curious about peeta mellark

Like okay, he looks fine for the most part in the first movie! It's nomming, it's biting, he's having a bit of every portion on his plate

Then you see this browless fuck and you realize they did not need to do him like that for the bit, there's better dedication out there

(Like baby, listen, I love this era but those brows were brutal. Get a gel pen, it'll look so good then.)

Then we get Catching Fire and baby, this is hair IS catching fire!! It's eating, it's devouring, he has finished THG's plate AND his own!! The orphans are starving and dead, there are no resources left for the earth!!

Except the problem with this movie is that they did a little too good. It looks like Peeta went to a nice salon and had his little $700 Me Moment with a nice cut 'n' color. It's cuntifying, but at what cost? (And you really can tell when they redyed his hair for this movie because suddenly there will be a lot more blonde or a lot less blonde and now everyone knows nobody was happy with his hair that whole process. Baby, wigs are not hard. I severely promise you you had the money for wigs.)

Then we get this shit

Girl what in the uncooked raw noodle on a plate without any oil, sauce or 'fuck you' to flavor unbranded bland-ass bullshit is this

Now I said they figured out the brown to blonde ratio, I DIDN'T SAY IT WAS GOOD.

Look at him!! What the FUCK did you do to him??? He's traumatized? I'M traumatized. You didn't need to do him like that!! He looked fine earlier with his interview hair! It was beautiful, wonderful!

WHY'D YOU FUCK IT UP???

Oh but there's one moment where his hair looks nice. It looks beautiful. It looks perfect. Finally, the solution to the problem we've all been waiting for. And what was it exactly?

(Please tag other blog who want answer too)

Thank you 😊

@curiouspeetamellark

Is it satisfied for Peeta's arc?

Thank you,

@curiouspeetamellark

@curiouspeetamellark - I am so sorry I didn't see this sooner.

Overall, I thought the Hijacked Peeta storyline in Mockingjay was okay. It showed the lengths President Snow was willing to go to in order to maintain power over the rebellion. It showed that he thought anyone was expendable and was to be used as pawns. I think the fact that Peeta doesn't ever fully recover from it goes with the overall themes of the book. I tend to align it mostly with the idea that victory almost always comes with a cost.

I don't like to think of The Hunger Games as a love story. However, I think the Hijacked Peeta arc forced Katniss to fully confront her feelings about him.

In the Mockingjay, Katniss says:

"It's only now that he's been corrupted that I can fully appreciate the real Peeta. Even more than I would've if he'd died. The kindness, the steadiness, the warmth that had an unexpected heat behind it. Outside of Prim, my mother and Gale, how many people in the world love me unconditionally? I think in my case, the answer may be none. Sometimes, when I'm alone, I take the pearl from where it lives in my pocket and try to remember the boy with the bread, the strong arms that warded off nightmares on the train, the kisses in the arena. To make myself put a name to the thing I've lost. But what's the use? It's gone. He's gone. Whatever existed between us is gone. All that's left is my promise to kill Snow. I tell myself this ten times a day.”

He no longer loved her unconditionally, he was tortured until he grew to hate her. So she had to acknowledge and basically part ways with how things used to be between them to embrace what would be, if that makes sense. I realize this part of the answer is more so about Katniss, but as she was the person he loved and they have shared experiences, they're connected.

I think I was mostly satisfied with it for Peeta's arc. I mean, I disliked that the poor boy became what he didn't want to be: a piece in their games. Personally, I thought it was difficult to read there's just something about changing a person fundamentally that is always difficult for me to read in a story. However, I was alright with it since in they "grew back together". I would have liked to see more of the aftermath of Peeta's life post hijacking.

I don’t believe that Peeta’s feelings for Katniss originally come from a healthy place. I’m not saying he’s gross or terrible or that I don’t empathize with him, just that he’s not entirely well. Because of his trauma or a combination of factors, his sense of self is tied to someone he doesn’t really know. His romantic fantasies about her are so intense that he actually creates/contributes to creating a reality where she must play along with them. Whether or not you think it was necessary to save her life, the fact remains that he chose that story for them, not her, and she has to live with it. Then he falls for his own con.

When he pulls away from her after the first games, I think it has more to do with his shame and self-reproach than anger at Katniss, but that anger is real enough that the capitol can use it as part of his torture. In the end, he has to unlearn and completely relearn how to love her outside of his projections of her — both negative and positive. Projections which started when they were only five years old. He literally has to figure out what is real outside of his own head.

'I don’t believe that Peeta’s feelings for Katniss originally come from a healthy place'

Is it because he said at Caesar interview that he had a crush to Katniss "because she came here with me"? Or because in the movie, he said "I watched you go home from school everyday" in the cave scene? Or something else?

His romantic fantasies about her are so intense that he actually creates/contributes to creating a reality where she must play along with them.

What 'reality'? Do you mean the star crossed lover strategy?

1. Peeta’s feelings not coming from a healthy place

It’s not a specific quote than informs that opinion but more the general arc of his crush on her. His father pointed her out to him when he was 5 years old and told him that she was the daughter of the woman he wanted to marry. After that, Peeta was interested (in one way or the other) in her for over a decade despite never talking to her and not really knowing her personally. That doesn’t really fit the definition of “love”, in my opinion. It’s something else. To be clear, as I said above, I don’t think Peeta is being harmful or gross or doing anything wrong. I think he’s just a hurt kid with a coping mechanism! He’s not making it Katniss’ problem, and we know there are a few real things he does know about her. But aside from that, it’s kind of impossible for it to be based in much reality outside of his own ideas about her.

2. The reality where Katniss plays along

Yes, I’m talking about the star-crossed lovers strategy. And yes, I understand that Katniss also at some point chose to play along and the strategy was probably the only thing that got them out alive, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that she had no choice in the beginning. Haymitch and Peeta conspired about that strategy and decided to go ahead with it without her say so. After Peeta’s announcement, she was in the star-crossed lovers story whether she wanted to be or not and needed to be thinking about that story throughout her time in the arena even though it wasn’t her priority. If it weren’t for the rebellion, she might have ended up stuck in that story for the rest of her life. Obviously, Peeta couldn’t have known any of that at that time he chose that strategy, but he was still the more active agent there. When Katniss decides to team up with him in the first arena, I don’t agree that that’s her explicitly choosing/consenting to the star-crossed lovers story. She’s doing it because it’s the right thing to do and she has the power to save Peeta. Her desire/choice to play along with the lovers angle is definitely secondary to her motives there.

Agree with this. That's why I think that it is important to remember that in the interview, Peeta states that it was (just) a crush.

Peeta sighs. “Well, there is this one girl. I’ve had a crush on her ever since I can remember. But I’m pretty sure she didn’t know I was alive until the reaping.” (CH 9) Katniss is the one who said that it was a declaration of love Peeta has absolutely wiped the rest of us off the map with his declaration of love for me. (CH 10) 2. Yeah, I understand that Haymitch and Peeta not telling Katniss is awful for many reasons. But I think the most we can blame in this situation is Haymitch though? He can refuse Peeta 'proposal' for doing the 'crush story', or for not telling Katniss beforehand. And I remember these interaction :

Cinna comes over and puts his arm around me. “He’s right, Katniss.” I don’t know what to think. “I should have been told, so I didn’t look so stupid.” “No, your reaction was perfect. If you’d known, it wouldn’t have read as real,” says Portia. “She’s just worried about her boyfriend,” says Peeta gruffly, tossing away a bloody piece of the urn. My cheeks burn again at the thought of Gale. “I don’t have a boyfriend.” “Whatever,” says Peeta. “But I bet he’s smart enough to know a bluff when he sees it. Besides you didn’t say you loved me. So what does it matter?” (CH 10) How about when Peeta and Haymitch (and maybe China too?) discussing about the star crossed lover strategy, they think that the best chance for Katniss giving genuine reaction or having best chance to attract the sponsors is only this (i.e not to tell her at all)? So they don't anticipate that Katniss is gonna angry at Peeta? Especially with Peeta talking about a bluff there. So they have some 'misguided believe' that Katniss is gonna grateful with this crush story.

Is it satisfied for Peeta's arc narratively?

Thank you,

@curiouspeetamellark

Here we go...

What do you think about Hijacked Peeta storyline in Mockingjay?

As tragic as it was to read that Snow had turned Peeta into his worst nightmare, I do believe it was necessary. Most of the characters had their worst fears, worst case scenarios, worst possible outcomes happen. I don't think it was done out of angst so much as it was reality. If a government twisted enough to send innocent kids into an Arena to kill each other for entertainment... then the Hijacked storyline is heartbreaking, but a very real thing.

Out of all the "Oh shit" moments in the book, this had to be the biggest one. When you think back to the first book, Peeta's worst fears was to be turned into something he wasn't, ending up being a pawn in the whole game Snow was playing. This was a tactical move on Snow's part to break Katniss and then because Peeta was turned into a weapon, kill Katniss and hopefully end the rebellion for good. That is just how powerful Peeta's character was, how important he was to the rebellion. Let's not erase that he was willing to sacrifice even himself to see that the rebellion was not extinguished. He wanted a peaceful Panem with no more Hunger Games.

Is it satisfied for Peeta's arc narratively?

Yes. Because not only do we see the baker from District 12 survive not one, but two Hunger Games, being turned into a weapon and the worst version of himself, and also to see him overcome that.

As I said, it was tragic to see the evolution of Peeta, but also necessary. It was just another reminder of why the Capitol and Snow had to be brought down. Snow did that to Peeta. A boy who did expect to make it home from the first Hunger Games, but when he did, just wanted what was best for everyone else and put himself last.

The boy with the bread <3

What key point or best qualities of Peeta's that lost in the movie adaptation?

What do you think about Josh Hutcherson portrayal of Peeta?

Thank you

Soooo

I think Peeta was like..sassier? In the Book? He is this remarkable character thats so kind and ends up being charming/charismatic to the capitol in his own way. But, thats on the script, not the actor. I think that version of Peeta comes back in CF, which I know cant be taken as cynicism and changes because of the games, which for sure it is also part of, but I do think we get a really great dry humor from Peeta in catching fire which I totally love. That being said, I think Peeta's earnestness and love really come through in the movies, and the best parts of him were preserved.

Also Peeta DID lose a leg in the first games. He was an amputee with a prosthetic. THAT is why he struggled in the arena in the quell, and without that aspect in the movie I think it looks like he was just slower/couldnt run as fast as everyone else. But in the book it's very much him being physically impacted by the first games and then being put back into them. I think we lost something in the story, with that. I think that was a very tangible physical aspect of the games and their affects on victors that we lost. Because these games are traumatic in all ways (mental, physical, emotional), and I think we aren't quite reminded of the physical traumas these victors can face into mockingjay. I think it's a loss, I really do.

And Josh? He was great. I literally remember the day by day as we waited for movie casting 13 years ago. The excitement and energy of a bunch of little fan girls in middle school. We had him on our binder covers, in our lockers. I think he did a fantastic job bringing the best qualities of Peeta to life. Especially in his face, watching him go from this scared young boy in the reaping to the man who's been tortured by the capitol, has lost his whole family, and is scared of the girl he fell in love with because of the hijacking. His acting was phenomenal and I don't think he gets the credit he should.

“You’re alive, ” I whisper, pressing my palms against my cheeks, feeling the smile that’s so wide it must look like a grimace.

P e e t a ’ s  a l i v e.

What's not to like?

Much like Katniss, I think Peeta is the bee's knees ;).

Okay, let's see what I can wring out of my head to answer this.

1. His strength of character and sense of self.

What is so interesting about his relationship with Katniss is she’s his polar opposite this way. Peeta knows who he is (I'd say minus the hijacking, but no, because I think that sense of self is a lot of what got him through that) and what his base standards/core beliefs are. She flounders a lot, trying to figure herself out due to being shut down emotionally. She questions her intentions constantly. It comes out in her internal dialogue how despicable Katniss thinks she is.

Meanwhile, in contrast to her self loathing (which everyone but Katniss sees  through, except possibly Haymitch, lol) 

Peeta's like, "no, I know I'm a good person. I'm going to show the Capitol what's what, really shove it in their faces because they need to know, and it's what's right, dammit."

We stan a self-confident bitch, don't we? :)

But the thing is, he is a good person! Is Peeta perfect? Heck no, but perfect is boring. 

I have a theory that Peeta’s sense of self reflects how he and Katniss process the trauma from their first Games. Katniss, among other things, can’t get over the fact that she killed other people; it haunts her, it feeds into her sense that she’s despicable, a killer (it’s so apparent that’s not who she is, poor baby girl). Her nightmares are about all of it.

Peeta, meanwhile, has nightmares specifically about losing her, that he failed only her. While I’m sure he struggled with those deaths he was involved in, it’s different for Peeta. From the beginning, he seems to know that he and Katniss and the other tributes are simply pieces in the Capitol’s Game, that killing was forced on them, that they aren’t the guilty ones. Peeta knows who he is, and what he did was for Katniss first and then both of them, to survive. He realizes that a killer isn’t who he is. That comes from that strong sense of self, knowing right and wrong, and recognizing that he does it as often as possible.

2. His devotion.

Peeta is all in with Katniss, and I love him for it. 

(We're just going to ignore hijacked Peeta in my soliloquy because I can and I'm going to, and that wasn't his fault, and he worked through it to come back to himself and her). 

One of my favorite terms to describe Peeta is steadfast. He's always the core Peeta at heart. He always puts Katniss first, and that’s devotion.

3. His openness with his feelings.

Even when there’s no guarantee he’s not going to be hurt by the revelation, Peeta is always honest about how he’s feeling. For someone like Katniss, who always feels a need to keep up a barrier, to hide her feelings at all times because holy hell, we don’t acknowledge feelings in this house or let anyone really know us, he must’ve been so overwhelming. Katniss doesn’t believe any of the things Peeta says to her in the Games about his feelings for her because he’s so good at putting on a show when needed. 

The thing is, I don’t think Peeta is ever anything but himself and completely honest with Katniss. 

She sees the charming, sweet Peeta in the Games. 

After the Games are over,  Katniss is confused by the myriad of feelings she has for him and whether they are real or not because she’s emotionally repressed. She wouldn’t recognize attraction to Peeta for who he is or the physical attraction she feels for him. (with these two, its both pieces, friendship and physical attraction) or love, not if either fell out of the sky and smacked her in the head. She sees another real Peeta, the one who’s hurt and sulks and keeps his distance because she confused the heck out of him too. He doesn’t pretend things are fine. It’s not that he’s manipulative; it’s his real feelings because he is hurting. Because boys hurt sometimes too, believe it or not. (That last line is total sarcasm, btw. All people hurt, period.)

And then the tour begins, and Peeta apologizes for his avoidance and tells her he wants to start over and be her friend. How many other love interests ever openly apologize or acknowledge their feelings the way he does? Some folks like that dark, broody type, but I’m with Katniss here on what I want in a partner. Give me a man (or whatever your preferred person is) who can talk about how he feels, who wants to know how you think, who wants to know you. 

I’m going to stop expounding so much here because I could go on forever, and if you guys are anything like me, I can’t pay attention much longer than this. 

Okay, I lied. Let’s continue

4. Peeta’s respect for Katniss and himself.

How many sexually wired sixteen-year-old boys would sleep in the same bed with a girl he’s in love with and not try anything? I firmly believe he wanted anything physical between them to be real. There’s no mention of him kissing Katniss again until they’re on the beach of the Quarter Quell. He saves anything even remotely resembling sexual contact between them for the cameras until the Quarter Quell beach because she lets him know she wants him then.

5. Peeta’s compassion (a match for Katniss’s)

Don’t get me started on his kindness with the dying morphling woman because that moment shows the very best of Peeta IMO and gosh, I love him so much for that. 

That’s the kind of man you want to have babies with for all sorts of reasons.