(VIBE CHECK) Does anyone have issues with the vertical format of these book videos? The Movie reactions will always be wide shots, but I figure most people watch these on their phones.
One thing you have to remember about Peeta: he may or may not be intelligent in the traditional sense, but he’s extremely emotionally intelligent. So manipulating the capitol with the “If it weren’t for the baby” move is absolutely in character for him. He understands people.
This is so interesting. The only thing that I disagree on is that Peeta is actually very smart and knows how to manipulate the Capitol with his words. Katniss does influence them as well, but in her case she is not doing it on purpose. So the whole "if it weren't for the baby" was a 100% Peeta. Yes, he is a genius. He fooled the Capitol, the fandom and even Katniss for a second.
@@grantmaurer9921the only person who can come even remotely close is Finnick (think his love poem that’s secretly written for Annie but worded in a way anyone could put themselves in her place)
When Peeta and Katniss kiss : "warmth radiates throughout my whole body. It feels so good. I want more". Proceeds to dream about Peeta's children and wakes up feeling incredibly happy. When Gale and Katniss kiss : "I lean forward and kiss him". Proceeds to wish she could ask Peeta to sleep with her and hopes Gale won't remember the kiss.
The emotional rollercoaster he went through brought me to tears. And bro asking how many more can they take from Peeta at the end. *lays down on the highway*
Oh my gosh, that picture is pretty close to movie Finnick! Finnick is a very interesting character in the books and the movies. And I love Cinna, too. So, so much. 😢
I think to understand the role that the Peeta vs. Gale thing plays in the story you have to understand that they actually represent Katniss herself. Gale is who she is, or at least who she starts as, and as the story goes on she changes and he stays the same to continue to represent that side of her. Peeta represents what she could be or who she aspires to be if she hadn’t had so much hardship. He represents the hope for a better future, so as Katniss’s character develops she struggles between these two things. This becomes more clear in Mockingjay. Katniss’s views on decisions Gale makes show that she has grown from where she started. And something happens to Peeta that makes her realize she longs/has been longing all along for the humanity/better future he represents.
Suzanne Collins crafted Gale and his arc so well. You’re supposed to like Gale and be drawn to him as a character because that’s how Katniss feels. I don’t want to spoil anything but it’s all so 🤌
“They are just being the people they were always going to be, regardless of the romance.” And I 100% agree! They are characters that have their own arcs and flaws. 🎉 also? Katniss is a bit busy with her own plate of issues to focus on any emotional intimacy. She’s been stunted since her dad died and her mom checked out.
On the locket Peeta wears… it is diabolical, but in Peeta’s defense, he knows Katniss is doing everything she can to save him in the same way he’s doing everything he can to save her. He knew, at some point, she’d do something that would put her life at risk for him and he needed to remind her that she has people to live for - Gale, her mom, Prim. I do believe that Peeta has no one if Katniss dies and he lives. I mean, it’s said in the first book: he has two older brothers that could’ve volunteered for him and didn’t, he has an abusive mom. His dad isn’t so bad, but that’s one person. Katniss could have a full life with Gale if she lives. He needs to make her understand that. And the line that Collins puts in there - that one person would be changed if he died - kills me. It shows how deeply she feels for Peeta, even if she doesn’t yet fully realize it.
His oldest brother was too old to volunteer. The second one could have, but what's the difference between a 16 yo baker boy and a 17/18 yo baker boy ? It's not like the second one would have a lot more chances to win. You can't compare that to 12yo Prim and 16yo huntress Katniss. His brother not volunteering for him absolutely doesn't mean that they don't love each other. Katniss was the first volunteer from District 12. Does that mean that no siblings love each other in D12 ?
I 100% understand being drawn to Gale. As you said, he's very driven. He's politically aware from the very beginning. He acts on his principles, which includes taking care of the family of the girl he loves. So there is something attractive about Gale! And I'm not surprised you still like him. I even think it's possible to like him - or at least *understand him* - by the end of his story arc. But all that said, the main reasons people *don't* like him are also rooted in the very same integrity and personality we see here. A sort of natural conclusion of all of these things. Can't wait to hear what you think at the end!
i think people (especially ones on tik tok) forget to realize this is your first time reading the books. i’ve read them (maybe shamefully) probably 10 times, and still learn new things with each read. also, gale, especially on a first read, is SO complex. you’re gonna love mockingjay so much. i love seeing your thought process!
I've re-read the series multiple times--I learned the most about Katniss' voice when I actually listened to Tatiana Maslany's audiobook of the series. She is such an INCREDIBLE narrator. Give it a listen if you haven't already!
@@Shadow3103 i LOVE her narration! i think she sometimes struggles with some of the voices/tone for the male characters, but she fits katniss perfectly
Gale isnt a bad person. He's a product of his environment. Not a bad person but on multiple occasions he is a bad friend. Its hard to see him in a good light when his comparison is Peeta. The best bread boy. The goodest of good bread boy
1. My favorite color is orange 2.Peeta is in fact a genius 3. Also, I think its so important for audiences to remember where the story started with Gale...so I love that you are exploring that and emphasizing that the enemy is 100% the Capitol
See that’s what Collins does so masterfully, she makes us love both of these guys so much and we are as confused as Katniss is about who is right for her or what she wants. The next book makes it much more clear, but it isn’t just a black or white issue. God I love watching your reactions to this series!
You have no idea how amazing it is to SEE someone else go through the same roller coaster I've been through, so thank you for doing this! PS: you are going to love the third book....I think
About the Team Gale vs Team Peeta question... what you said about "they're both doing exactly what they were always going to do" YES!!! This is totally the point, and I think after Mockingjay you'll come back to this statement and agree with yourself (I hope) -- Mockingjay, in my mind, plays out the inevitable of each character's arc at this point in the story as the rebellion is starting
"I MIGHT regret some of the previous statements I had made about Gale... AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, not right now." had me ROLLING. And god dammit when your picture of Finnick popped up. Jesus you nailed him, you have no clue.
Peeta is extremely smart - however Katniss is so focused on her survival that we can’t see the brilliance of Peeta. Everything he does is to make sure she survives.
the roller coaster u went through when u said u loved senna and hope they give him a nice goodbye scene toooo being face planted on your pillow, is an emotion the entire fandom can feel
gale is fine right now, but the one big thing that makes me team peeta is that gale gets mad about katniss pretending to like peeta *so she could survive.* yeah, peeta was mad too, but the audacity gale has to just...like would you rather *her die* instead of kissing peeta?? girlie was literally fighting for her life!!
what really ended his character for me was the last sentence he ever spoke to her. AFTER [spoiler], he says "that's the only thing I had going for me. Taking care of your family." what kind of an absolute asshole...
I guess up to this point of the history the hate for Gale it's that he's always pressures Katniss without considering that shes been to a really traumatic experience and had to do everything she could to survive, Peeta its most understanding, rarely gets angry at her and dont pressure her in any way. And I really don't think he would sacrificed himself for her like Peeta does. I think the comforting she's get from them are different, Gale is familiar while Peeta is warm and peaceful.
You're right. Also, Gale is very selfish and just doesn't consider other's feelings at all. For me, the point when I knew he was just terrible, is when in MJ he says something like: "I would never say those things, even if they torture me" when talking about the Capitol propos. Like, my guy, you have suffered yes, but you don't know how things are inside the Capitol. And then, of course, the whole District 2 thing. I think the war brought out who he really was and unfortunately, he was just not good.
Exactly. Gale thinks he understands what Katniss went through because he watched it; he thinks he understands how she feels because he knows her better than anyone. And maybe before the games, he did. But because of the games, what she went through, Peeta, and their shared trauma, Katniss is a different person after those first games. She starts to understand what Peeta said in the first book - “I just don’t want them to change me.” To this point in the story - dismissing everything that comes after - I think we’re supposed be torn between the two. Admittedly, my first read through, I was already Team Peeta but it was less due to hating Gale and more to how much I loved Peeta.
I definitely prefer Peeta over Gale and I’m not a Gale fan at all, but it makes a lot of sense that Gale would be less likely to sacrifice himself for Katniss over Peeta with their family situations. Especially since Gale is like Katniss, he’s the one who works hard to feed his family and he has 3 siblings all younger than Prim, they should all definitely come first over Katniss as much as I love her so it’s understandable. Peeta has a different situation since it’s sadly as he says, he doesn’t have anyone that need him. His family situation isn’t that great, his dad seems fine but with an abusive mother that hits him and puts him down and he ends up living himself in victors village, he always seems ready to give up his life easily since he doesn’t see much value in it and knows Katniss is someone who’s more needed that he is.
@clover2739 yeah, I agree but as you said katniss has a similar situation than his and either way she refused to kill peeta in the first hunger games and prioritizes saving him on the seconde one, I dont see gale doing this.
The biggest thing that has solidarity me as team Peeta forever is when you start to realize through rereads that despite how both want to be with her, all of gales motivations are for himself to have his happily ever after with her vs peeta just wants her to have her happily ever after period. Wether it’s him or gale, he just wants HER to be happy
Peeta is a genius. And, he loves Katniss enough that he would rather she be alive and with Gale...instead of dead. Peeta's love is pure and unselfish and true. Gale could never say the same about loving her so much that he would rather she was happy with Peeta than dead. I can't wait to see your reaction to the 3rd book!!
I love seeing your reactions to these books/movie(s?? hopefully). You know how when you read, watch or play something you love so much, you get a little sad that you can never experience it for the first time ever again? The Hunger Games is one of those things for me, and getting to watch you react to it has brought a lot of joy, so thank you for that.
gale's character in the books is so much more complex than the role he takes as "part of the love triangle" in the movies and i think thats why people hate him so much bc they only view him as the other love interest. anyway, im so excited for you to read mockingjay!!!
Watching someone experience these books for the first time is just reminding me how well written they are. I read them at, like 12, when the first movie came out, and, at the time, i had no concept of what good writing was. I had no idea that i was reading what i now consider to be one of the most impactful works of fiction of my generation. I've obviously read them as an adult. They're on my yearly re-read list. But i would give almost anything to experience them for the first time again.
“They made Gale her cousin” literally one of the first things she says about Gale is that they look so much a like that they could pass as cousins Gale being the warrior on the ground ain’t gonna be too pretty in the next book ill tell you that. Also Peeta is VERY smart when it comes to people and he loves Katniss enough to make sure she says alive by any means. Lying to the Capitol, making himself as charming as possible while making Katniss seem desirable, sacrificing himself. He would do ANYTHING to see her happy and that includes making sure she’s able to see her family and the people she loves in the arena. He used the one thing he could bring in just to make sure Katniss was able to see them again. The difference between Peeta and Gale is that Gale does the things he does in the hopes if getting something in return (which isn’t really his fault but it’s a way to go about things when thinking of romance) and Peeta does the things he does expecting absolutely nothing in return (the way he grew up is definitely responsible for this but his love for Katniss is so deep he doesn’t care what it costs him to make sure she survives). Somebody pointed this out before but i think a lot of men don’t see how genuine Peeta is when first watching and Reading the Hunger Games so they default to Gale because what he does for Katniss is so outright and obvious as opposed to what Peeta does for her.
What I love about the Peeta vs Gale argument is that it isn’t just a typical love triangle, they represent two different ways of life for Katniss to choose. Safety and peace with Peeta, or fighting for the cause with Gale. She truly loves them both or at least has the potential to love either of them, but it’s a choice she doesn’t know how to make yet because she isn’t sure/isn’t given the chance to decide what she really wants. Suzanne Collins is such a brilliant writer
I’ve really enjoyed your take on these books. I was of the same mindset as you as far as Peeta and Gale go. Gale is a 19/20 year old who has been the caretaker for his family since he was around 13 and still takes care of his and Katness’ families while she was in the games. Peeta is 17/18 years old and was abused by his mother, get thrown into the games, thinking he got the girl but not really and has lost his leg. Oh and now is at the hands of the capital. Then Katness is a 17/18 year old who had to be the adult in the family from bout 11, volunteered for her sister, survived and thought it was over only to have carpet pulled out from underneath her, accidentally starting a rebellion (all rebels weighing on her shoulders) and was held responsible for all of the uprising. All of them have ptsd. I think Peeta understands her after the games and Gale couldn’t.
I had a Political science course called “Power in the Hunger Games” and I wrote my final paper on the complexities of Gale’s character, focusing on his power, and his character’s story development throughout the three books. You’ll see in Mockingjay how each character reacts to the rise of the rebellion and the roles they play in it. It’s interesting to compare characters especially the ones seen in the last three books with the new characters in Mockingjay. I tried my best to explain it without ruining anything.
finding your reaction videos to these books in tiktok are giving me life!!! seeing you read this as an adult (read this in highschool lmao) is such a gem for me coz we rlly were unfazed reading this trilogy and as an adult I ALSO CANT BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS THE TYPE OF CONTENT WE WERE CONSUMING IN MY TEENAGE YEARS!
The pure joy, excitement, and anxiety I feel watching you read these books for the first time is amazing. I wish I could read these for the first time again.
Regardless of the whole team Peeta or team Gale (I've always been team Peeta), I'm really liking these videos. It's like being 13 again reading the trilogy for the first time!
Finnick is forever known as mermaid man. It’s decided 😂. You are making me want to reread this series, the movies do not do Susanne Colllins’ mind justice
I laughed at that because my 14 year old son has loved orange from about 9 months of age. Still wears something orange every day. He’s neurotypical, just very passionate about orange!
Yesssss! Orange is an amazing color. It’s my go-to for combining with a lot of other colors. Olive green and grey, which are my top two favorites, look so good with a dark pumpkin-y, rust colored orange. And Peeta isn’t saying he loves street cone orange, he says the orange in sunsets, which, like, come on, who doesn’t love orange in sunsets?
I fear "how much worse can it get" is a much more open ended question than you realize. I also read the series as an adult and Mockingjay is sooo depressing. Take care of yourself.
I think Gale represents the life Katniss would have had if she was never apart of the games and Peeta represents the life she is living. The love triangle is not about love at all but about Katniss being pulled between these two paths, not fitting in either life and not knowing which life she even wants. It’s not about one being better than the other, it’s about Katniss being stuck, unable to move forward.
If you decide to read any fan fiction, The End of the World Series by Fernwithy on AO3 follows Haymitch from his games through the end of Mockingjay (with some character interludes from other perspectives) and is extremely good.
I have read the full Hunger Games trilogy at least six times since it was first published. What I find interesting is good literature well-written stories can be read over and over again. Each reading brings a new insight depth and understanding to the characters the plot and the total message of the books
the emotional rollercoaster that is reading this book The whole team peeta or gayle I think it became more of A Thing after the movies came out, Katniss loves them both but imo she is not at all as concerned with the romantic aspect of those relationships as they are
They. Are. TEENAGERS!!!!!!! All this is them being teens. It's crazy what they are dealing with as kids. Finnick is AMAZING. LOVE him. Also, Gale is still fine in this book. :)
I saw this a while ago on booktwt but people were saying that the love triangle is really well done in the books because of how unreliable Katniss is as a character. And when I read the books for the first time last summer, I couldn’t stop thinking about that. Like it was so poifect
i forgot how really fucking good the hunger games is until i revisited them as an adult. like i remember devouring the books in a way idk if i've ever done with anything else, but i think the excitement blinded me to how just really really well written they are. like the way things are set up is masterful! also idk that i was ever team peeta or team gale while reading, my opinions on that didn't really form until i finished the trilogy like there was just so much going on i was more into the tactics of it and the friendships rather than the romantic aspects
Same! I knew and remembered that they were amazing, and then I reread them and I was like holy shit so much went over my head when I read this at 12 and now I can appreciate it even more. Plus, I was really struggling to get back into reading as an adult but I whipped through this entire series in less than a week lol. I agree with the Team Peeta/Gale thing - I also didn't have much opinions until the end and I think that is the point. It wasn't Katniss's main focus either. Honestly, I think the love triangle stuff was a very minor part of the whole story that primarily focuses on war and the effects of war. The movies only played it up to appeal to more people I guess. Regardless, I do appreciate both the books and movies for different reasons though, but books > movies any day hahaha.
I feel as though Peeta and Gale are both intelligent but in different aspects. Peeta has lived in a bakery his whole life and while his life may not be great he hasn't starved to the point of almost dying, he hasn't needed to hunt for food and, therefore, hasn't needed to learn survival skills up till the point of being picked in the arena. During the training time (book 1), Haymitch tells them not to give away their strengths so Peeta can't improve for the whole week that's dedicated to that, which is why he is unprepared for the actual games. Of course, he does train for the second games, which were entirely his idea, by the way, but you still have to remember he has a broken leg. However another one of his strengths is emotional intelligence, and you can think and feel without people knowing which is why he was able to come up with "because she came here with me" and "if it weren't for the baby" BY HIMSELF. But for Gale who had to hunt and make traps for his food and feed his family of 6 (i think) basically singlehandedly knows how to fight and that's why he's straight down to business because a cornered animal will always fight the hardest, therefore, he is not sympathetic towards the other tributes/peeta/the man trying to get his girl but BECAUSE he's needed to survive for so long he hasn't had the time to think through his emotions properly, one because he's too busy wondering whether he'll be unable to feed his family and also starving and fatigue DAMAGE YOUR BRAIN so he literally might be UNABLE to think about how he feels and how other people feel and how the effect of his words how other people may feel. Peeta iis smart because he can trick the whole of the capital that Katniss is pregnant and Gale is smart because he can survive. Basically Street Smart vs Book Smart.
You dont know how much i love your reactions. I read these when i was a teenager and loved them and love Peeta and loved the movies, i've been wanting to do a re read and maybe this is my sign. Great series
Listen I know exactly what you’re feeling and it is for that reason that I cackled my way through this video. I’m so excited for your reactions to the next book.
You are hilarious! Your reactions to these books have been so much fun to watch. Suzanne Collins is such an amazing writer. These characters are ALL so perfectly written.
the vampire diaries tangent at the end was so unexpected but also so welcome 😂 it's kinda wild to me that you've never watched/read the hunger games but have watched TVD
i do enjoy gale’s character. peeta has been raised up in a higher privilege than katniss or gale. even katniss acknowledges that gale has it harder than she does, being the eldest son with multiple siblings he’s trying to keep healthy and out the reaping. he’s more of a revolutionary than katniss or peeta are by personality - not a bad thing for any character just a fact. whereas katniss and peeta have these unique traumas that connect them and make them less able to accept the violence needed to counter the capital. gale is radicalised in a realistic fashion and i understand the dislike of his character : he is pushy with katniss, his way of thinking about war and freedom isn’t kind or sympathetic. i think peeta is equally complex and gales total opposite. katniss ‘decision’ between them in the end is perfectly written by Collins, the explanation gets the entire dynamic between all of them bang on in one sentence.
I'm loving being on this journey with you. What I love the most about this series, is that each time you read it, you discover something new, you focus on something different. The romance/the different sides and life-phases of Katniss each boy brings forth, the truly horric emotinal damage done to all tribute and victors, the complete obliviousness of capitolites (that we see start being broken in this book), the ruthlessness of the authoritarian control President Snow and the other higher ups have... This book is my favourite, it's more political and angry than the first and waaaaay less depressing than the last. Prepare yourself my friend. Mockjay breaks people.
You are 100% right at this point from Katniss's point of view we are not supposed to know who to choose between Gale and Peeta. Both matter in her life. Hence why the ship teams exist in the first place. So it's ok to be conflicted because Katniss herself doesn't even know who she loves why should we know? Also at this time, she is in the middle of a horrible situation so she only has time for flight or fight mode. There is no space in her mind for romance. The only time she thinks of either one of them romantically is when they are at risk of dying.
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(VIBE CHECK) Does anyone have issues with the vertical format of these book videos? The Movie reactions will always be wide shots, but I figure most people watch these on their phones.
I watch on my laptop, but I don't mind the vertical format whatsoever!!
i prefer horizontal but tbh i don’t have an issue w vertical! but also im just used to horizontal for youtube
I like it! It's different and I appreciate it.
I watch them on my tv, so vertical would be best. But I don't mind the horizontal!
Somehow opened this video on both my phone and laptop in the matter of two minutes
One thing you have to remember about Peeta: he may or may not be intelligent in the traditional sense, but he’s extremely emotionally intelligent. So manipulating the capitol with the “If it weren’t for the baby” move is absolutely in character for him. He understands people.
Spot on
And an absolute rizz master
Everytime they make a stupid decision I remind myself that they’re 17 and it makes sense
Still not an excuse tbh. I haven't met that many dumb 17 year olds lol
seriously, i look at it and picture myself back at that age and then think "i wouldnt have done any better/been any smarter" lol
This is so interesting. The only thing that I disagree on is that Peeta is actually very smart and knows how to manipulate the Capitol with his words. Katniss does influence them as well, but in her case she is not doing it on purpose. So the whole "if it weren't for the baby" was a 100% Peeta. Yes, he is a genius. He fooled the Capitol, the fandom and even Katniss for a second.
peeta is SO smart, it's actually insane. he plays 4D chess most of the series.
fr, Peeta is the GOAT Victor at everything outside of the arena, ain't nobody able to play the crowd quite like he can
@@grantmaurer9921the only person who can come even remotely close is Finnick (think his love poem that’s secretly written for Annie but worded in a way anyone could put themselves in her place)
Exactly he absolutely knows how to play the game and manipulate the capital since the beginning
the way you imagined finnick so accurately to the movie is so funny
or the casting director was just dead on with him? lol
Seriously! The picture popped up and I was like, well damn they could be cousins lol
i was shocked lmfao, thats almost exactly how i imagined him while reading 😭😂
When Peeta and Katniss kiss : "warmth radiates throughout my whole body. It feels so good. I want more". Proceeds to dream about Peeta's children and wakes up feeling incredibly happy.
When Gale and Katniss kiss : "I lean forward and kiss him". Proceeds to wish she could ask Peeta to sleep with her and hopes Gale won't remember the kiss.
The emotional rollercoaster he went through brought me to tears. And bro asking how many more can they take from Peeta at the end. *lays down on the highway*
“I just don’t want them to change me, if I’m going to die I still want to be me” 😭😭😭
"bread boi doesn't know what sex is, does he ?" Got me soo good 😂😂😂
I know 😂😂😂😂
WAS THE BEST PART
I was eating and almost choked when he said that
Oh my gosh, that picture is pretty close to movie Finnick! Finnick is a very interesting character in the books and the movies.
And I love Cinna, too. So, so much. 😢
I think to understand the role that the Peeta vs. Gale thing plays in the story you have to understand that they actually represent Katniss herself. Gale is who she is, or at least who she starts as, and as the story goes on she changes and he stays the same to continue to represent that side of her. Peeta represents what she could be or who she aspires to be if she hadn’t had so much hardship. He represents the hope for a better future, so as Katniss’s character develops she struggles between these two things.
This becomes more clear in Mockingjay. Katniss’s views on decisions Gale makes show that she has grown from where she started. And something happens to Peeta that makes her realize she longs/has been longing all along for the humanity/better future he represents.
👏👏 so perfectly said! That is how I always interpreted the story.
This is the most beautiful way of explaining this I have ever read ❤
Suzanne Collins crafted Gale and his arc so well. You’re supposed to like Gale and be drawn to him as a character because that’s how Katniss feels. I don’t want to spoil anything but it’s all so 🤌
“They are just being the people they were always going to be, regardless of the romance.” And I 100% agree! They are characters that have their own arcs and flaws. 🎉 also? Katniss is a bit busy with her own plate of issues to focus on any emotional intimacy. She’s been stunted since her dad died and her mom checked out.
On the locket Peeta wears… it is diabolical, but in Peeta’s defense, he knows Katniss is doing everything she can to save him in the same way he’s doing everything he can to save her. He knew, at some point, she’d do something that would put her life at risk for him and he needed to remind her that she has people to live for - Gale, her mom, Prim. I do believe that Peeta has no one if Katniss dies and he lives. I mean, it’s said in the first book: he has two older brothers that could’ve volunteered for him and didn’t, he has an abusive mom. His dad isn’t so bad, but that’s one person. Katniss could have a full life with Gale if she lives. He needs to make her understand that. And the line that Collins puts in there - that one person would be changed if he died - kills me. It shows how deeply she feels for Peeta, even if she doesn’t yet fully realize it.
His oldest brother was too old to volunteer. The second one could have, but what's the difference between a 16 yo baker boy and a 17/18 yo baker boy ? It's not like the second one would have a lot more chances to win. You can't compare that to 12yo Prim and 16yo huntress Katniss. His brother not volunteering for him absolutely doesn't mean that they don't love each other. Katniss was the first volunteer from District 12. Does that mean that no siblings love each other in D12 ?
I 100% understand being drawn to Gale. As you said, he's very driven. He's politically aware from the very beginning. He acts on his principles, which includes taking care of the family of the girl he loves. So there is something attractive about Gale! And I'm not surprised you still like him. I even think it's possible to like him - or at least *understand him* - by the end of his story arc.
But all that said, the main reasons people *don't* like him are also rooted in the very same integrity and personality we see here. A sort of natural conclusion of all of these things. Can't wait to hear what you think at the end!
Yes this! It is because of who Gale is and always has been that makes what he ends up doing so much worse
i think people (especially ones on tik tok) forget to realize this is your first time reading the books. i’ve read them (maybe shamefully) probably 10 times, and still learn new things with each read. also, gale, especially on a first read, is SO complex. you’re gonna love mockingjay so much. i love seeing your thought process!
I've re-read the series multiple times--I learned the most about Katniss' voice when I actually listened to Tatiana Maslany's audiobook of the series. She is such an INCREDIBLE narrator. Give it a listen if you haven't already!
@@Shadow3103 i LOVE her narration! i think she sometimes struggles with some of the voices/tone for the male characters, but she fits katniss perfectly
Gale isnt a bad person. He's a product of his environment. Not a bad person but on multiple occasions he is a bad friend. Its hard to see him in a good light when his comparison is Peeta. The best bread boy. The goodest of good bread boy
"I'm only gonna say this if you don't tell Gale." I had to pause and gather myself. 😂
10:42 it is 100% not haymitch. Peeta did that. He hadnt seen haymitch since they pissed off the game makers
Baby girl liking Peeta is the easiest thing in the universe... he is compassionate and kind and he is one the best male character ever written
1. My favorite color is orange
2.Peeta is in fact a genius
3. Also, I think its so important for audiences to remember where the story started with Gale...so I love that you are exploring that and emphasizing that the enemy is 100% the Capitol
I agree with all of these.
See that’s what Collins does so masterfully, she makes us love both of these guys so much and we are as confused as Katniss is about who is right for her or what she wants. The next book makes it much more clear, but it isn’t just a black or white issue.
God I love watching your reactions to this series!
You have no idea how amazing it is to SEE someone else go through the same roller coaster I've been through, so thank you for doing this!
PS: you are going to love the third book....I think
Is it weird that I am so invested in your journey? 😂❤
Same. I’ve watched a few “react people” but he is the funniest. The commentary he provides is next level 😂
don't worry we're all here.
I thought the same thing lol
About the Team Gale vs Team Peeta question... what you said about "they're both doing exactly what they were always going to do" YES!!! This is totally the point, and I think after Mockingjay you'll come back to this statement and agree with yourself (I hope) -- Mockingjay, in my mind, plays out the inevitable of each character's arc at this point in the story as the rebellion is starting
That betrayal and pain you feel about falling in love with Cina and losing him? Keep that in your heart because it’s going to get so much worse.
I’ve never had anyone read these completely spoiler free and it’s been great to see your reactions
"I MIGHT regret some of the previous statements I had made about Gale... AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, not right now." had me ROLLING.
And god dammit when your picture of Finnick popped up. Jesus you nailed him, you have no clue.
catching fire is the best movie HANDS DOWN i’m dying to see ur reaction
100% agree it’s the best movie. It was my favorite of the books too, although they are different
Peeta is extremely smart - however Katniss is so focused on her survival that we can’t see the brilliance of Peeta.
Everything he does is to make sure she survives.
the roller coaster u went through when u said u loved senna and hope they give him a nice goodbye scene toooo being face planted on your pillow, is an emotion the entire fandom can feel
gale is fine right now, but the one big thing that makes me team peeta is that gale gets mad about katniss pretending to like peeta *so she could survive.* yeah, peeta was mad too, but the audacity gale has to just...like would you rather *her die* instead of kissing peeta?? girlie was literally fighting for her life!!
the side ship of katniss and finnick so real
Of course that ship immediately sinks as soon as you open Mokingjay and find how much of a mess Finnick is without Annie 😢
"Bread boy doesn't know what sex is, does he?" Is a sentence that's never been said before
Legitimately CANNOT wait for your Mockingjay reaction... purely to see if it aligns with my own in any way 🤯 happy reading!
Gale’s character is far more nuanced than what the fandom boils him down to imo
Agreed
agreed! he represents a lot of big ideas and his character is so much more important than what he gets pooled down to, as you put it
I agree I don’t hate him I just don’t want him for her because of the two paths that they take
what really ended his character for me was the last sentence he ever spoke to her. AFTER [spoiler], he says "that's the only thing I had going for me. Taking care of your family." what kind of an absolute asshole...
@@SocietalNoobspoliers!
“One of those scenes that you gotta sit up” is sooo relatable 😂
I guess up to this point of the history the hate for Gale it's that he's always pressures Katniss without considering that shes been to a really traumatic experience and had to do everything she could to survive, Peeta its most understanding, rarely gets angry at her and dont pressure her in any way.
And I really don't think he would sacrificed himself for her like Peeta does.
I think the comforting she's get from them are different, Gale is familiar while Peeta is warm and peaceful.
You're right. Also, Gale is very selfish and just doesn't consider other's feelings at all. For me, the point when I knew he was just terrible, is when in MJ he says something like: "I would never say those things, even if they torture me" when talking about the Capitol propos. Like, my guy, you have suffered yes, but you don't know how things are inside the Capitol. And then, of course, the whole District 2 thing. I think the war brought out who he really was and unfortunately, he was just not good.
@kei_1782 @kei_1782 there's also this, but I was focusing on the things that happened in book 1 and 2 cause that's the information he's got so far
Exactly. Gale thinks he understands what Katniss went through because he watched it; he thinks he understands how she feels because he knows her better than anyone. And maybe before the games, he did. But because of the games, what she went through, Peeta, and their shared trauma, Katniss is a different person after those first games. She starts to understand what Peeta said in the first book - “I just don’t want them to change me.”
To this point in the story - dismissing everything that comes after - I think we’re supposed be torn between the two. Admittedly, my first read through, I was already Team Peeta but it was less due to hating Gale and more to how much I loved Peeta.
I definitely prefer Peeta over Gale and I’m not a Gale fan at all, but it makes a lot of sense that Gale would be less likely to sacrifice himself for Katniss over Peeta with their family situations.
Especially since Gale is like Katniss, he’s the one who works hard to feed his family and he has 3 siblings all younger than Prim, they should all definitely come first over Katniss as much as I love her so it’s understandable.
Peeta has a different situation since it’s sadly as he says, he doesn’t have anyone that need him. His family situation isn’t that great, his dad seems fine but with an abusive mother that hits him and puts him down and he ends up living himself in victors village, he always seems ready to give up his life easily since he doesn’t see much value in it and knows Katniss is someone who’s more needed that he is.
@clover2739 yeah, I agree but as you said katniss has a similar situation than his and either way she refused to kill peeta in the first hunger games and prioritizes saving him on the seconde one, I dont see gale doing this.
The biggest thing that has solidarity me as team Peeta forever is when you start to realize through rereads that despite how both want to be with her, all of gales motivations are for himself to have his happily ever after with her vs peeta just wants her to have her happily ever after period. Wether it’s him or gale, he just wants HER to be happy
peeta quite literally kept katniss save from the career pack while putting himself in danger in the last book…
Peeta is a genius. And, he loves Katniss enough that he would rather she be alive and with Gale...instead of dead. Peeta's love is pure and unselfish and true. Gale could never say the same about loving her so much that he would rather she was happy with Peeta than dead. I can't wait to see your reaction to the 3rd book!!
The way I was absolutely cracking up the entire first half of the video just waiting for your reaction to the Quell announcement. Absolutely hilarious
Also: as regards the whole 'how am I supposed to choose between them' and 'What happened to Gale so that no one is team Gale' thing oh JUST YOU WAIT
I love seeing your reactions to these books/movie(s?? hopefully). You know how when you read, watch or play something you love so much, you get a little sad that you can never experience it for the first time ever again? The Hunger Games is one of those things for me, and getting to watch you react to it has brought a lot of joy, so thank you for that.
Give peeta some credit!!! he’s genius
I love how he goes through the exact same emotions, heartbreak and devastating plot twist that so many people went through years ago
gale's character in the books is so much more complex than the role he takes as "part of the love triangle" in the movies and i think thats why people hate him so much bc they only view him as the other love interest. anyway, im so excited for you to read mockingjay!!!
Watching someone experience these books for the first time is just reminding me how well written they are. I read them at, like 12, when the first movie came out, and, at the time, i had no concept of what good writing was. I had no idea that i was reading what i now consider to be one of the most impactful works of fiction of my generation.
I've obviously read them as an adult. They're on my yearly re-read list. But i would give almost anything to experience them for the first time again.
“They made Gale her cousin” literally one of the first things she says about Gale is that they look so much a like that they could pass as cousins
Gale being the warrior on the ground ain’t gonna be too pretty in the next book ill tell you that.
Also Peeta is VERY smart when it comes to people and he loves Katniss enough to make sure she says alive by any means. Lying to the Capitol, making himself as charming as possible while making Katniss seem desirable, sacrificing himself. He would do ANYTHING to see her happy and that includes making sure she’s able to see her family and the people she loves in the arena. He used the one thing he could bring in just to make sure Katniss was able to see them again. The difference between Peeta and Gale is that Gale does the things he does in the hopes if getting something in return (which isn’t really his fault but it’s a way to go about things when thinking of romance) and Peeta does the things he does expecting absolutely nothing in return (the way he grew up is definitely responsible for this but his love for Katniss is so deep he doesn’t care what it costs him to make sure she survives).
Somebody pointed this out before but i think a lot of men don’t see how genuine Peeta is when first watching and Reading the Hunger Games so they default to Gale because what he does for Katniss is so outright and obvious as opposed to what Peeta does for her.
Great reaction. Thanks! Peeta is brilliant. Movie reaction next? Please.
Next week!
@@lynmoore_ today by chance? 😅
What I love about the Peeta vs Gale argument is that it isn’t just a typical love triangle, they represent two different ways of life for Katniss to choose. Safety and peace with Peeta, or fighting for the cause with Gale. She truly loves them both or at least has the potential to love either of them, but it’s a choice she doesn’t know how to make yet because she isn’t sure/isn’t given the chance to decide what she really wants. Suzanne Collins is such a brilliant writer
The way that looks soo much like Sam Claflin got me hahah. Can’t wait to see you finish the series. Hope you read TBOSBAS too!
I’ve really enjoyed your take on these books. I was of the same mindset as you as far as Peeta and Gale go. Gale is a 19/20 year old who has been the caretaker for his family since he was around 13 and still takes care of his and Katness’ families while she was in the games. Peeta is 17/18 years old and was abused by his mother, get thrown into the games, thinking he got the girl but not really and has lost his leg. Oh and now is at the hands of the capital. Then Katness is a 17/18 year old who had to be the adult in the family from bout 11, volunteered for her sister, survived and thought it was over only to have carpet pulled out from underneath her, accidentally starting a rebellion (all rebels weighing on her shoulders) and was held responsible for all of the uprising. All of them have ptsd. I think Peeta understands her after the games and Gale couldn’t.
I had a Political science course called “Power in the Hunger Games” and I wrote my final paper on the complexities of Gale’s character, focusing on his power, and his character’s story development throughout the three books. You’ll see in Mockingjay how each character reacts to the rise of the rebellion and the roles they play in it. It’s interesting to compare characters especially the ones seen in the last three books with the new characters in Mockingjay. I tried my best to explain it without ruining anything.
finding your reaction videos to these books in tiktok are giving me life!!! seeing you read this as an adult (read this in highschool lmao) is such a gem for me coz we rlly were unfazed reading this trilogy and as an adult I ALSO CANT BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS THE TYPE OF CONTENT WE WERE CONSUMING IN MY TEENAGE YEARS!
The pure joy, excitement, and anxiety I feel watching you read these books for the first time is amazing. I wish I could read these for the first time again.
Regardless of the whole team Peeta or team Gale (I've always been team Peeta), I'm really liking these videos. It's like being 13 again reading the trilogy for the first time!
Finnick is forever known as mermaid man. It’s decided 😂.
You are making me want to reread this series, the movies do not do Susanne Colllins’ mind justice
Clicked on the notification right away!
Btw your finnick is spot on!
My favorite color is orange....
I laughed at that because my 14 year old son has loved orange from about 9 months of age. Still wears something orange every day. He’s neurotypical, just very passionate about orange!
Yesssss! Orange is an amazing color. It’s my go-to for combining with a lot of other colors. Olive green and grey, which are my top two favorites, look so good with a dark pumpkin-y, rust colored orange. And Peeta isn’t saying he loves street cone orange, he says the orange in sunsets, which, like, come on, who doesn’t love orange in sunsets?
I love that you’re still team Gale, or that you don’t know why being it is a pain for fandom... everything will make sense soon
‘Bread boy doesn’t know what s*x is’ 😂😂😂
The movie is so good! Definitely my favourite from all of them!
Next week! Can’t wait to watch it
I fear "how much worse can it get" is a much more open ended question than you realize. I also read the series as an adult and Mockingjay is sooo depressing. Take care of yourself.
When Gale does the things... You'll know why we're all about bread boy
I think Gale represents the life Katniss would have had if she was never apart of the games and Peeta represents the life she is living. The love triangle is not about love at all but about Katniss being pulled between these two paths, not fitting in either life and not knowing which life she even wants. It’s not about one being better than the other, it’s about Katniss being stuck, unable to move forward.
Ending this with a comparison to Stefan and Damon just made my whole day
Im kind of in love with you! Keep it coming and i'm reading on dark window b/c of you and loving. :D
I love watching these. It’s like experiencing it for the first time again. 😊
the vampire diaries correlation? CHEF’S KISS
“Oh God it’s one of this scenes you gotta sit up” so real 😂😂
Catching firenis such a ride!!! Thank you for bringing us with you!!! Love it ❤
If you decide to read any fan fiction, The End of the World Series by Fernwithy on AO3 follows Haymitch from his games through the end of Mockingjay (with some character interludes from other perspectives) and is extremely good.
“Don’t make me SNIP SNIP SNIP” 🤣 this series is my childhood and I finally get to relive it through fresh eyes because of you ❤️
I have read the full Hunger Games trilogy at least six times since it was first published. What I find interesting is good literature well-written stories can be read over and over again. Each reading brings a new insight depth and understanding to the characters the plot and the total message of the books
Your takes are absolutely amazing, its a great first time read pov, love it!
“Bread boy doesn’t know what sex is..does he?” LMAOOOO
Finnick is one of my favorite characters. He is a very real very raw character.
Yes. Bring the tissues for him in mockingjay
the emotional rollercoaster that is reading this book
The whole team peeta or gayle I think it became more of A Thing after the movies came out, Katniss loves them both but imo she is not at all as concerned with the romantic aspect of those relationships as they are
They. Are. TEENAGERS!!!!!!! All this is them being teens. It's crazy what they are dealing with as kids. Finnick is AMAZING. LOVE him. Also, Gale is still fine in this book. :)
I saw this a while ago on booktwt but people were saying that the love triangle is really well done in the books because of how unreliable Katniss is as a character. And when I read the books for the first time last summer, I couldn’t stop thinking about that. Like it was so poifect
i forgot how really fucking good the hunger games is until i revisited them as an adult. like i remember devouring the books in a way idk if i've ever done with anything else, but i think the excitement blinded me to how just really really well written they are. like the way things are set up is masterful!
also idk that i was ever team peeta or team gale while reading, my opinions on that didn't really form until i finished the trilogy like there was just so much going on i was more into the tactics of it and the friendships rather than the romantic aspects
Same! I knew and remembered that they were amazing, and then I reread them and I was like holy shit so much went over my head when I read this at 12 and now I can appreciate it even more. Plus, I was really struggling to get back into reading as an adult but I whipped through this entire series in less than a week lol.
I agree with the Team Peeta/Gale thing - I also didn't have much opinions until the end and I think that is the point. It wasn't Katniss's main focus either. Honestly, I think the love triangle stuff was a very minor part of the whole story that primarily focuses on war and the effects of war. The movies only played it up to appeal to more people I guess. Regardless, I do appreciate both the books and movies for different reasons though, but books > movies any day hahaha.
I feel as though Peeta and Gale are both intelligent but in different aspects. Peeta has lived in a bakery his whole life and while his life may not be great he hasn't starved to the point of almost dying, he hasn't needed to hunt for food and, therefore, hasn't needed to learn survival skills up till the point of being picked in the arena. During the training time (book 1), Haymitch tells them not to give away their strengths so Peeta can't improve for the whole week that's dedicated to that, which is why he is unprepared for the actual games. Of course, he does train for the second games, which were entirely his idea, by the way, but you still have to remember he has a broken leg. However another one of his strengths is emotional intelligence, and you can think and feel without people knowing which is why he was able to come up with "because she came here with me" and "if it weren't for the baby" BY HIMSELF. But for Gale who had to hunt and make traps for his food and feed his family of 6 (i think) basically singlehandedly knows how to fight and that's why he's straight down to business because a cornered animal will always fight the hardest, therefore, he is not sympathetic towards the other tributes/peeta/the man trying to get his girl but BECAUSE he's needed to survive for so long he hasn't had the time to think through his emotions properly, one because he's too busy wondering whether he'll be unable to feed his family and also starving and fatigue DAMAGE YOUR BRAIN so he literally might be UNABLE to think about how he feels and how other people feel and how the effect of his words how other people may feel. Peeta iis smart because he can trick the whole of the capital that Katniss is pregnant and Gale is smart because he can survive. Basically Street Smart vs Book Smart.
I like how they do it in the movie the Jaber Jay Scream of Prim is her blood curtailing scream from the reaping when Gale pulls her away.
You dont know how much i love your reactions. I read these when i was a teenager and loved them and love Peeta and loved the movies, i've been wanting to do a re read and maybe this is my sign. Great series
Listen I know exactly what you’re feeling and it is for that reason that I cackled my way through this video. I’m so excited for your reactions to the next book.
I am enjoying you reading and watching this lol it is so fun
“What more can go wrong? Not a lot!” 😂
You are hilarious! Your reactions to these books have been so much fun to watch. Suzanne Collins is such an amazing writer. These characters are ALL so perfectly written.
the vampire diaries tangent at the end was so unexpected but also so welcome 😂 it's kinda wild to me that you've never watched/read the hunger games but have watched TVD
You're making me wanna re-read the books and I'm not sure how I feel about putting myself through it again
The way I want to be this man’s friend! I haven’t laughed this hard in a minute
i do enjoy gale’s character. peeta has been raised up in a higher privilege than katniss or gale. even katniss acknowledges that gale has it harder than she does, being the eldest son with multiple siblings he’s trying to keep healthy and out the reaping.
he’s more of a revolutionary than katniss or peeta are by personality - not a bad thing for any character just a fact. whereas katniss and peeta have these unique traumas that connect them and make them less able to accept the violence needed to counter the capital.
gale is radicalised in a realistic fashion and i understand the dislike of his character : he is pushy with katniss, his way of thinking about war and freedom isn’t kind or sympathetic.
i think peeta is equally complex and gales total opposite. katniss ‘decision’ between them in the end is perfectly written by Collins, the explanation gets the entire dynamic between all of them bang on in one sentence.
Yes yes yes
Just found your channel through tik tok, I love your reactions! I love how present and invested you are with this content :)
mockingjay is my favourite of the three it’s so so good i can’t wait for you to read it
The way you’re so invested in the vampire diaries 😂
"Mermaid man" had me ROLLING
I'm loving being on this journey with you.
What I love the most about this series, is that each time you read it, you discover something new, you focus on something different. The romance/the different sides and life-phases of Katniss each boy brings forth, the truly horric emotinal damage done to all tribute and victors, the complete obliviousness of capitolites (that we see start being broken in this book), the ruthlessness of the authoritarian control President Snow and the other higher ups have...
This book is my favourite, it's more political and angry than the first and waaaaay less depressing than the last. Prepare yourself my friend. Mockjay breaks people.
You are 100% right at this point from Katniss's point of view we are not supposed to know who to choose between Gale and Peeta.
Both matter in her life. Hence why the ship teams exist in the first place. So it's ok to be conflicted because Katniss herself doesn't even know who she loves why should we know?
Also at this time, she is in the middle of a horrible situation so she only has time for flight or fight mode. There is no space in her mind for romance. The only time she thinks of either one of them romantically is when they are at risk of dying.
It's so fun to watch you go through these. They're amazing books.
I am so invested in your reactions it's ridiculous 😂
Love your content! Got me back into reading!!