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The Revival of Peeta Mellark

The Return of Our Favorite Boy Next Door

By Ashley TrippPublished about a year ago 5 min read
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Peeta Mellark, played by Josh Hutcherson. Photo via In These Times

If you've been active on social media lately - Tiktok in particular - then you might be witnessing the triumphant return of The Hunger Games to pop culture. If you were fortunate enough to be a tween and upwards in the early 2010s, then you experienced The Hunger Games frenzy that swept the country firsthand in real time.

The Hunger Games began a movement of dystopian stories aimed for teenagers (more specifically girls). But it largely retained its status as most influential and successful for the genre, both in literary and cinema.

Photo via Amazon

Whether you were a book-reader, movie-watcher, or both, we all agreed that we loved the franchise. It dominated the first half of the 2010s in popular culture, rocketing the stars to fame (if they weren't there already) and cementing each actor as the forever face of our beloved characters.

But, unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. The franchise faded into the background. Fans grew up or grew out of their memorable and beloved "Hunger Games phase."

New movies and franchises developed. The 2016 election hit. Then the pandemic began. America has been really busy. So, outside of a handful of followers that use the series as comfort films, many people forgot about it - at least in their daily lives.

But, over the last few weeks, the series has returned with vigor. This is probably largely due to the announcement of a prequel set to arrive this fall - over a decade after the original movies. Nonetheless, it has brought Hunger Games fans out of the woodworks and thrust them back into the consuming fanhood the movies first brought.

Photo via conagi.com

However, there has been one particular star at the center of the revival: Mr. Peeta Mellark. If you were here the first time around, you know that lines were drawn between Team Peeta and Team Gale - much like the Twilight series. But Team Peeta has come to win (spoiler alert: like the character himself) with this revival.

Edits of the character (and actor, Josh Hutcherson) flood the app. Fans (mostly women) are commenting, sharing, posting, and arguing as to why Peeta - and by proxy, Josh - is worth romanticizing. He exhibits all the traits that a woman would want in a man. But, why?

The common consensus?

He's okay with not being the center of the story.

I know, that sounds vague, but stick with me. The main protagonist, Katniss, has a rough exterior, covering up cold fear for her family and unadulterated rage at injustice. The characters' relationship turns traditional ideas of romance and relationships on its head.

Photo by Firstpost

Peeta was the soft, nurturing, and gentle one while Katniss was burdened with responsibility, avoidant, and fearfully rejecting. She is the star - both of the books and of the rebellion - dutifully titled "the Mockingjay" in the resistance.

Yet, with endless patience and undoubted devotion, Peeta continues to protect Katniss - often at cost to himself - and repeatedly show up for her. He supports her. He genuinely loves her. He genuinely loves her.

Many Hunger Games fans (especially women) could relate to Katniss. We understood the need to protect your family, the rage against an unjust government, the inability to trust due to trauma.

Photo by PNGItem

In the fallout of the 2016 election, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and countless other acts against women, this feeling has only grown. It's been reignited to a full flame - especially since most readers/watchers are now adults and deal with rampant injustice more frequently.

Therefore, the appeal of a man we could trust, someone who was soft and gentle and actually good is too strong to resist. It is why Peeta was so beloved the first time and even more popular the second time around. He embodies these qualities.

Like I said, most readers can relate to Katniss in one way or another. The injustice faced by women globally can be felt here at home - just look at the reaction to Mahsa Amini's death and the resulting protests. Women all over the world have become, in their own way, Katniss herself.

We understand fighting for our rights - and the loss of them as well. Many women are marching, protesting, and fighting for basic rights that are being lost all over the country. Katniss remains a relatable figure.

This is part of what makes Peeta so desirable. He is the perfect balance to her, making his character the perfect balance for many fans. His gentleness and soothing understanding resonates with many women who have had to harden themselves (like Katniss) to survive.

Photo via Amparo Ortiz

His personality provides a break from the endless misogyny women are faced with. His unwavering support is comforting for women who "can do it themselves" but find relief in not having to.

He is a largely healthy depiction of what a man's romantic love should look like. It is a stark contrast from many of the dark villainous characters that have been romanticized by fans (i.e. Loki, the Darkling, etc). Peeta remains the "boy next door."

Unassuming, safe, forgiving, loving...

That's what makes his "hijacking" (as the book puts it) so heartbreaking to Katniss and readers alike - it is so very not him. And it's what makes his slow healing - and Katniss' reaction both of these things - so raw.

Photo by Scoopnest

But, even despite his torture and changes, the relationship between him and Katniss continues to develop, pulling the reader in deeper. Despite the changes, Peeta works to remember who he is. Despite all odds, the reader and Katniss alike both love him.

Therefore, this revival of The Hunger Games could not be complete without a return of our favorite "boy next door." And, if Tiktok is any indication, fans are picking up right where they left off in their love for Peeta.

He has become a face for the many women on the app who refuse to bow to pressure and instead are prioritizing their worth - and waiting for a man who will see it.

That's part of what gripped fans the first time around, and it is a driving force for many fans this time. Peeta Mellark is the ideal man. He always has been. He is gentle, loving, and inherently good. A perfect balance - and desired ideal - for many woman who have lived tough lives and are seeking a kind, nurturing partner.

I'm all here for it.

Let the Peeta Mellark Renaissance begin.

Photo via BuzzFeed

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About the Creator

Ashley Tripp

I’m a freelance writer & artist. I create pieces about the things that move me with the hopes that they move my readers too. My work has been featured in multiple publications. Check out my website for more at https://msha.ke/ashleytripp

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