Drop everything Now

The first time I read the series was just after I watched the movie. (Actually I still havn’t read Mockingjay because I was spoiled about what happens and at the time wasn’t up for reading a book that would completely tear me apart.) From the movie alone I didn’t feel much for Katniss/Peeta but I did feel a HUGE spark between her and Gale in that small moment when she comes home and sees him with her family. It felt like there was more there between them in that one moment alone than there was in all of her and Peeta’s scenes combined… so that swayed me to already liking Gale for her more than Peeta. Then I read the books and was thrilled to see that her history with Gale actually went a lot deeper than the movie suggested. So then I was hooked and paid her relationship with Peeta very little attention, especially when Katniss kept thinking of Gale throughout all of the Games, leading the reader to believe that Gale’s feelings for her aren’t completely unrequited. Again, something that the movie wasn’t clearly able to portray except for the look they share at the end, as mentioned above.

I was very surprised to find out afterwards that my love for Gale seems to be a very unpopular opinion. Everyone loves Katniss with Peeta and I just don’t see it. My sister is very pro-Peeta and greatly dislikes Gale. My husband was the same when he read the books… even as early as the first book. Which I don’t understand at all! Am I missing something?

So I’ve decided to read through the series a second time (and actually read Mockingjay this time), and try to reasses why it is that I love Gale/Katniss so much and why I didn’t swoon like everyone else during the cave scenes. And now, knowing what I know about the ending, also give Peeta a fairly unbiased reevaluation.

First of all, I want to be very clear that this is not a post for bashing Peeta or Everlark… which is why I have no qualms about tagging it. In fact I encourage any Everlark shippers to enlighten me on what it is that makes their ship special to them, and why they dislike Gale or Everthorne… provided they can come up with something more intelligent than ‘Gale sucks! Peeniss forever!’ The more you can back up your opinions with quotes the better. I am always open for discussion when it comes to opposing opinions but I do ask that you remain respectful of my thoughts and ships and in return I will remain respectful of yours.

Second, this post will discuss the events of the first book only… I’ll likely make other posts for the other two books once I’ve re-read them. So any discussion that takes place after this post will also only be regarding the first book.

And thirdly, as I stated above I am going to try and be as unbiased as possible in my analysis of the Everthorne and Everlark moments. I will be focusing on what the author wrote and also a bit on the subtext that was written too. Because a lot of what goes through Katniss’ head is not cut and dry, there is a lot of subtlety when it comes to her emotions. So I try and delve into that a bit more too. But I’m not going to use arguments like 'They have so much more chemistry!’ because that is subjective and can not be backed up at all.

So lets get started!

What about Beetee, who actually made the bomb? I don’t hear any one blaming him. You shouldn’t, but he’s more responsible than Gale is. What about Plutarch, who was the one who actually dropped the second bomb that killed Prim, assuming everything Snow said was correct. And of course, what about Coin, who gave the order to send medics, drop the bombs, and made sure Prim (A 13 year old child) was sent to an active war zone. The decision of the attack also happened when Gale, Katniss, and the rest of Star Squad 451 had no communication with the rebels, right after Gale was captured by Peacekeepers. He was in no way, shape or form, able to order a bombing at the Capital, nor would he have any idea Coin was about to bomb a bunch of kids and their own medics.

actually he does blame her and here's the proof

(He stands in the doorway as if considering whether or not to enter. He holds the unopened leather bag of food, the flask, Cinna's gloves. Gifts he will not accept because of his anger at me. I know exactly how he feels. Didn't I do the same thing to my mother? i look in his eyes. His temper can't quite mask the hurt, the sense of betrayal he feels at my engagement to Peeta.) this is a prime example of him blaming her he's mad at her for being engaged even though he is a very least somewhat aware that she doesn't want it. here's another example.("It's the way he hates you. It's so...familiar. I used to feel like that," he admits. "When I'd watch you kissing him on the screen. Only I knew I wasn't being entirely fair. He can't see that.") mockying chapter 17. so yes he was he may never have said it out loud but it's very obvious in his actions that he did blame her and the reason Gail still hung out with her it's probably because they still were trying to feed his family and yes it was still the best part of her week but she said is not the same because of the strain between them and that has a lot to do with him being upset about her being in a fake relationship with Peeta and Peeta at one point blamed her too but the difference is he takes accountability and apologizes for his actions wow gale never does deal doesn't oh and it's not just a blaming he also guilt trips her and manipulate her .

("I knew you'd kiss me.""How?" I say. Because I didn't know myself."Because I'm in pain," he says. "That's the only way I get your attention." He picks up the box. "Don't worry, Katniss. It'll pass.") this is what I'm talking about he literally admitted to making katniss to feel guilty and to kiss him oh and then he complains about her kissing him it's one of my most hated Gale moments because this it's just pure manipulation there's no buts about it he knew how she was going to react feeling to him rejected and feeling like he doesn't have a chance with her romantically and he did it anyway and that to me is gross. here's another example of him being manipulative and blaming katniss.

("I thought...I'll never compete with that. No matter how much pain I'm in." He spins the feather between his thumb and forefinger. "I don't stand a chance if he doesn't get better. You'll never be able to let him go. You'll always feel wrong about being with me.")

This is blame. Straight up, Grade A premium blame being put on Katniss because OMG she has strong feelings for someone NOT Gale. This isn’t about her feelings. This is all about him and how he’s been ‘mistreated’ by her. He’s laying all this guilt on her because he can’t handle. I hate that he was making someone else’s pain all about himself. Seriously, your “rival” has been tortured and brainwashed and all you can think about is how this affects you? While your supposed best friend is clearly miserable about this, and all you can do is just add to her emotional turmoil instead of making any kind of attempt at being a supportive friend? I never liked G/K as a ship, but Mockingjay really showed me why I didn’t like them as friends, either. there are other examples of him just being s*****t but I think you get my point.

Alright well no offense but you’re proofs don’t really change my views on shipping Everthorne.

For starters, you stated that Gale blamed Katniss for the games, not the marriage proposal. While the games were a means for survival and Gale knew that, it’s one thing to act like you’re in love with someone for survival than to getting married to someone else. Gale did not know the marriage was staged, so he was literally losing the girl he loved, to the same guy who blew her off for 6 MONTHS. I would be jealous about that too, but you’re also leaving out the crucial details, that Gale still showed up and listened to her talk. When Peeta (who knew the love act was for survival) realized she didn’t actually love him, he refused to even interact with her. For Mockingjay, yeah if would make sense for Gale to be jealous that the girl he loved was kissing someone else. But did he hold it against her? Did he stop taking care of her family because of it? Did he ghost her like Peeta did? No, because he knew that wouldn’t be fair.

For the kiss, the only way you can get that Gale was manipulating her is if you assume Gale cried so Katniss would kiss him. Which if you read the text (Gale, who I have never seen cry before) he was not cried so Katniss would kiss him. He also told Katniss not to worry about him! He wasn’t being an asshole, he was telling her she didn’t have to worry about him.

Lastly, the last quote is legit Gale admitting he knew Katniss had a special relationship with Peeta. Which is true! Best friends are supposed to be honest with each other, I wouldn’t hate a character for speaking his thoughts. And did you forget that Gale risked his life to save Peeta?? Without Gale, he’d still be in the Capital. Also, does Katniss show any signs that she felt guilted? No, no she did not. She kissed him because she wanted a distraction, and Gale stopped her because she wasn’t in the right state of mind. Wow! Such harassment! Letting ur friend go because she’s confused and not pressuring her. You’re right, Gale is such a bad person.

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