“The Starvation Video games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” is a uncommon prequel that really works very properly as its personal standalone film, whereas additionally making what got here earlier than even higher — very very like “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” did. Whereas /Movie’s personal Jeremy Mathai wasn’t so enthusiastic concerning the movie, writing that it “feels caught between its humbler, extra character-driven goals and the blockbuster expectations of reinvigorating a model” in his assessment, the film was an enormous hit, and gave audiences a brand new favourite District 12 victor.
Years earlier than Katniss Everdeen’s revolution, and even years earlier than Coriolanus Snow grew to become the tyrannical dictator in command of Panem, “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” follows Snow as a youngster making an attempt to maintain his household’s legacy alive. When the tenth annual Starvation Video games strategy, he’s assigned to mentor a tribute from District 12 named Lucy Grey Baird, inflicting Snow to wrestle together with his true allegiance and with how far he is keen to go to realize energy and wealth.
As many parallels as “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” attracts with the unique “Starvation Video games” movies, and as a lot as Lucy Grey is kind of actually a stand-in for Katniss, is there a extra express connection between the 2 characters? Given they type of resemble one another and have comparatively related personalities, it would not take a leap to take a position that the 2 might be associated. The reality, in fact, is that they don’t seem to be, however that does not imply they are not linked in different methods.
How Lucy Grey Baird teases the arrival of Katniss
“The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” is in fixed dialog with the unique “Starvation Video games” films, that includes one other younger tribute from District 12 that earns the guts of all of Panem and almost begins a revolution. Certainly, in some ways, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” reveals that Coriolanus Snow inadvertently but immediately led to the creation of Katniss Everdeen — consider it as “The Starvation Video games” equal of Palpatine by chance creating Anakin Skywalker by means of experimentation with midi-chlorians in “Star Wars.” By dishonest his approach by means of changing into prime of his class, Snow created all of the circumstances that may make it attainable for Katniss to develop into a revolutionary chief. He modified the circumstances of the take a look at by making the Starvation Video games a reputation contest as a lot because it was a dying sport. By the tip of the film, Snow even conjures up the tune that Katniss will sooner or later use as her rallying cry (“The Hanging Tree,” which was really written by Lucy herself).
Although “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” is full of many references to the unique “Starvation Video games” movies, what’s most noticeable are the parallels and callbacks (callforwards?) to Katniss and her story. Along with the “Hanging Tree” tune, there are many mentions of literal katniss flowers and mockingjays within the prequel film. Thematically, nonetheless, there’s a throughline between Katniss and Lucy too; regardless of the pair being unrelated, the older Snow appears to truly admire Katniss at the same time as he plots to have her destroyed, recalling the youthful Snow’s emotions about Lucy. As /Movie’s Michael Boyle put it, “It is with the prequel that we understand that Katniss should remind him of his past love, the one he rejected on account of his pursuit of energy and wealth. The rebellious, easy Katniss represents the trustworthy (if much more harmful) life Snow may’ve picked for himself.”
Even when Lucy Grey and Katniss are usually not associated, the 2 are thematically linked — one thing that makes pathetic little Snow livid.
