Was it explained why there is a new game master in the second movie on? Is there a new game master in the books as well?
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Spielburger — 9 years ago(July 27, 2016 05:50 PM)
Warning: the following contains spoilers for
Catching Fire
.
Was it explained why there is a new game master in the second movie on?
Yes: up to a point. President Snow implies to Katniss that Seneca Crane was killed because he mishandled the end of the 74th Games (i.e. by not killing Katniss and Peeta immediately after they produced the nightlock berries).
As to
how
Crane died: when Katniss and the new Head Gamemaker Plutarch first meet at the Capitol party, they discuss Crane's death:
Plutarch:
Seneca decided to quit breathing.
Katniss:
[Mocking him] Decided.
Plutarch:
It was that or poison berries.
Plutarch therefore seems to be implying that Crane
did not
eat the berries, but took his own life in some other way. Although not explicitly stated, this allows Katniss to assume he hanged himself, which is why
she simulates his hanging with the mannequin during her private training session with the Gamemakers
.
Is there a new game master in the books as well?
Yes. However the books are written in "first person": Katniss never meets Seneca Crane, so he doesn't appear in any of the books and indeed his name isn't even mentioned until the second book. The whole "bowl of poisonous berries" ending to THG was created entirely for the film.
When Katniss learns of Crane's death from Snow, it's implied he was executed. Katniss assumes this was by hanging, hence
the mannequin scene
.
In the books, Katniss and Plutarch also meet for the first time at the Capitol party, but Crane's death is not discussed.
"So I've got bullets, but no gun. That's quite Zen." -
shieldsdraeger — 9 years ago(July 28, 2016 09:27 AM)
Hanging someone in effigy is a generic sign of disrespect and
did not
imply that Seneca was hanged. As I interpret it Seneca
did
eat the berries.
IMHO the addition of the scene with the berries was brilliant. Seneca being
forced to eat the berries(presumably instead of a worse fate) was a nice irony.
I think the whole sequence starting with Haymitch and Katniss on the roof was
handled very smoothly. We have Haymitch and Katniss on the roof followed by
the Seneca scene. Then H & K again followed by the interview. All underscored
with a re-orchestrated version of "Marissa Flashback" from the film "Hanna"
which featured another bow and arrow wielding heroine. Then we transition to
"Coming Home" a version of the "Rue's Farewell" theme that is featured
throughout the series. We have the crowning of the victors followed by the
train ride home and the arrival which contrasts the unabashed joy of Katniss
loved ones and the District 12 residents with Katniss' very mixed feelings.
Another great addition is the conversation between Katniss and Peeta on the
way home. Peeta:"What do we do now? Katniss: "I don't know. I guess we try
to forget." Peeta: "I don't want to forget." And we end with Snow biting his
finger with the opening strains of "Abraham's Daughter". -
CharlesTheBold — 9 years ago(November 21, 2016 09:40 PM)
Plutarch therefore seems to be implying that Crane did not eat the berries, but took his own life in some other way.
This is a bit odd. Katniss told Peeta that "they [the berries] would kill you in seconds". So why would Seneca, having decided to kill himself, not take that way out? Hanging himself (without a long-drop) would probably take longer and be more painful.
NOTE: The historical Seneca cut his wrists, having apparently chosen a slow death for psychological or political reasons. -
CharlesTheBold — 9 years ago(August 17, 2016 09:07 PM)
Yep. The original game maker was executed at the end of the first movie, by being locked in a cell where his only choices were eating poison berries or starving to death. So naturally they needed a new master in the sequel.
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TheDuke007-1 — 9 years ago(November 05, 2016 08:17 PM)
If you're talking about the movie, he clearly ate the poisonous berries and died. I would have to re-read the book to see if it had a different take. In either case, he clearly died so they needed a new game maker in the second one.