Summary
The Hunger Gamesexplores a rich dystopian world with a wide variety of characters, but one of the most interesting groups was completely underutilized in both the books and movies.The Hunger Gamesby Suzanne Collins was first published in 2008, which introduced the world to Katniss Everdeen, and the world of Panem. Two further novels rounded out the trilogy in 2009 and 2010, which gave a solid foundation to the movie adaptations which began withThe Hunger Gamesin 2012, and resolved the original story in 2015 after the fourth installment,The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.
However, both the novels and movies failed to showcase one of the more theatrical elements of the stories, as the focus was placed on the underdogs in District 12,Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. Even the prequel story chose to go to the other extreme and explore the early life of the boy who would one day be President of Panem and remain in the Capitol. In both of these instances, theCareers remain the silent middle, who live in the Districts, and suffer the whims of the Capitol, but they enjoy a more comfortable life than those who live in the other districts.
Hunger Games: What Each District Is Known For, Explained
The Hunger Games series was set in the fictional world of Panem, a nation compromised of 13 districts. Here’s what each district was known for.
The Hunger Games Books & Movies Fail To Properly Flesh Out The Career Characters
Despite How Interesting Their Story Could Be
The Career Tributes are a small group of individuals from Districts 1, 2, and 4. Unlike the other Districts, the children who are selected to participate in the games from these Districts are usually volunteers, due to the fact that it isseen as a privilege to compete in the gamesand especially to come out the victor. They are also trained by the former victors from their district, due to these areas having the most former winners between them.
However, despite the incredible possibilities that these characters lend to a story, they were essentially dismissed in all ofThe Hunger Gamesmovies to date. In the original trilogy,the Careers exist as the one note villainswho seek to murder other kids and gather in a pack. And in the prequel story,The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, no such characters existed as the games were still finding a format and working towards incentivizing these Careers to compete. This is a huge missed opportunity for some of the most compelling and intriguing characters from this universe.
The Careers Are Some Of The Most Interesting (& Important) Hunger Games Tributes
With Complex Motivations
The Careers may be closer to the Capitol, both geographically, and in terms of their allegiance, but they are still children who are being sent off to their deaths ineach District ofThe Hunger Games. Even within the Career districts, only one of the two tributes is ever going to return, so the odds of seeing these children again are slim. However, they are trained andencouraged by those in their District to push themselves, volunteer to participate in bloodshed and potentially win a spot in the Victor’s Village, or meet their end on broadcast TV for the world to see.
They are typically stronger than other kids from the Districts, usually a little older, and experienced fighters, and due to their skills, they often form alliances with other Careers in the games. This becomes a pivotal part of every Annual Games, where the Careers shape the narrative of the Games, and they push the action forward. However, it’s vital to remember thatthey are so much more than just the bad guys. They are kids, brainwashed by family to fight for glory, and used by the Capitol for their own entertainment.
There’s 1 Young Hunger Games Victor I’m Way More Excited To See In Haymitch’s Prequel Than Lucy Gray
Haymitch’s Hunger Games is the subject of Suzanne Collins' next book (and subsequent movie adaptation), and one character must be featured.
The Franchise Can Still Fix The Original Series' Biggest Career Problem
The Spin-Offs Could Let The Careers Shine
Fortunately, with Collins releasing a new novel that will follow the events of the 50th Hunger Games, and specifically focus on Haymitch from District 12, there is a chance the Careers will have a bigger role. In order for Haymitch to win, he could have been brought into the group of Careers to help weed out the competition, thus the story will reveal more about these characters. Even if this is not the case,Sunrise on the Reapinghas a chance atexpanding the story of the careers who fight against Haymitch.
Alternatively, future stories set in the world ofThe Hunger Gamescould shift the focus to the Careers. For example, a story following Finnick Odair from District 4 could be the perfect opportunity to explore the Career Tributes and the process that leads to them fighting in the Games. AFinnick prequel storywould be even more compelling due to the fact that Finnick became one of the youngest Victors in the history of the Games, as he won the 65th Annual Hunger Games when he was just 14 years old. Regardless of how the story is told, the Careers do deserve to have their story expanded inThe Hunger Games.
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games is a multi-movie franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. The films are based on the young adult dystopian book series by author Suzanne Collins. The first film was released in 2012, followed by Catching Fire in 2013, Mockingjay Part 1 in 2014, and Mockingjay Part 2 in 2015. In 2023, the fifth film in the series was released, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
