Rooting for the Villain

Of course, we all love a superhero success story! But if we’re being honest, we’ve caught ourselves rooting for the villain at least once… or felt a little bad for them.

We’ve seen it in countless movies including Joker, Maleficent, Cruella, and even Sandman in Spider-Man 3.

What do these movies all have in common? They humanize the villain. They show a storyline where you can’t help but empathize with them and their rough upbringings. The moments that highlight the trauma they’ve endured. It’s when you see the look on their face after being betrayed by their best friend. When you see them vulnerable and just broken inside. And you say… “ohhh, so that’s why they act like that”.

President Snow is no exception in the new Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which takes a deeper look into President Snow’s life filled with a series of unfortunate events.

In the previous four Hunger Games movies, President Snow rules the dystopian society through fear, lies, and force. Snow has complete authority over the Capitol as a ruthless, cold-hearted, and selfish leader. While these traits remain true, new descriptions can be added to Snow’s character in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes; words like caring, loving, and thoughtful. Imagine that!

In the New Hunger Games, you can see a different side of President Snow. You see a human that viewers can empathize with. Not an old and bitter ruler with spiky eyebrows, but a young man who is navigating his life. Without giving too much away, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes will unlock new personality traits for Snow that you wouldn’t expect. Dare I say you might even feel bad for him at times?

With that being said, you can form your own opinion about President Snow on February 16th! Come out to watch the Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes at 8:00 p.m. in the Vines Center!