Rewatching The Hunger Games series in chronological order has made me far more aware of a popular fan theory regarding the franchise, and I’m more convinced of its legitimacy after doing so than ever before. The Hunger Games films adapt the popular dystopian young adult novels of the same name, revolving around the тιтular battle royales.

The initial quadrilogy ended after The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, as the story no longer has any more of its namesake games to focus on. However, new life was breathed into the franchise with the prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. There are many probable Hunger Games theories, but one in particular stands out.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes centers on the rise of President Snow in one of the earliest Hunger Games on record, working with compeтιтor Lucy Gray. Though the two have a close relationship, Snow ultimately betrays Lucy, who wins the 10th Hunger Games only to disappear into the wilderness.

The “Katniss & Lucy Gray Are Related” Theory Explained

The Hunger Games Two Victor Protagonists’ May Be Family

Lucy’s fate is ultimately unknown, even by the time of the present-day story of the main films. Though it’s possible she returned to her home of District 12 or the desolate District 13, Lucy Gray essentially disappeared after her last confrontation with Snow. Not only that, but she managed to scrub all records of her own name and the events of the 10th Hunger Games.

Even though Lucy vanishes from the story, it’s clear that her rebellious spirit lives on elsewhere in Panem. This might be a more literal statement than anticipated, as a theory stating Katniss and Lucy Gray are related becomes alarmingly plausible when re-watching the series in chronological order.

According to the theory, Katniss is either a direct descendant of Lucy Gray, with Gray being Katniss’ paternal grandmother, or at the very least a more distant cousin to her. The two female protagonists have a lot in common that seems to support this suggestion, from factual evidence to eerie coincidence.

For one, both are pᴀssionate, rebellious women hailing from District 12 with a talented singing voice. In fact, Lucy is actually the one who first wrote the famous song, The Hanging Tree, that Katniss sings as an open act of rebellion in the later movies. It’s possible that Lucy continued her lineage after returning home to District 12.

Watching The Hunger Games In Timeline Order Makes The Katniss/Lucy Theory Feel Inevitable

Katniss And Lucy Are Two Sides Of The Same Coin

Watching The Hunger Games films in release order, The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes feels like more of a side story that provides a bit of context for the overarching villain and the world. But upon seeing the films in chronological order, Lucy Gray’s importance in the world takes on a whole new light.

In many ways, Katniss in the later movies is essentially picking up where Lucy left off, using some of the same tactics to inspire open rebellion across Panem. From her charismatic status as a figurehead of a movement to her bravery and unforgettable singing voice, Katniss is essentially Lucy 2.0, which makes the theory seem all the stronger.

The idea of Katniss being Lucy’s literal and figurative heir is strengthened all the more by Lucy using the excuse of gathering her namesake plant towards the end of The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes to escape Snow and let him know she was aware of his treachery. There couldn’t be a more obvious metaphor for Lucy pᴀssing the torch to Katniss.

President Snow’s reactions to Katniss take on a whole new context when watching the films in story order, as he clearly sees a lot of Lucy in her. Perhaps his lingering soft spot for Lucy can explain some Hunger Games plot holes that allowed the rebellion to succeed, as Snow could have been far harsher to Katniss at times than he actually was.

Watching The Hunger Games In Timeline Order Is A Richer Experience

Highly Recommended For A More Cohesive Story

In this way, watching the films in chronological order rather than in order of their release date makes for a more satisfying experience. Though the protagonist of the story may change with the 40-year time skip, the spirit of rebellion that Lucy ignites in District 12 and beyond clearly stays the same.

This viewing order also works better for making the films into a fascinating character study for President Snow. For all the power he’d been able to achieve, at the end of the day Snow would always be haunted by the visage of the one that got away, writ anew with the appearance of Katniss.

The Hunger Games’ Next Movie Will Only Make The Katniss/Lucy Theory More Plausible

The Sunrise On The Reaping Book All But Confirms It

It’s possible that the upcoming sequel The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, will all but confirm this to be true. In the book of the same name, it’s revealed that the mother of Katniss’ father, Burdock Everdeen, was related to the Covey in some way. Lucy Gray was also a member of the Covey, a clan of nomadic folk singers.

In Sunrise on the Reaping, it’s also described that the Covey keep a secret grave for the 10th Hunger Games’ mysterious District 12 victor, featuring a poem that suggests Lucy may even still be alive. Teasing Katniss possible heritage and Lucy’s ultimate fate would certainly shake things up for The Hunger Games films.