The Hunger Games: Death by Gamemaker (DARK THEORY)

Welcome back, Fanaticals! This week, I have not put "Dark Theory" in every title despite the tags because while many Hunger Games theories ARE darker in nature, not all of them need warnings despite the fact that we can all agree that the Games are just a way for a government to literally get away with murdering children. Today's, however, has the label because while the Games overall are definitely murder games, we are going to talk about theories that include directly targeted or self-inflicted deaths and why they are considered that.

TRIGGER WARNING: There is A mention of sex trafficking a minor, as I'm sure we all remember the confession from Finnick about that.

While only one child comes out the Victor, even certain deaths in the Arena can be seen as suspicious in some way once you really see the reason why the Rebllion exists and Snow's manipulations; like how it was "obvious" that Senaca Crane was killed for allowing her AND Peeta to win. There's even a theory that is honestly completely canon in every way, shape, and form! I'll even touch on it, even though it doesn't actually end in death. Let's take a look at these deaths.

Thresh - District 11

Thresh immediately lets Katniss go during the rush for the special gifts at the Cornucopia on Day 13, after he hears Clove bragging to Katniss about how she wasn't able to save Rue. He smashes her skull in, then tells Katniss to run but not to think anything of it because it's "for Rue".

There is actually a theory out there that Thresh and Rue were very close, even that he had been her babysitter once upon a time; I actually REALLY like this idea because him killing Clove for bragging about Cato killing her? Definitely an over-protective thing, almost family like or at least close friends, though many will argue that it could have just been due to her age since she was the youngest at 12.

The theory that Thresh's death was a direct target death by the Gamemakers comes from two possibilities: 1) Snow ordered it as punishment for letting Katniss go at the Cornucopia despite the fact he killed Clove, and 2) the Gamemakers thought Districts 11 and 12 were getting TOO close and knew it would be a bad thing to take out Katniss.

Now, the "proof" in the fact that his death was directly targeted is in HOW he died: during the thunderstorm, when Katniss and Peeta missed hearing his canon. Katniss assumes that the storm is to draw Cato and Thresh or to cover their fight. The resulting theory of THAT statement falls under the "proof" for how he died is that he was struck by lightning during the storm, that there was no big fight between him and Cato; the Gamemakers just started up the "storm" to cover up the fact that they were directly targeting his death in the form of them killing him directly by lightning.

This is where it can be "proof" for reason number 1, because it wouldn't have been a way for the Gamemakers to just stir up drama, it would have Snow killing him in the quickest way possible due to him being "defiant" by not killing Katniss when he took out Clove. We know all about the theories out there that Snow directly targeted certain people as was evident by Reapings and semi-obvious rigging of the Games themselves.

If we go the way of the 2nd one, it could have been the Gamemaker's decision because they don't believe in the alliance of the "lesser" Districts so him letting her go was almost like saying that 11 and 12 were close, so they wanted to "shake things up" for the Capitol viewer's and Sponsor's "enjoyment" but also send a message to the Districts. Meaning, it was better for them to kill off Tresh because it wouldn't upset the viewers wanting to see Katniss and Peeta win after the announcement, but it also sent a message to the Districts about banding together.

"FoxFace" - District 5

She died when she ate the Nightlock berries. However, in the movie, we see Katniss see her "doing well" at the station for recognizing berries and plants based on what we see of the screen. Even when she dies, Katniss tells Peeta that she "was clever".

There is a theory that she knew exactly what berry that was, and she ate it intentionally due to recognizing that who was left in the competition was stronger than her, and she would rather go out her own way rather than being killed; she had recognized that either way she was going to die. It's interesting that Katniss didn't remember her in training and realize that she knew what she was doing, that there were others that thought like she and Gale did about the Capitol; instead, she chalked it up to it was an accident.

"FoxFace" knew what would happen if she blatantly committed suicide, it would look like defiance to the Capitol and her family would be killed. She decided to end it this way to make sure no one would think she was trying to outsmart anybody.

Cinna - Capitol

While we only get vague confirmation that Cinna dies in the series, though the movies out right say it, there is a lot of question as to WHY. In the series it is passed off as he was just close too close to her and got caught in the cross-fire of the Rebellion, but in the fandom world, there is a deeper reason that just being "too close" and collateral damage in the Rebellion: it is because he had "bought her" to protect her and Snow found out.

It wasn't an unspoken secret that Finnick was probably not the only Victor that was sex trafficked in the Capitol by Snow, and so there is a theory that there had been rumor that if Katniss won there were people willing to do that to her and Cinna didn't want that to happen to her. So, in the background during the Victory Tour, Cinna won a bid, and she was "his" entirely.

The theory is that Snow found out, and THEN found out that he was a part of the Rebellion, and since he believed the Katniss KNEW about the Rebellion, he wanted her to see the consequence of knowing her. Cinna's death was not only a message to Katniss, but also revenge for trying to protect her and being a part of the Rebellion.

75th Hunger Games Tributes

Every Victor that suddenly became a Tribute, was 100% a targeted death; even eager Brutus and Enobria who volunteered. As we find out while they are on Tour, there is unrest and the beginnings of Rebellion in every District that Snow is hiding from the Capitol and attempting to hide from the Districts who don't know; suspicions that the Victors were all involved with it as they see each other enough to communicate and coordinate something. What better way for Snow, than to change the Quell rules and Reap from the Victors who might be at the point of then impending uprising and take out their key players while sending a message to those who only were in the Districts?

Take out the spearheads and remind the Districts that not even those who won are safe from punishment. To keep his control, that definitely sounds like something Snow would do, as we see all the other ways he manipulated a lot of things. He didn't care who he was taking out, but taking out some people who were probably in trouble with him was a bonus.

While some made it out alive, many did not and Snow thought he was winning until he wasn't...

Katniss & Peeta - District 12

While this theory doesn't end with their death, at least ONE of their deaths was targeted.

Everyone fell for the star-crossed lovers act but, when the unrest started in 11 after Rue's death, Snow decided that it was time to force one of them down. Let them play their game, make the announcement that two Tributes from the same District would be Co-Victors if they both made it to the Final Two, and then if they're not dead by then the announcements reverses and they have to kill each other; kill the Fairytale, it will make them more desirable in the Capitol.

They are then targeted AGAIN with the (theoretically) intentional change in the Quarter Quell, only this time Snow was targeting to kill them both. He failed, but it is worth bringing up the theory that their deaths were intentional targets before they even realized what they were doing.

Were these active people of the 74th and 75hth Hunger Games sentence to Death by Gamemaker Choice? Or were there more shallow reasons for their deaths? Come share your thoughts with us! Join me tomorrow as we look into the closer relationships of certain Tributes. Until then, keep on theorizing, Fanaticals!