Part 1, Chapter 3:
It doesn't matter what happens. Whatever you see on the screen. You have to promise me you'll fight through it!
Man, this is a chapter filled with emotion as Katniss meets with people who want to wish her farewell. Her family and Gale are obvious choices to have show up, and it's interesting how they have different approaches to things. Katniss has to give her family the pep talk to keep her mother from losing it and letting them both die, while Gale is trying to give Katniss pointers in order to get her head in the game so she can be the champion she's destined to be. Meanwhile, the other two visitors are both far more interesting to be as they are to Katniss, given how she didn't expect either one to visit her. Madge makes SOME sense, since they're supposedly friends...but then you have Peeta's dad giving gifts to the girl who could potentially be her son's killer. Now, I didn't think about this either of the two times I read these books prior...but both of these interactions are far more interesting on a second or third read. I'll say no more about that.
Katniss would do well on Survivor because the girl is CONSTANTLY in game mode. She's keeping her emotions in check so that she doesn't appear weak on-camera, and yet believes that Peeta has been crying specifically to appear weak in order to avoid being seen as a threat. Seriously Katniss, sometimes crying is just crying. However, the best character in the series makes her first appearance (well, she's mentioned) in Katniss' delusional little strategy session. Give it up for Johanna "Lumbergoddess" Mason! *Sweet Georgia Brown plays* Dammit, that is NOT the right music! Who's been messing with my playlists?!
Anyway, we have some brief, boring exposition about mockingjays (I know it's the title of the third book, but I honestly don't care about the birds themselves). Effie's a hilarious character too, because she has absolutely no idea what she's doing half the time. She's another case of being very good at her job, but having absolutely no common sense. I love Katniss defying her with the whole table manners things. It makes me laugh. And of course, she hates being made fun of by the kids, so she just has to get the last word in with her "Oh, you think Haymitch is funny? Well he's gonna get you killed so NYEH!" line.
But moving on, we're semi-introduced to the major characters from other districts: Male 2, Female 5, Female 11, Male 10. I'll get into a discussion about Male 10 later on, but needless to say, I have a potential rant brewing about that.
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Captain Tracy Mombaro and Agent Mirasuke Inhara: Two of the toughest, hottest furrs you'll ever meet.