The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ Easter Eggs

Editors Observe: The next accommodates spoilers for The Starvation Video games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

It is no shock that The Starvation Video games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is related to the sooner movies within the sequence. Although the prequel is ready many years earlier than Katniss’ (Jennifer Lawrence) expertise, it focuses on a major character in that story: the longer term President Snow (Donald Sutherland). Although a lot youthful, The Starvation Video games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes‘ Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) encounters many issues that can change into vital later in his life. Because the fifth film within the Starvation Video games franchise, this prequel accommodates many references to the sooner movies, some obviously apparent and others simple to overlook. From characters the viewers might not have acknowledged to parallels within the plot, this movie is just not so totally different from the others regardless of the 64-year hole.

The Starvation Video games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Starvation Video games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes follows a younger Coriolanus (Tom Blyth) — the final hope for the once-proud Snow household — who’s reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Grey Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from the impoverished District 12 for the tenth Starvation Video games. Snow units out on a race in opposition to time to outlive and reveal if he’ll change into a songbird or a snake.

Launch Date

November 17, 2023

Director

Francis Lawrence

Solid

Rachel Zegler, Hunter Schafer, Viola Davis, Tom Blyth, Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman, Burn Gorman, Fionnula Flanagan

Score

PG-13

Runtime

165 minutes

Genres

Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller

Writers

Michael Lesslie, Michael Arndt, Suzanne Collins

Manufacturing Firm

Shade Drive, Good Universe, Lionsgate

Snow’s White Roses

President Snow is thought to have a white rose with him continually, and these flowers seem within the prequel as effectively. The satisfaction of his Grandma’am’s (Fionnula Flanagan) backyard, Coriolanus offers a white rose to his tribute, Lucy Grey (Rachel Zegler), upon their first assembly. This isn’t the one time he presents a white rose to a woman from District twelve. In The Starvation Video games: Mockingjay Half 1, Katniss is taunted by one left in her home after the bombing of 12. She additionally discovers these roses dropped over District 13, which Katniss takes as a message from Snow himself. But the gesture to Lucy Grey is extra kindly meant if manipulative. The flowers are at all times current in Snow’s life, and the prequel continues this custom.

‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ Is not Tigris’ First Look

One other vital character reveals up in The Starvation Video games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, although her half is much less apparent. Tigris (Hunter Schafer), Coriolanus’ loving cousin, is similar girl who helps Katniss and her unit storm the Capitol in The Starvation Video games: Mockingjay Half 2. Although surgically enhanced, grownup Tigris (Eugenie Bondurant) shares pursuits and sympathies together with her youthful self. Each work in vogue, although she had progressed far by the Second Rise up. Tigris additionally reveals sympathy for the tributes, particularly Lucy Grey, hinting at her eventual function within the Rise up. Her remaining scene within the prequel reveals a rising distrust of her cousin, which is able to solely proceed till she willingly helps his would-be killers. Although a a lot smaller half than her cousin in each tales, Tigris’ look and distrust of the Capitol are a major connection to Katniss.

Lucy Grey Takes a Bow

Katniss’ sarcastic bow to the gamemakers after capturing an arrow at them in her demonstration is among the most memorable moments of the unique movie. It reveals off the character’s spunk and impulsivity. This second is parallel within the prequel throughout Lucy Grey’s reaping. She performs a music and takes a bow earlier than being taken to the Capitol. This second connects her to Katniss at her introduction, although each being the tributes from District 12 actually helps. It is also attention-grabbing that each bows happen after the tributes exhibit their expertise, Katniss’ archery and Lucy Grey’s voice. Although very totally different, each assist them within the area, as Katniss makes use of the weapon and Lucy Grey positive factors supporters within the Capitol. This parallel suits, particularly because it’s after a efficiency, but it surely additionally clearly recollects Katniss’ iconic second.

Lucy Grey’s Outfit Has a Hidden Reference

Lucy Grey continues to be related to Katniss via extra refined strategies. The 2 characters are very totally different, as Katniss shies away from the highlight, and Lucy Grey embraces it. However they’re each devoted to their household, although Lucy Grey’s is not conventional. This connection is on full show on the reaping ceremony, when Lucy Grey not solely wears her mom’s gown, like Katniss, however the dress is painted with two different flowers: katnisses and primroses. This occasion goes very in a different way for the primary characters as Katniss volunteers out of affection for her sister, and Lucy Grey’s title is named in a remaining betrayal. But it surely appears becoming for Katniss and Prim (Willow Shields) to be represented on this reaping as the primary one on-screen marked an vital second for each sisters. The flowers that give the Everdeen sisters their names on Lucy Grey’s gown are hardly noticeable in all of the motion, however this ingenious contact offers the 2 characters another connection to share.

Katniss’ Bow and Arrows within the Starvation Video games

When Coriolanus enters the sector to avoid wasting Sejanus (Josh Andrés Rivera), his anxious seems fall on one weapon that was left untouched: a bow and quiver of arrows. This unnerves him within the second, however he doesn’t but understand how a lot. Because the weapon of alternative for his enemy, bows and arrows will proceed to hang-out Snow all through his life. This reference is straightforward to overlook in the dead of night scene, however it’s eerie figuring out the importance of the weapon.

Household Names within the Capitol

Although just a few acquainted characters seem, a number of households ought to be acquainted. Coriolanus’ fellow college students embrace Arachne Crane (Lilly Cooper) and Hilarius Heavensbee (Florian Burgkart), and, after all, nobody can neglect the first-ever host of the Starvation Video games, weatherman, and novice magician, Lucretius “Fortunate” Flickerman (Jason Schwartzman). These characters every share a reputation with somebody from the primary 4 movies. Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley) is the top gamemaker for Katniss’ Starvation Video games and is the one to permit Katniss and Peeta to each survive, resulting in his personal execution. Plutarch Heavansbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is the following head gamemaker who is definitely working for the revolt. And Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) follows in Fortunate’s footsteps to host the Starvation Video games. There’s presumably a direct reference to Caesar when Fortunate makes reservations for 2 and a child. Though it isn’t clear how every is said to the characters in The Starvation Video games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the element reveals a deeper connection to the opposite movies.

The Starvation Video games Want A Victor

The tenth and 74th Starvation Video games are very comparable. Not solely do they each have victors from District 12, however each video games practically had no victors in any respect. Katniss and Peeta’s (Josh Hutcherson) act of revolt was taking nightlock berries, practically killing themselves earlier than the gamemakers selected to permit a double victory as a result of there have to be a victor. President Snow explains to Crane in The Starvation Video games that the winner of the Starvation Video games represents hope to the Districts, a hope the Capitol can management. The Starvation Video games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes reveals the character formulating this worldview as he begins to know the video games themselves, however extra importantly, one scene specifically references his opinions on victors. Dr. Gaul (Viola Davis) releases snakes into the sector, killing a number of tributes, however the final to outlive is Lucy Grey. But the snakes threaten her, too, and Dr. Gaul is content material to look at her die. Coriolanus begs the gamemaker to launch her, saying the Starvation Video games require a victor, a philosophy that stays with him years later. The occasions of those video games are very totally different, however in each situations, the Capitol practically misplaced its victor.

Snow At all times Hated Mockingjays

As Coriolanus strikes to District 12 as a peacekeeper, the brand new movie references the origin of mockingjays. Born of the jabberjays created by the Capitol and mockingbirds, the species lives all through District 12 and is uncontrollable. Mimicking the cries of executed prisoners or the songs of Lucy Grey and her pals, Coriolanus immediately dislikes these creatures, making Katniss’ eventual title much more becoming. In one of many ending scenes, Coriolanus makes an attempt to shoot down as many as potential however fails to silence them, very like he can’t suppress Katniss and the revolt she evokes. The mockingjays are an vital component within the franchise, with two movies named after them, so it isn’t stunning that they present up within the prequel.

Katniss Reveals Up in ‘The Starvation Video games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’

The character Katniss could also be a number of many years away from being born, however her title is used a number of instances within the prequel, referencing her namesake. Katniss, higher often called a swamp potato, is a plant that grows within the woods exterior of District 12 and particularly close to the lake the Covey go to. As her household seems for the vegetation they’ll eat, Lucy Grey tells Coriolanus about them, noting that she is keen on the title “katniss” slightly than its extra frequent title. Lucy Grey mentions this plant once more as her excuse to depart Coriolanus within the cabin when she doubts his dedication to their escape. With the lead character’s title dropped into the dialogue, this can be a pretty noticeable easter egg, but it surely’s shortly brushed over for extra vital issues.

Lucy Grey Writes ‘The Hanging Tree’ Track

Katniss is just not a performer like Lucy Grey, however she does sing often, and one music that turns into an anthem of the revolt is “The Hanging Tree.” Katniss sings this in The Starvation Video games: Mockingjay Half 1 throughout her go to to District 12, however that is not the music’s origins. The music was written by Lucy Grey primarily based on occasions that happen within the prequel, explaining the mysterious phrases of the music. That is another connection between the 2 characters and one other factor from Coriolanus’ previous that Katniss unintentionally makes use of in opposition to him.

It is The Issues We Love Most That Destroy Us

Because the prequel wraps up, a well-known voice might be heard saying, “It is the issues that we love essentially the most that destroy us.” Donald Sutherland mentioned these phrases to Katniss in The Starvation Video games: Mockingjay Half 1, and he repeats them to the viewers of The Starvation Video games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. This quote might have been about Katniss and Peeta initially, but it surely suits Coriolanus and Lucy Grey as effectively. Although the acquainted face of President Snow would not seem, his voice is a pleasant contact because the character evolves into the ruthless man with whom followers are acquainted. The origin story of Coriolanus Snow feels full with this remaining reference to the sooner movies because it comes full circle. The prequel might not present many characters who appeared within the earlier movies, however Katniss’ story is much from forgotten as it’s referenced at each alternative.

The Starvation Video games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes involves theaters now. Click on right here for showtimes close to you.