By: Erin Watts

“May the odds be ever in your favor,” a phrase I am sure many Hunger Games fans know by heart. Many people have seen the movies or read the books, but wondered where it all started: Why did President Snow hate District 12? What did the early Hunger Games look like? What ever happened to the first District 12 victor? Well, now, we have answers. Way back in 2020, Suzanne Collins, the author of the Hunger Games trilogy, wrote a prequel to the series entitled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Seeing the book come to life on the big screen is truly such a life-changing experience. 

“Welcome to the 10th Annual

Hunger Games”

For those unfamiliar with the story, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes follows the 10th Annual Hunger Games in the Capital. Coriolanus Snow, later becoming President Snow in the original trilogy, is from a poor family in the Capital. In order to afford college tuition, he must earn a scholarship. The scholarship was previously based on grades, but this year, the scholarship will be given to the best mentor in the Games. Snow gets the District 12 girl, Lucy Gray Baird, an extravagant singer, and forms a bond closer than just mentor and mentee. Snow promises to help Lucy win, for his benefit more than hers. His ways of helping are…less than ethical, but he does what he must for her to survive. The tributes struggle, doing what they must to survive. Death after death, the number of tributes wane, until a single tribute is left standing.

“The sound of Snow…falling.”

After winning the Games, Lucy Gray goes on to live a fairly normal life, whereas Coriolanus was punished for his actions during the Games. They meet again in District 12, planning an escape together. Coriolanus made one bad decision after another during his time in 12. He forgets his humanity, choosing to protect himself over doing the right thing. Slowly, the things he has done come to light and Lucy Gray finds out. Will Coriolanus’s actions make Lucy Gray stay with him or will she leave him before she becomes his next target?

“Lucy Gray? LUCY GRAY!”

The entire movie was so well done. The cinematography was breathtaking. I felt as if I was in the Hunger Games. I could feel the emotions, the dawning of realization. For fans of the original series, dots are connected, tying everything together seamlessly. The actors and actresses played their roles so incredibly well and made me feel so many emotions. I loved, I hated, I despised. Tom Blyth was cast as the infamous Coriolanus Snow and Rachel Zegler plays the extravagant Lucy Gray Baird. Everything about this movie is fantastic! When you go watch this, remember: 

“Snow lands on top.”

Photos courtesy of Google