Now while the Hunger Games usually involved teenagers fighting to the death, this isn’t the case when it comes to the Third Quarter Quell in Catching Fire which is the 75th Hunger Games. Now every Quell takes place every 25 years and comes with a special twist like you’d see on a reality show. Haymitch actually won the second Quarter Quell which each district sent 2 boys and 2 girls. So his odds were 47 to 1. Unfortunately, for Katniss and the other victors, this Quell’s theme turns out to be Hunger Games: All Star Edition. This means that tributes would be reaped from an existing pool of victors after being assured by the Capitol that they won’t have to take part in a death match again. Not anymore. Still, Hunger Games victors don’t have nice lives after they win. Yes, there’s fame and fortune but at a very steep price since the Capitol basically keeps an eye on them. And they have to come back every year to mentor tributes in their district. Not to mention, many have been suffering from PTSD as well as descended into addiction like Haymitch. If you’re very good-looking like Finnick, it’s possible that government would whore you out to some Capitol citizens, possibly the patrons who sponsored your victory. And if a tribute fails to comply to the totalitarian regime, then it’s possible that their loved ones could be killed off like Johanna Mason’s. Also, Haymitch’s family and girlfriend were killed off as well but that was because Snow hated how he won his Games. So it’s no surprise that plenty of victors hate the Capitol.  Still, getting a bunch of Capitol hating victors together to fight it out to the death (many of whom are friends with each other), what can go wrong with that?

For a good parody of the victors’ views on the Capitol, I went with the song, “One Night in Bangkok” sung by Murray Head in the musical Chess. Yes, they actually did a musical in the 1980s pertaining to chess. And it’s about a chess tournament in Bangkok, Thailand. Yeah, in a city most people known for having a shady reputation in prostitution.  But when you think about it, the Capitol is a rather decadent city and is much worse than Bangkok (save the fact they’ll arrest you for doing Katniss’s 3 finger salute). I mean the Capitol has extravagant parties, fashion, and mass entertainment such as teenagers fighting to the death. It also has advanced technology, especially in medicine. Now before the Hunger Games, tributes are usually treated with 5-star accommodations like luxurious quarters, beautiful clothes, expensive cuisine, and a top notch training area to get them in shape before exterminating their peers. Also, Capitol citizens are watched 24/7 and not toeing the line has terrible consequences. I mean look what happened when Seneca Crane failed at his job by letting Katniss and Peeta live. With all its flaws, poverty, and shady reputation, you’d rather be in Bangkok compared to this place.

 

“One Night at Capitol”

Sung by the Quarter Quell Victors, Haymitch Abernathy, and Plutarch Heavensbee

 

Chorus:

One night at Capitol makes a hard man humble

Not much between despair and ecstasy

One night at Capitol and the tough guys tumble

Can’t be too careful with your company

I can feel Old Man Snow watching next to me

 

Haymitch Abernathy:

Capitol, hedonistic city

And the city don’t know what the city is getting

The creme de la creme of the Victors

In a Quell with everything but real winners

 

Time flies, doesn’t seem a minute

That the last Hunger Games had my two kids win it

All change, don’t you know that when you

Play at this level, there’s no ordinary venue

 

It’s forest or an island beach

Or desert or, or this place

 

Chorus:

One night at Capitol and Panem’s your oyster

Hotels are temples but the price ain’t free

You’ll find a sword in every golden cloister

And if you’re lucky when you’re dead by 3

I can feel a camera stalking up to me

 

Finnick:

This town’s not like any other

When your head’s down over your weapons, Brother

 

Wiress:

It’s a drag, it’s a bore, it’s really such a pity

To be trapped in the arena, not looking at the city

 

Johanna:

Whaddya mean?

Ya seen one crowded, polluted, stinking town

 

Chaff:

Rich food, warm and sweet (warm, sweet)

Wonder how much those at the Capitol party

 

Beetee:

C’mon, you’re talking to a tribute

Whose every move among the repute

I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine

 

Chorus:

One night at Capitol makes a hard man humble

Not much between despair and ecstasy

One night at Capitol and the tough guys tumble

Can’t be too careful with your company

I can feel Old Man Snow watching next to me

 

Peeta:

Panem’s gonna be the witness

To the ultimate test of murdering fitness

This scares me more than would

A muttation wolf or some rotten gouda

 

Plutarch:

But thank God, I’m only watching the game, controlling it

 

Katniss:

I don’t see you guys rating

The kind of shot I’m contemplating

You’ll have to watch, it sure would fright you

But if you’re in my place, they won’t excite you

 

So you better go back to your bars, your parties

Your massage parlors

 

Chorus:

One night at Capitol and the world’s your oyster

Hotels are temples but the price ain’t free

You’ll find sword in every golden cloister

A little flesh, a little slavery

I can feel a camera stalking up to me

 

One night at Capitol makes a hard man humble

Not much between despair and ecstasy

One night at Capitol and the tough guys tumble

Can’t be too careful with your company

I can feel Old Man Snow watching next to me