With the recent release of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, more and more fans are re-watching the original Hunger Games films. Introduced in the franchise’s first installment, both Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) and Effie (Elizabeth Banks) are fan favorite characters. Although they are extremely different from one another, both characters progress so much throughout the series. In The Hunger Games’ final installment, Mockingjay: Part 2, Haymitch and Effie, bid each other an emotional farewell, which left viewers speculating about whether the pair are romantically involved.
However, Haymitch and Effie’s relationship differs radically in Suzanne Collins’ original books, which gave the pair a very different ending. Although the original series concluded eight years ago, fans are still speculating about the pair’s relationship status, so how did Haymitch and Effie first meet and do they actually end up together?
How Did Haymitch and Effie First Meet?
As some fans will know, Haymitch was the Victor of the 50th Hunger Games, which made him District 12’s first Victor. Because of this, Haymitch was obliged to become the Mentor for District 12’s Tributes, despite his unconventional teaching methods. In the first Hunger Games film, Katniss and Peeta were both shocked when they met Haymitch and discovered that he had a severe drinking problem. He was clearly unfit to be the pair’s Mentor, and initially only offered Peeta one piece of advice, telling him to:
Embrace the probability of your imminent death and know in your heart that there’s nothing I can do to save you.
Following Haymitch’s unhelpful guidance, Katniss asks him why he is here, to which he simply responds with “The refreshments”. Following Haymitch’s unconventional introduction, it’s evident that he, Katniss and Peeta initially get off on the wrong foot. However, as the film progresses, Haymitch becomes more open with the pair and gives them valuable advice which is fundamental to their survival in the Games. It’s clear that his reckless drinking derives from his own trauma in the Hunger Games. Unsurprisingly, after experiencing the horror of the Games first-hand, Haymitch clearly opposes the Capitol, making him and Effie an unlikely match.
While some fans may assume that Effie is a previous Victor of the Hunger Games, she is actually a representative of the Capitol, as indicated by her outrageous fashion. When audiences first meet Effie, the character works as an escort for District 12. This means that Effie is responsible for escorting District 12’s tributes into the Capitol. She is also obliged to pick the names out at District 12’s annual Reaping ceremony. When Effie is introduced, it’s clear that she embodies the Capitol’s flamboyance, but also represents the Capitol’s naïve ideology in relation to the Games.
Whilst Effie is initially introduced as a representative of the Capitol, she gradually becomes more and more radicalized throughout the series, and joins forces with the rebels in the Mockingjay films. Her friendship with both Katniss and Peeta ensures the pair’s survival, especially in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire when Effie is fundamental in securing Katniss and Peeta’s allyship with other tributes, including Finnick.
Whilst Haymitch and Effie’s first meeting occurred off both the screen and the page, it’s implied that they had been working together for many years. From the onset, it’s evident that Haymitch and Effie are polar opposites. The pair are frequently bickering and disagreeing with another, but the rebellion against the Capitol brings the pair closer together. In Mockingjay: Part 2, Haymitch bids Effie a telling goodbye, which hints at the pair’s potential romance.
Do Haymitch and Effie End Up Together?
Despite their many differences, Haymitch and Effie’s exchanges were often rather flirtatious, as seen via their humorous interaction in Mockingjay: Part 1. With the threat of war looming, Effie and Haymitch join the rebels in District 13. Due to the District’s restrictions, Effie is forced to go without her flamboyant outfits and wigs, whilst Haymitch is obliged to give up the drink, resulting in an iconic exchange between the pair:
It’s clear that Haymitch and Effie have some chemistry between them, leading fans to question whether they would actually end up together. However, Mockingjay: Part 2 seemed to provide an answer to fans’ queries.
Towards the end of the film, Haymitch and Effie are preparing to say goodbye to each other as they leave the Capitol. During their farewells, Haymitch surprisingly kisses Effie. This kiss was a shock to fans of the series, as some didn’t see the pair’s unexpected romance coming. However, the pair’s kiss was also a shock to those who had read the book as this scene didn’t happen in Suzanne Collins’ original Mockingjay book. Surprisingly, the pair’s kiss wasn’t even included in the film’s script.
In an interview with The Huffington Post, Elizabeth Banks revealed that she and Woody Harrellson improvised the kiss. She proceeded to explain that:
We decided to do it, and the director was like, 'I love it. Let’s try it again.' We also did it without a kiss, and we let him decide in the editing room, and we love that he kept it.
Banks revealed that Effie and Haymitch’s kiss was intended to demonstrate the pair’s “deep connection”. Banks also described the kiss as an accumulation of Effie and Haymitch’s “long shared history”. Undeniably, Haymitch and Effie certainly went through a lot together. The rebellion against the Capitol provided Haymitch and Effie with some much-needed growth, ultimately bringing them together. Whilst it’s unknown what happened to Haymitch and Effie after the rebellion, the pair’s kiss ultimately provided fans with some clarity in relation to the couple’s romance.
As previously mentioned, Haymitch and Effie’s kiss is a drastic deviation from the original books. In books, Effie is tragically kidnapped by the Capitol. Whilst being held hostage, she is horrifically tortured, causing her to become a shell of who she once was. Although Effie survived the rebellion, she is traumatized by what she has gone through, resulting in the character being given a melancholy ending. Whilst she and Haymitch shared some flirtatious interactions earlier in the books, there’s no actual hint of romance between the pair in Mockingjay’s book.
In The Book: | In The Movie |
|---|---|
Haymitch and Effie are not romantically involved. | Haymitch and Effie share a kiss as they say goodbye. |
Fans rejoiced when the Mockingjay films changed Effie’s fate, consequently giving her a much bigger part in the rebellion. Undeniably, Effie and Haymitch’s romance provided the characters with a much more memorable conclusion, despite the uncertainty of what happens to the pair in the future.
The Hunger Games
In a Dystopian future, food has become the world's most valuable resource, and children must fight to the death in a televised event in order to win resources for their home districts. When Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her sister's place, she sets in motion an uprising to change the world. Based on the hit YA novels by author Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games quickly became a phenomenon with four star-studded movies based on the original series and a prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, released in 2023. The series has featured performances by Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence, Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson, Peter Dinklage, and Rachel Zegler.
- Created by
- Suzanne Collins
- First Film
- The Hunger Games
- Latest Film
- The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
- Cast
- Jennifer Lawrence , Woody Harrelson , Donald Sutherland , Josh Hutcherson , Liam Hemsworth , Philip Seymour Hoffman , Jena Malone , Elizabeth Banks , Rachel Zegler , Peter Dinklage , Viola Davis , Stanley Tucci
- Movies
- The Hunger Games (2012) , The Hunger Games catching fire (2013) , The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One (2014) , The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part Two (2015) , The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)
