Summary
- Peeta's kindness and selflessness toward Katniss started long before they knew each other, showing he was looking out for her from the beginning of The Hunger Games.
- Katniss was always hesitant to leave with Gale, and her reluctance to commit to him showed that she wasn't ready to commit to him.
- Peeta provided comfort and to Katniss, while Gale reminded her of war and destruction, ultimately driving a wedge between them and solidifying Peeta as her endgame.
Katniss struggled with her feelings for Peeta and Gale throughout The Hunger Games, but there were always clues that Katniss and Peeta would be the endgame couple. Katniss was shocked by Peeta’s revelation that he had a crush on her in The Hunger Games, but their fake “showmance” in Catching Fire made their relationship all the more complicated. Throughout The Hunger Games franchise, Katniss and Peeta became ever more dependent on each other, as their other friends and family couldn't understand what they went through in the 74th Hunger Games.
The trauma of the Hunger Games and Katniss’ relationship with Peeta (real or not) drove a wedge between Katniss and Gale. Gale was the person Katniss always imagined she'd end up with. He was her best friend, and the two had feelings for each other at some point, though Gale's were stronger and more obvious. Despite their history with one another, The Hunger Games made it clear that Peeta was more of a match for Katniss. Unlike Gale, Peeta balanced the story's lead, and there were plenty of hints that he'd eventually win her heart.
12 Peeta Saved Katniss Before They Even Knew Each Other
When Peeta was chosen for the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss ed him from when they were younger, even though they hadn't formally met. She recalled Peeta burning bread at his bakery, resulting in a beating from his mother. Instead of throwing it away, he threw it to a starving Katniss, giving her the strength to carry on hunting and feeding her family. Peeta risked punishment from his mother to save Katniss. This showed that he was looking out for her long before the Games.
11 Katniss Was Always Reluctant To Run Away With Gale
Katniss and Gale were both strong hunters who would easily survive in the wild, and Gale often pitched this life to Katniss in The Hunger Games movies. Despite Gale having multiple younger siblings to look after, he was keen to get out from the Capitol’s clutches. Katniss, on the other hand, was always reluctant to leave. This was mainly due to her mother and sister. However, it was also partly due to her not wanting to commit to Gale completely.
10 Peeta Was A Comfort For Katniss (Gale Was Another Survivor)
Peeta and Gale were complete opposites, and Gale was always more similar to Katniss. This was precisely why Katniss was more drawn to Peeta. Peeta became a comfort for Katniss, someone who understood the she needed while in the Hunger Games and throughout the war that followed. Gale always represented war and destruction to Katniss, and she didn't want to be reminded of those things. Meanwhile, Peeta allowed Katniss to escape. The way he balanced her personality was a big clue as to why Katniss and Peeta ended up together.
9 Gale Could Never Understand The Trauma Of The Hunger Games
Gale and Katniss both grew up on the extremely poor side of District 12, whereas Peeta was slightly better off in the merchant area. This need for survival bonded Gale and Katniss, but once the latter was reaped for the Hunger Games, she experienced trauma her childhood friend could never comprehend. Katniss and Peeta's experience in the Games was completely unique, and it helped them understand each other better than anyone else. Gale's difficultly understanding what Katniss went through drove a wedge between them, pushing Peeta to become Katniss' endgame.
8 Peeta ed The Career Tributes To Help Katniss
Although his survival instincts were often brushed aside, Peeta was extremely clever and knew how to play people to his advantage in the Hunger Games. That was clear from his interviews in the Capitol. When in the arena, he teamed up with the Careers to help find Katniss. Peeta knew the Careers were using him and would eventually attempt to kill him. However, he used them to locate and protect the girl he cared about. When they did find Katniss, Peeta gave her an opening to get away — a decision that got him injured, proving he often put Katniss before himself.
7 Peeta And Katniss Refused To Let The Other Die To Save Themselves
At the end of the 74th Hunger Games, the rule that both tributes from one District could win together was revoked. Instead of trying to kill each other as the Capitol wanted, Katniss and Peeta both refused to let the other die. This nearly resulted in them eating deadly Nightlock berries, a choice that would have left the Capitol without a clear winner. Katniss and Peeta's decision made a statement against the Capitol — that it couldn't have either of them — but it also proved that they cared about each other. Their refusal to choose who would die was a big clue that they were The Hunger Games' endgame couple.
6 Peeta Risked His Life To Save Katniss
Peeta consistently put Katniss before himself, and he took this to a new level in Mockingjay - Part 1. Even after being captured and tortured by the Capitol, Peeta risked his life to tell Katniss and the hidden District 13 about the bombs that would render them "dead by morning." This caused Peeta even more pain, as he was injected with Tracker Jacker venom. This temporarily broke his mind, but he still tried to save Katniss despite the consequences to himself.
5 Peeta Had A Crush On Katniss Since They Were Children
Peeta's approach to the Hunger Games involved painting himself and Katniss as star-crossed lovers in a bid to get more sponsors from the Capitol. To set this up, told Caesar Flickerman that he had a crush on Katniss since they were children. However, Katniss learned that he wasn't lying about that part. Peeta ed minor details from their childhood, including her hair, dress, and the song she sang in school. Although the duo played up their romance for survival, Peeta's feelings were always genuine and highlighted that they were meant to be.
4 Katniss Knew Every Detail About Peeta (Which Helped Him Recover His Memories)
After Peeta was Hijacked with Tracker Jacker venom, his memories became severely distorted, which made him forget a lot about himself and his relationships. Peeta hated Katniss at this point, as the Capitol inserted memories that made him believe she was a dangerous Mutt. Despite the danger to herself, Katniss helped Peeta regain his memories by telling him lots of seemingly insignificant facts about himself. Katniss knew every detail about Peeta, including his favorite color. This showed how much the two were intertwined by the end of the Hunger Games series.
3 Peeta Volunteered For The Quarter Quell To Protect Katniss
Catching Fire followed the events of the 75th Hunger Games, or the Quarter Quell, which reaped its contestants from the previous victors. Since Katniss was the only living female tribute from District 12, she was automatically chosen. Katniss made Haymitch promise to volunteer if Peeta was reaped. However, the opposite happened. Peeta volunteered as tribute when Haymitch was reaped so that he could protect Katniss. The 75th Hunger Games highlighted how much the pair wanted to protect each other, since they couldn't bear the thought of losing the other.
