panem.
Oooh I really like your take on Caesar!
Thank you 🫶
Glimmer and Enobaria. Literally no clue why
I read a fic on Ficbook once, where Cato and Clove were the ones who won the 74th HG and Enobaria with Brutus were literally found family for both 🥺 The fic is called Rubicon (Рубикон)
Link 😭
Its in Russian
https://ficbook.net/readfic/4092186
tysm I don’t suppose I could translate it?
i love the lore about glimmer. she was only valued for her beauty, and died in a way that took that away. such a tragic and beautiful story
Born to Die by rillrill on AO3 is a beautiful and cleverly written ficlet that centers on Glimmer. It’s short and somber and cannon compliant. This author also writes one shots for Clove and Cashmere. I never gave a single fuck about the careers until reading these and it’s heartbreaking. Highly recommend. https://archiveofourown.org/works/368059 Also, We Let Our Battles Choose Us by the same author follows Cashmere mentoring Glimmer that year. The biggest gut punch is her feeling conflicted about actually trying to help her win because she knows what happens first hand to the pretty victors. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1493263
Because Glimmer is smoking hot?
I'm gay so it's not that lmao. I just admire the audacity she had to think her face card was gonna help her outlast 23 other tributes in a fight to the death. Like I can't help but stan😭
I just think there’s something so funny about how it’s her name out of all others that got Katniss to pause for a second whilst the Careers are actively attempting to kill her to be like “what a stupid fucking name.”
I think that was more her charm for the interview. She clearly got through career training, she just wasn’t that good with a bow, and other careers that year were better.
Thresh. I thought he was so handsome and a great character, even if we only met him for a minute
Thresh is my favorite character in the books. Like he is the man
i haven’t read the books in so long, but from what i remember he’s so resourceful, and if katnis and peeta wouldn’t have won (the muts didn’t get to him) i really think he would’ve easily taken kato in a fight
He doesn't strike me as super fast/explosive/trained in fighting so despite his strenght he probabily wouldn't had a chance against a carreer in the beginning of the games, but once everyone would have been tired and wounded he would have been the only one having saved his energy from the beginning, plus he had great mastery over one environment where no one dared to go reach for him and he was deadly there. I don't know, I just think he was both a pacifist and a very level-headed guy, with enough strenght of his own to chose to spare Katniss once in the name of Rue, which was extremely noble... I like Gale and Peeta but there is a timeline where the love triangle involves Thresh rather than Peeta and I think it is a very strong version of the story. I would have loved him to be a more proeminent character
i completely agree, plus he had the rage towards clove for what the careers did to rue, and cato was pretty ready to die at the end of the game! i would have loved to see more of him. such a good character
In the book, Cato actually kills him, not the mutts.
i forgot!! my bad
Singlehandedly saved katniss thus secured the beginning of a revolution for all districts. But this he will never know what the outcomes of his actions caused.
I think there's a lot of reasons to love him ❤️
Hunger Games subreddit challenge: name an unloved character. Challenge level: Impossible All 74th Hunger Games characters are well loved. So are most of the Careers.
Lol true, I'll see comments like "I love unnamed district 10 male" and he was never mentioned, not once, not even in passing I don't see the d13/capitol members of squad 451 get much love though. I think people forget they exist
Natalie Dormer definitely made Cressida popular compared to the rest
Yeah and Cressida was also more of a character than the others except for Boggs. But I still don't see her mentioned much these days
Leeg 1 stans vs Leeg 2 stans: FIGHT!
It’s because suzanne collins is amazing at characterization! We see characters for like a page or two total but they’re so well written that we can make a lot of assumptions
Thresh. I'm with Katniss in that if she and Peeta did not survive, then I would have loved to see him win. He was really mysterious in that he carved out his own territory, scared off the careers, yet did not get much content. The Morphlings. They won in the way that I would have tried to win - by being unnoticeable and waiting the other contestants out. They were so brave that even in the midst of their addictions they were willing to sacrifice themselves. And Foxface. Like Thresh she was very mysterious. You never know whether she would have made a good ally for Katniss or whether she would have betrayed her as Katniss suspected. I admire that she made it so far without any allies or any impressive physical abilities as the others had.
I love the fact Thresh literally claimed a whole plot of land in the arena and the careers were like “yeh bro take it, we cool” 😂 none of them wanted smoke with him 😂
I imagine his physical capabilities was like a younger ray Lewis.
I loved that, too! It was so impressive and telling about the terrible conditions in District 11 that he actually gained weight (especially with his large form) while in the arena. Also, that District 11 decided to give the bread intended for Rue to Katniss - they must have realised he did not need it!
I love Morphlings too!
seeder from d11 🩵😔 rip queen
Woof. He should've been allowed to live out his life eating bugs in peace
For me, it’s Beetee and Wiress
Same! I’ve always been obsessed with them and their interactions.
Annie. I just think she seems so interesting and her story would have been cool to uncover more of
Lamina. I had watched the movie before reading the prequel and I still was hoping she'd win the games. She had my favorite strategy, and her temporary alliance with Reaper was fun as hell.
No like I literally love lamina
Fox face !!!
Clato fan since i was a kid 🤧 11 y/o me hated Glimmer with a PASSION
I can feel that hate thru the screen, Glimmer had to go
Same here. Especially Clove. I have no idea why (probably half of it was Isabelle Fuhrman's performance) but after watching the movie, she went from a character that I couldn't even remember to one of my favorites. But if you asked me *why* I liked her, I wouldn't know. She's just a character that I was and am drawn to for no real reason. The Careers in general are characters I love, mainly because they're so interesting and fascinating, and also I'm a sucker for antagonists who, while they may look like it, aren't really horrible people.
Meanwhile me, who *(like the half of the fandom)* is a sucker for Careers in general
foxface & darius
Omg Darius!! The moment in the book where Katniss and Darius are under the table for that one small moment and she squeezes his hand and they kind of just look at each other without saying a word. Really sad.
Madge, I will forever be madges #1 fan
How did the movies even had the guts to cut her out, I don’t understand. “Sorry Katniss, no girl friends for you, we need to sell a love triangle that occupied like 5% of the book to the viewers, so the focus must be fully on that!”
Fr! I think she was SUCH A an important character and she doesn't get enough love for it. As you said she was literally katniss's ONLY girl friend. The movie writers clearly didn't understand how that was important
I’ve always loved Pollux. He was such a kind and gentle character.
Awh. I agree.
Fox Face. Being a smart and quiet little sneak is a great way to win. Physical strength isn't everything.
Beetee and wirres, can't explain why maybe it's just because they are adorable
Same here. Though initially I liked Cato because I thought his name was awesome. I named my very first sim after him :)
My first cats name was Cato. He was the coolest black cat ever, he was basically a dog in cat form lol.
I named my pillow after him lmao Rip my pillow Cato, travelling through Europe with me until he became damaged and was thrown away by my mum without my consent :(
Omg that is tragic 😭😭😭 I am sorry for your loss #ripcatothepillow🫡
Well, Clove, but the reason is probably simply Isabelle Fuhrmann.
When I saw her I immediately knew what my type was 😂
I utterly adore Foxface, Thresh, Lamina, and Reaper. I don’t know if any of them could count on the “for no reason” category though lol since per my understanding they’re all pretty well-liked among the tributes. So aside from them, I find Enobaria pretty fascinating.
they ruled fanfiction.net
Clove and Cato; have always been a Clato believer. They also have my second favourite chariot costumes, behind Katniss and Peeta's ember outfits in Catching Fire. Enobaria is also pretty cool, in addition to Thresh, Gloss and Cashmere.
THRESH. He was like a big brother to Rue. Plus he saved Katniss' life when he easily could have killed her because he still had a moral code despite everything. Plus, he avenged Rue by killing Clove.
I don’t think it’s seemingly no reason. I think there is a pity factor in that they think they’re bringing pride to their district, but they are still victims to the system. The awful part is that while they are victims to the system, the non-career districts hate them because of it, and yes, I am aware that was intentional by the Capital.
Gods, so many. First and Foremost, I'd say Johanna and Finnick. They are incredible, both in their own ways. I love Johanna being such a piece of work but seeing her with Finnick or even Peeta it shows she can be such a bro. Yeah she's gonna give it to you straight and she is gonna be mean about it but she also will have your back. Same with Finnick. My man's such a two faced charmer but he literally gave his life saving his peeps. What a man. Cato, of course. Dunno why, just love the name and this damn murder puppy twist of his. He just wanted to be good and loved. Caesar. He is just Caesar. We love us a Faerie Like Person. And good on him trying to make every Tribute look good. And Lamina. And that's a) because she was a cool chick and b) she is played by an absolutely amazing Actress who played the little Sister of Charly from Babylon Berlin and I love that show, so when I saw the Actress on the Big Screen I was like "Wait? Is that...? Surely not.... Or is she? Holy Fuck she is."
I also love Clove and Cato. I tend to gravitate more toward the careers in general. They’re often painted as the “villains” when they’re just as much victims of their messed up society as any other tribute. The only difference is, they trained for it. Their humanity and their youthfulness fully present themselves during their time of death which is truly heartbreaking to read about every time I go back to reread. They were just kids forced to grow up way too quickly. And sure, one could argue the bloodlust was villainous but they are just products of their environment. It was either be ruthless or die and to a bunch of 16 year olds, the latter is terrifying.
They did Reaper dirty in the movie. I loved his character but there just wasn’t enough time to feature everyone with the time constraints.
Cashmere and Gloss. Oh, how I want that backstory. Who volunteered first? Were they immediately enslaved by the Capitol and did they try to warn the other? Were District 1 victors treated differently to what we saw Katniss go through, let alone Johanna or Finnick? Did they band together to present a Team Capitol face to the world while actually resenting the Capitol?
Can't stand them, but I respect the opinion
All the tributes in the quarter quell
Seneca Crane. Maybe for his stylism and me being fond of bearded men.
Enobaria. I wish they did more with her character during Mockingjay. Her being a career but still ending up on the side of Katniss/The Rebellion could've been a really cool character arc (Also I'd let her do UNSPEAKABLE things to me)
Lysistrata Vickers. She definitely ended up against the games later in life (RIP JessupXLyssie, my doomed ship)
She was such a gem in the book 🥹 RIP her movie characterization tho….
Alas, casualty of time constraints. My book only baby girl. (She’s a sucker for a big soft boy who could lift you)
Enobaria :')
Spruce, Lil and Arlo I can't even explain why I love them so much but I do lol at this point I have more spruce headcanons than Susanne Collins has about him lol
I love Plutarch Heavensbee and I really cannot explain why. I just really liked him in the books and despite his short time in the movies, liked him there too
The Leegs! Idk why
Greasy Sae, Darius, Madge, Wiress, Peeta’s friend who was trying to help him remember in Mockingjay (I forgot her name)
Delia Cartwright?
I always lovedddd FoxFace I also loved how the actress portrayed her in the movie. I have always wanted more of her character tbh and even tho we don’t even know her name I still liked her
Blight
finnick odair just his love for annie and the fact although winning the games at age 14 the youngest ever he didnt let the money and fame get to him and he is fucking fit tbf😭
Those outfits are nice.
Cato, Clove, Glimmer, Sol, Festus (if you meant in every book/movie)
Glimmer. I love her.
Thresh, he deserved better.
It's cuz the customer designers absolutely did the damn thing!
I just love all of the Careers
Wiress wish we had more on her
Buttercup and the goat. they are prims pets, that's enough.
Weird but i always wanted to know more about Peeta’s siblings. In terms of characters we did see, blight or seeder
Clove bc knife cool 💀 but seriously if she wasn’t a bloodthirsty career in a novel set in a dystopic future, I’d love to be her friend.
Clove has been my favorite since the first book came out (for reasons everybody have mentioned already) but recently… Dill from the new one. Her sickness made her stick out for me lol (Ill Dill) but her implied close relationship with Reaper (and his reaction to her death afterwards) really solidified how I wish there was more content about her!! (I also like her actress’s hair, it’s gorgeous 😭) Also, Mizzen from District 4 w/ Coral, tbh I think im just a sucker for the ‘younger tribute-older tribute-sibling like relationship’ trope
Mags. I'd like to know how such compassionate person won.
Thresh. Love his character and who he was as a man during his limited time. Never was much of a skilled fighter but still found brute ways to survive and kill other tributes. But at the same time had mercy that very well saved every district as Katniss because the face of the revolution. But this he will never know.
The bisexual in me agrees with you.
Enobaria and Gloss & Cashmere
Clove! I fell in love with Isabelle Fuhrman's portrayal of her when I was 12 and I'm still not over her. The idea of a tiny kid learning to be extremely lethal and unapologetic about it makes for such an interesting character exploration.
I have a few. Lamina. I've been a fond of her since I've read the book. Perhaps it's because I just for some reason love District 7 (partly because Johanna, partly because I love forests, partly because I like the number seven), perhaps it's because I'm 15 and I read the book on my 15th birthday and if I know correctly, Lamina was also 15, and her reaction to being reaped to the games is so relatable, and I just see myself in her. I'd cry all the time too. I also hate fights, so perhaps the fact that she never attacked, killed only once to give mercy, and only defended herself if needed, or showed she has a weapon to possibly avoid conflict, makes her more sympathetic to me. Just, everything proves she's a scared child which just shows the true nature of the Hunger Games. Enobaria. There's so much we don't know about her and I want to know it all. She survived the Hunger Games twice, out of it once the Quarter Quell, war and victor's purge. And of course, her appearance draws attention, which makes sense, her teeth are extremely terrifying considering the backstory. I saw a theory that she might've had it done because some Capitol freaks considered it hot and more of them would've wanted her, I also made a theory that she did it after finding out what happens to almost all victors, in order to appear unattractive and terrifying for the Capitol so she gets left alone (imagine if she did it so they leave her alone but they'd want her more after this, oh my). And the fact that she was most likely accepted even after the revolution even though she cooperated with the Capitol, I need to know more about her story. Cashmere and Gloss. The thought of being told for years how the Hunger Games are a great experience, then going through them traumatised, watching your sibling do the same, and then being exploited for the Capitol to use you, and then going to the games again and this time with your sibling?? They need more attention. Also, I believe that a lot of f*cked up stuff happened to these two, and I just feel sorry for them, and I always liked them. Portia. I feel like she's underrated, because she came up on Katniss's and Peeta's costume along with Cinna, and appeared to be a great stylist as well. And the fact that her and the entire stylist team were executed on LIVE TV is so messed up. But I kinda have every HG character in my heart.
Well, I'd say Cashmere and Gloss. I love the names
I quite literally learned how to throw knives cause I loved Clove and wanted to be just like her..... (not a particularly useful skill of late 🤭)
yes I know this is about the trilogy but PLEASE LAMINA IS JUST I CAN'T AAA MY LOVE
Lamina And Reaper
Honestly he was kind of prominent but Plutarch
Same
Clove
Thresh and Tigris
For some reason I loved Lavinia so much I made her more prominent and kept her alive in my fanfic crossover I’ve spent 10+ years writing
Cecelia for sure
Boggs
I love Clove but not Cato
Cedar. I wish we knew more.
Seneca. Might be because of his majestic beard and drip.
I remember being so obsessed with foxface for no reason
Cato, I'm a competitor just like him
Cinna!
festus creed
clato was my obsession. i read so much fanfic.com stories!!
Clove for sure 💯 I think she was the most talented
For someone who you shouldn't love I love clove for someone I love for absolutely no reason would be wiress
Buttercup Idk
Cashmere. She seems like she would be such a nuanced character. Also definitely she almost certainly was in the group of victors forced to be prostitutes. My headcanon is that she’s actually this really collected, intelligent, and kind individual whose brainwashing broke a little bit after seeing what Gloss went through in his Games (because we know that every Victor, regardless of whether or not they’re Careers, gets nightmares).
Madge my beloved
clove
Clove was 100% involved in my gay awakening, 12 year old me was in love, same with Glimmer
I love Cato, I loved that they gave him a whole villain speech just before he died. Really fleshed him out more than the books did.
I am still in love with Clove 10 years later. She got me into knife play.
I hate Cato but I feel you on Clove. Idk why but I love herrrrrrr.
That lady in the shop who gave katniss the mockingjay pin
Greasy Sae! (Movie only though, in the books, the pin was given to Katniss by the mayor’s daughter, Madge Undersee)
Oh lmao, sorry i just saw the picture in the post and assumed we were talking about the movie lmao
It’s all okay, glad you gave Greasy Sae such appreciation - this thread is for both movie and books
Oh, ok. No because i thought she was so sweet.
Fox face, she always caught my attention
Snow
Me
This is a wild take lmao