The Prim Reaper or The Boy with the Bread 

Hey Crusaders, welcome back to another student survey! The latest installment of the Hunger Games movie series, Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, was released in theaters on November 17th. This has brought up the famous question among fans of the franchise: Team Peeta or Team Gale? To celebrate the release of the movie, we asked students this question. Here are all of their responses:

1. Ella Strong (10th): “Team Peeta one million percent. At first I liked Gale, you could tell he really cared for Katniss. He stepped up and helped her family while she was at the first games but then he got rude from the power. Katniss loved Peeta, and if Gale really loved her he would want her to be happy whether that’s with him or Peeta. Peeta is a kind sweet loving person and would quite literally die for Katniss. He took so much pain for Katniss and said he would do anything to protect her because if she died he would have nothing else. So for those reasons I will always be team Peeta. Honorable Mention to Finnick because he’s so majestic.”
2. Lauren Taksey (12th): “Peeta because he was willing to die for her.”
3. Grace Favole (11th): “I cannot choose; they both have huge pros and a variety of cons.”
4. Luca Melluzzi (12th): “Team Peeta. Peeta has a much better backstory and has actual struggle, he is just in it to survive. Gale is kind of a pretty boy.”
5. Alondra Sara (10th): “Team Peeta because he’s better for Katniss.”
6. Madison Griffin (11th): “At first, the choice would be Gale… but then 100% Peeta because Gale bombed Katniss sister.” 
7. Poppy Miller (12th): “Team Peeta because he didn’t kill Prim like Gale did. He’s also more of a gentleman. The way he treats Katniss is a thousand times better than Gale and he still fell in love with her after he was brainwashed.”
8. Grace Molina (10th): “Peeta. Gale killed Prim.” 
9. Ryleigh Timmins (10th): “Peeta. He has a way better personality and is husband material. Gale is a bad guy and the Prim Reaper.”
10. Lily Budke (12th): “Team Peeta for life! He stuck with Katniss when things got tough, and I really think that Katniss needs someone who can relate to the trauma she went through in the games. Plus Gale technically killed Prim, which is a big no no in my book. (I also just think Katniss and Peeta are very cute together). Plus Peeta bakes and paints!”
11. Anjolie Boyd (11th): “Peeta for sure. He actually understood her compared to Gale. Peeta went through what she went through if not worse. They were literal partners in the Hunger Games, so their relationship got stronger of course.”
12. Iliana Palumbo (11th): “​​I’m going with Team Gale only because he’s not a coward.”
13. Julia Veach (10th): “Peeta is a more caring, kind, intelligent, amazing, perfect, and sweet person. He helped Katniss throughout the series and brought great humor to a dark time. Instead of blowing up little kids, he blows minds.”
14. Andra Tylke (12th): “Peeta easily because it’s Josh Hutcherson.”
15. Hannah Garland (9th): “Peeta 100% because he was there for her during the Hunger Games, supported her in all of her decisions and let her love who she wanted. Gale was a day one but resented her for “choosing Peeta” when she did it (originally) to get help from the sponsors and make them sorry for her to get said help. He just didn’t understand her or respect her like Peeta did.”
16. Lyla Perry (9th): “Peeta because he was kind and understanding.”
17. Gabrielle Scruggs (10th): “I haven’t watched the Hunger Games since I was little but from what I remember probably Peeta because he was really sweet.”
18. Cameron Pepin (9th): “Katniss never loved Gale the way she and Peeta loved eachother. They survived the Hunger Games together and they are goals.”
19. Laura Lima (11th): “I haven’t read the books, I’ve only seen the movies. But, in my opinion, Peeta is the best choice for Katniss. He is so sweet and he would do anything for her. I think he represents goodness in the middle of all the problems and crazy things they have to face in he Hunger Games, and I also think that he brings comfort and peace to Katniss which she deserves because she went through a lot and so did him. Overall, they have such good chemistry and they are the ultimate choice.”
20. Nicole Atteridge (11th): “He’s always there for Katniss, if one was going to die he wanted it to be him. He’s just perfect. He’s Peeta. He’s so sweet and he’s Josh Hutcherson. Oh and Gale literally killed Prim so that’s just awkward.”
21. Catherine Eldred (12th): “Team Gale because they were originally together and had real feelings for each other that wasn’t only started for a survival method like with Peeta.”
22. Brianna Christensen (11th): “Team Peeta!! I feel like Peeta prioritized Katniss’ happiness and even her life and always tried to protect her.”
23. Dillon Schnieder (11th): “Peeta because bread tastes good.”
24. Sienna Rubio (10th): “Peeta because he is so wholesome, loyal, and kind.”

As you can see, Cardinal Newman’s population is mostly on Team Peeta. 75% of Mr. William’s G period theater class chose Peeta when asked the question. In case anyone is interested, here is my opinion on the matter:

I am one billion percent Team Peeta. I will never hesitate to talk about Peeta Mellark. Katniss has just as many outbursts as Gale, but he kills children, traps thousands of people in a mountain, and talks about how killing people is no different than hunting. Also, the Gale and Katniss ship is inherently flawed. Gale is purely survivalist and is super selfish. Even when Peeta is hijacked and being tortured, Gale’s only concern is that if Peeta doesn’t get better, Katniss definitely won’t choose him, ignoring the fact she’s clearly in pain and has nightmares all the time. In addition, Peeta says, “My nightmares are usually about losing you. I’m okay once I realized you’re here.” In Catching Fire, despite being heartbroken over Katniss not loving him and him merely being a piece in a game of survival, he apologizes because he feels he was unfair. He also volunteers to take Haymitch’s place to ensure Katniss makes it out alive. His immediate reaction to finding out that two of them will have to reenter the area is to go to Haymitch and beg for Katniss’ life. Another example of his undying devotion can be noted during the storming of the Capitol. When he’s playing real or not real, he literally only remembers things about her. When he’s fighting his voices, he whispers to himself all of the things Katniss told him, despite him being tortured into believing she can’t be trusted. Most importantly, he falls in love with her all over again. The rose colored glasses have long been shattered, and he’s seen her at her lowest. He’s seen every flaw, every outburst, everything. And yet he still falls in love with her again. We see his love for her at the end of Mockingjay when he asks her, “You love me. Real or not real?” He acknowledges that she has a hard time expressing things that are so personal, and he gives her a simple way to say it. His love for her isn’t the same. It’s no longer innocent and infatuated, yes, but it’s just as strong, if not stronger. He loved her so much he was willing to let her go, to let her pick. Nothing mattered to him but her being happy. The first time we see Katniss’ true love for him is when his heart stops in Catching Fire. She is completely and utterly devastated. Her world flips. Even Finnick notices, “You swore you’d save Peeta.” At the end of the book, she was angry at Haymitch. She was angry at Plutarch. She cursed and hit and screamed. The most she was ever in pain was over seeing him suffer. Every move she made was to protect him, even if she tried to say it wasn’t: bargaining with coin, when she panics in the games because he almost eats nightlock, etc. I will stand on the Team Peeta hill until I die.

In case you have never heard of the Hunger Games series, make sure to go watch the original four movies and see the newest one in theaters, A Ballad of Songbirgs and Snakes!