The Hunger Games: Katniss Everdeen’s Best And Worst Decisions

When We Loved Katniss Everdeen: 1. Volunteering as Tribute

Katniss made a split second decision when her sister was selected during the draw for the Hunger Games. The lack of hesitation and bravery she showed made her an instant favorite for the audience and they started looking forward to Katniss' adventures.

2. Decorating Rue’s Body

After Rue’s tragic death, Katniss could have just moved on to survive. Instead, she made a decision that changed Panem forever. By covering Rue in flowers and giving the three-finger salute, she signaled to the Capitol that Rue wasn't just a pawn in their game, but a human being worth mourning. It was a beautiful, defiant act of humanity.

3. The Nightlock Berries Stunt

Cornered by the Gamemakers who revoked the rule allowing two winners, Katniss realized the Capitol needed a victor more than she needed to live. Her decision to pull out the poisonous Nightlock berries forced the Gamemakers' hand. It was a brilliant, split-second strategic move that outsmarted the entire system without firing a single arrow.

4. Shooting the Apple (The Pig)

During her private session with the Gamemakers, they were ignoring her to eat a roasted pig. Katniss’s decision to fire an arrow straight through the apple in the pig's mouth was a moment of pure, reckless cool. It was petulant, dangerous, and absolutely necessary to make them respect her.

5. Executing President Coin

In the final moments of the series, Katniss realizes that Coin is just another side of the same dictatorial coin as Snow. Instead of executing the dying Snow, she shifts her aim and assassinates Coin. It was a shocking, controversial decision, but ultimately the right one to stop the cycle of tyranny from starting all over again.

When We Hated Katniss Everdeen: 1. Voting "Yes" for a Symbolic Hunger Games

This is arguably the most hated moment in the series. When Coin proposes a final Hunger Games using the Capitol's children, Katniss votes "Yes... for Prim." While many argue this was a ploy to gain Coin's trust so she could kill her later, in the moment, it felt like a betrayal of everything she fought for: ending the cycle of children murdering children.

2. Lying to the Star Squad (Getting Finnick Killed)

In Mockingjay, Katniss lies to her squad, telling them she is on a secret mission from Coin to assassinate Snow. This lie drags them into a deep, deadly trap. Because of this ego-driven "suicide mission," some of the best characters—including the beloved Finnick Odair—are torn apart by mutts. It felt like an unnecessary waste of life for a personal vendetta.

3. Her Coldness to Peeta in Catching Fire

At the start of the second movie/book, Katniss is incredibly cold to Peeta, treating their relationship purely as an act for the cameras while he is genuinely trying to be her friend. Watching her shut him out and ignore his trauma while he continued to protect her was frustrating and made her seem unnecessarily cruel.

4. How She Treated Her Mother

While Katniss’s trauma regarding her mother (who shut down after Mr. Everdeen died) is valid, her treatment of her mother throughout the series is often hard to watch. She is consistently harsh, unforgiving, and dismissive, even when her mother is trying her hardest to heal and help. It’s realistic trauma, but it makes Katniss hard to like in those quiet domestic moments.

5. Keeping Gale on the Hook

For much of the series, Katniss refuses to define her relationship with Gale, often using him for comfort while mentally committing to Peeta (or vice versa). While she was rightfully focused on survival, her indecision often felt like she was stringing Gale along, leading to a toxic dynamic that only ended when his war tactics indirectly killed her sister.