With even more news and Capital footage regarding The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes being recently released, The Hunger Games franchise is yet again brought to the forefront of pop culture, with the eagerly anticipated prequel only a year away. Luckily, fans still have enough time to re-live the glory of the original series in the meantime and be reminded of their favorite and most-controversial characters, including the highly contested Peeta Mellark.
While many fans adored Peeta’s soft, self-sacrificing nature and ability to con sponsors, many also were not too fond of his character. Whether it was his annoying persistence or the burden he lay on Katniss’ journey, Redditors have spared no words when it comes to sharing their unpopular Peeta opinions.
He Was Insufferable In The Movies
Although The Hunger Games remains one of the most popular and renowned teen book-to-screen adaptations, not everyone enjoyed the series completely. Whether it was certain choices made or the casting, there are still many things about the films that rub fans the wrong way, and for Redditor ittyxbitty, that was the entirety of Peeta.
They had “disliked him from the books and… thought maybe [they] would like him in the movie…but it just made it worse.” Not everyone will have the same opinion on beloved characters, and with Peeta’s many flaws (whether it be his constantly wounded personality or love for theatrics in the name of self-preservation), it’s not hard to see how a dislike for his book character would translate into full contempt for the on-screen depiction.
He Was Useless Beyond The Love Story
Despite being one of the few best teen movies that aren’t rom-coms, The Hunger Games films still focused much more heavily on the Gale-Katniss-Peeta love triangle than the books. This was a shortcoming, not only in terms of getting across Collins’ deeper political messages but also since their romance served as a point of contention against Peeta.
As noted by a Reddit user, the plot “needed a love story and Peeta was the only way to achieve that. Outside of [that] he’s basically useless.” Had the series explored his character beyond showing Katniss a softer-side to the world and representing hope in the form of altruism and love, perhaps Peeta would have appealed to all the masses instead of being another lovestruck dystopian teen.
He Was Too Righteous
Peeta’s continuous kindness, empathy, and nonjudgmental personality are defining and redeeming traits for his character, as well as reasons why The Hunger Games character would have a great friendship with Harry Potter. However, Peeta can be seen as too good to a fault.
Redditor sekai-31 noted that his over-righteousness made him seem like “he doesn’t have a single bad bone in his body [and] that’s just not how people are.” While his unparalleled goodness and warmth made him stand out to Katniss and many fans, he seemed almost too good to be true as he overcame every darkness and maintained his pure heart even after the worst of circumstances.
His Arc Was Resolved Too Easily
It is revealed that Peeta goes through extensive torture and harrowing hijacking during the events of Mockingjay, and many fans think this important arc got swept under the wrong and was not properly resolved — a downfall for Peeta’s character development. Redditor showmaxter commented on how “Collins gave this love triangle an easy way out [since] Peeta’s arc was solved too easily… the hijacking just acted in his favor.”
Although Collins does spend some time detailing the depth of Peeta’s suffering and how deep-rooted the hijacking runs, this was the one arc that could have added some unprecedented depth and darkness to Peeta’s character. Sadly, it gets resolved in a too-easy and too-simple manner, with Katniss guiding him back to the light and establishing their sincere love instead.
He Should’ve Died After The First Hunger Games
Although widely regarded as one of the best movies about deadly reality competitions, the first installment of The Hunger Games ended on a much more (deceivingly) optimistic tone than the others, with both Katniss and Peeta miraculously making it out due to Katniss’ quick cunning. However, some fans think Peeta’s survival ruined his arc.
Redditor kitten451 noted that there was “really no reason for Peeta to survive other than his relationship with Katniss, and I thought it made the story a little too cliché.” While Peeta’s survival was a key point in the series that triggered the trajectory of the eventual rebellion, it did take away from the potential of having a grieving Katniss take up a much more personal grudge with the Capitol earlier on in the series. Plus, Peeta would’ve died a martyr.
He Was A Burden
Peeta’s on-screen portrayal made him seem much weaker than he was in the books, a large reason behind him being one of The Hunger Games‘ book characters who are better than their movie counterparts. However, some fans thought even his book persona was a burden.
Redditor arear3322 commented that he was mostly “babied throughout the entire series [but] treated as some sort of hero or of Katniss Level importance.” Despite his sweet nature and helpful intentions, there’s no doubt that Peeta often served as a hindrance for Katniss. Whether that was tending to his injury in their first games or his entire arc in Mockingjay, he was constantly either in danger or a threat himself.
He Was Bland
Despite being one of the series’ central and more complex characters, Peeta Mellark is still seen by some fans as being two-dimensional and not very exciting, especially in comparison to some other fan-favorite characters, like Finnick or Johanna.
Redditor Carmina__Gadelica stated that they “find him bland and [are] not a fan of him and Katniss as a pair either [since] they are mismatched.” Given Katniss’ passionate, defiant, and strong personality, Peeta’s more subdued nature seems a lot more basic and empty-shelled in comparison, especially in the movies, which have far less characterization than the book series.
He Was Manipulative And Selfish
One of the best things about The Hunger Games is how morally complex the characters are, prompting fans to take a deeper look into their own opinions on important matters, such as what it means to be political, correct, and moral. Even Peeta, the games and series’ golden child, has his faults.
Redditor rangersfb finds Peeta to be “the worst character… [and] a terrible person… Peeta is manipulative, selfish,” with his love for Katniss seeming questionably fake at first. Although generally seen as kindhearted and soft, some of Peeta’s earlier actions – especially when he was trying to milk sympathy from the sponsors – seemed self-serving and unkind at first.
The First Movie Decimated His Character
Although movie adaptations are generally less favorable to their book sources, some films completely ruin a beloved character for fans, and that is what The Hunger Games appeared to do for Peeta Mellark. When it comes to the first film, Redditor danubeveins noted that “Peeta in this movie is kind of a whiny, pathetic and creepy,” with them specifically stating how poorly the bread and cave scenes were adapted on-screen.
Rather than showcasing how monumental both moments were for Katniss’ life and her relationship with Peeta, viewers got an unimpressionable, half-hearted love confession that in no way encompasses how Peeta reinstalled Katniss’ forgotten hope and perseverance. Not to mention, his rock disguise was one of the cringiest parts of The Hunger Games.
He Should’ve Been The Mockingjay
Katniss is depicted as a valiant and genuine character from the start, with her distinct approach to the Games and honoring of Rue embodying the traits of the Mockingjay long before she took up the symbol. However, some fans think Peeta was the better choice.
A Reddit user stated that “Peeta is the MVP of the series. He should’ve been the real Mockingjay [since] he’s altruistic, humble, and good. Katniss is edgy and sour.” While Katniss’ rebellious, strong-willed, and brave nature made her the perfect and necessary Mockingjay, Peeta’s opposite and endearing qualities would have made him an excellent candidate for the mantle. Plus, it would’ve been interesting to see how his ever-resilient representation of hope, gentleness, and a better world fared in the high-stakes rebellion.
