The Fate of Surviving Characters in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

The Fate of Surviving Characters in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

A detailed look at what happens to the surviving characters after the end of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and how their stories unfold in The Hunger Games universe.

Coriolanus Snow Becomes The President Of Panem

Coriolanus Snow is one of the main characters of The Hunger Games, so viewers get the chance to learn a lot about his fate after The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. The franchise shows that Snow becomes the tyrannical president of Panem and oversees the Hunger Games. He still proves to be a master manipulator, as he plays the role of a cunning politician and pits people against each other. He consistently utilizes his charisma and carefully crafted narratives to try to maintain his image as a benevolent leader and mask his true, cruel nature.

Tom Blyth's Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes is sitting in the Academy.

Tom Blyth's Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes is sitting in the Academy.

Viewers also see in The Hunger Games that Snow has a vendetta against Katniss. This is because Katniss reminds Snow of his long-lost love, Lucy Gray. Watching Katniss not have the same level of feelings for Peeta as he has for her reminds him of how he felt Lucy Gray betrayed him. This hatred for Katniss is an indicator of Snow's continued resentment of Lucy Gray, even in his old age, and his inability to move on from the situation. When the Capitol is ultimately overthrown, Snow is tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. Katniss decides not to kill him, choosing to use her arrow on President Coin instead, but the civilians of Panem rush him and he ultimately dies.

Donald Sutherland's President Coriolanus Snow at his execution in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

Donald Sutherland's President Coriolanus Snow at his execution in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

Tigris Becomes A Fashion Designer & Joins The Rebellion

Tigris is a main character in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, but is not seen much in The Hunger Games movies. Viewers get the chance to briefly learn about her in Mockingjay Part 2, where it is learned that she is a fashion designer and longtime stylist for the Games. It is evident that she and Snow have fallen out and that she is disappointed in his ruthless actions. Tigris lends herself to the rebellion cause by offering Katniss shelter in her clothing shop and disguising Katniss and Gale to infiltrate the Capitol.

Hunter Schafer as Tigris in Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes trailer

Hunter Schafer as Tigris in Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes trailer

Lucy Gray Baird's Life Is A Mystery (If She Is Alive)

Given her skill at the Hunger Games, it is very probable that Lucy Gray was able to survive in the forest for a time or even for the rest of her life. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes does not provide an answer as to Lucy Gray's fate, and neither does The Hunger Games. It is unclear whether she survives trying to escape from Snow, leaving her life a complete mystery. This ambiguous ending is purposeful, as it gives audiences the opportunity to form their own conclusion. Given her skill at the Hunger Games, it is very probable that Lucy Gray was able to survive in the forest for a time or even for the rest of her life. If she managed to escape from the forest, she most likely would continue to perform for audiences, as that is in her blood.

Lucy Gray is in her rainbow dress in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Lucy Gray is in her rainbow dress in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

The book does confirm that Lucy Gray is not talked about and her win in the Hunger Games is not acknowledged. This is because Dr. Gaul erased all of the evidence of Lucy Gray and the 10th Hunger Games. Gaul only kept one copy of the games for herself, as she felt this set of games made the Capitol look weak. The book also inferred that the Mayor of District 12 ended up killing Lucy Gray, but there is no concrete answer as to whether it actually happened.

Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird Turning While Playing the Guitar in The Hunger Games The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird Turning While Playing the Guitar in The Hunger Games The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Dr. Gaul Mentors Coriolanus Snow

The ending of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes confirms that Dr. Gaul and Snow begin working together. She serves as his mentor and teaches him how to construct the Games. She is not seen in The Hunger Games, but a popular theory is that Snow ended up killing her. Snow is the type of person who is uncomfortable with people who could potentially be more powerful than him, which could have lead to him seeing Dr. Gaul as a threat and ultimately eliminating her.

Viola Davis as Dr. Volumnia Gaul in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

Viola Davis as Dr. Volumnia Gaul in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

Strabo Plinth Names Snow His Heir

One of the key differences between The Ballad of Snakes & Songbirds book and the film adaptation is that the latter does not include the details about Snow's infiltration of the Plinth family. In the book, Snow returns to the Capitol and becomes almost like Sejanus' parents' adoptive son. They are unaware of the fact that Snow is responsible for their son's death, and so they treat him incredibly well. Strabo Plinth, Sejanus' father, even names Snow the heir to his fortune. This financial assistance helps Snow in his ascent to the utmost power in Panem.

Tom Blyth's Coriolanus Snow in the Capitol in The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes

Tom Blyth's Coriolanus Snow in the Capitol in The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes

Lucky Flickerman Passes Hosting Duties To His Son

Lucky Flickerman is the host of the Hunger Games in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and he ends up keeping the responsibility in the family. Caesar Flickerman is a prominent character in The Hunger Games, and, although his and Lucky's exact relationship is not confirmed, the timing suggests that they are father and son. Caesar is revealed in The Hunger Games to have been the host for 40 years and is highly skilled at presenting the District tributes in a positive light. He eventually turns on Katniss, though, and calls her a traitor and criminal publicly once the rebellion really takes off. Upon Snow's downfall, Caesar's fate was not revealed, but it can be assumed that he was assassinated.

Lucky Flickerman with a microphone and TVs behind him in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Lucky Flickerman with a microphone and TVs behind him in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.