Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Review: An Interview with Two Superfans

The Hunger Games hysteria is at an all-time high once again and with good reason. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a prequel to the well-known series, released in theaters on November 17th, reigniting the flame within all of the longtime fans- as well as welcoming in some new ones. Based on the novel of the same name, the story surrounds Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) as they navigate the world of Panem, the dangers of the Capitol, and the early beginnings of the games themselves. We decided to talk to two of the staff on our team, who happen to be massive fans of the series, about how this new addition fits into the already brilliant world created by author Suzanne Collins.

SPOILERS AHEAD!!

How long have you been a fan of the series? 

Lucy - I remember being obsessed with the books as early as elementary school. I was super into the YA Dystopian genre, and still am, but The Hunger Games was always my favorite. 

Ashley - Oh gosh, probably since I was about 9 or 10 years old. The hyper fixation hit hard and fast and hasn’t left my brain since. I know I have a picture of younger me somewhere in a Katniss costume for both Purim and Halloween!

What’s your favorite Hunger Games movie? 

Lucy - Besides Ballad, I think I’d have to say Catching Fire. Even though it’s not necessarily the most accurate adaptation it’s still a great movie, and the focus on the Quarter Quell makes it even more special. Plus, Finnick. 

Ashley - Catching Fire by FAR. The superior choice. But, I will say, that TBOSAS did give it a run for its money. I’d say it’s pretty on par with Catching Fire for me. I’m also just a huge Rachel Zegler girly so that already made this movie go higher in the rankings.

If you’ve read the books, what are some changes from page to screen that you noticed? What were your thoughts on them (did you like them or not)?

Lucy - I think something I was really missing from the movie was the connections between Coriolanus and his classmates. The only classmate of his we get any insight on is Sejanus, for obvious plot reasons, but I think cutting out Corio exploring and analyzing the relationships with his classmates and how close they all were despite their differences was a bummer. Another thing that I felt was missing from the movie was the introduction of The Covey. We see bits and pieces of them, but they’re featured much more in the book, and they’re a fun group to get to know. Besides that, I think the changes made made a lot of sense and were necessary to make sure the runtime wasn’t too long. 

Ashley - Of course, some scenes were cut and lots of side characters were diminished. One thing that surprised me that was changed was Lucy Gray and Corialanus’ first kiss- that was pushed to much later in the story. But, the thing I noticed most was the lack of Clemensia, The Covey, and all of the songs that didn’t make it into the movie that they sang. Clemensia has a whole storyline in the book that helps to further just how vindictive Gaul is. After she is bitten by the rainbow snakes, she comes back to sit with the other mentors while the games progress and ends up being the last one, along with Coriolanus. We miss out on the aftermath of the bites, the yellowish eyes, the scaly skin, and just the overall horror that Gaul caused her. Personally, I do wish that had been in the movie but I can understand why it was cut. Now, The Covey all had a lot more of a role in the novel. It was much more of a familial atmosphere than was showcased in the movie. Sure, you can interpret that from the way they interact but I quite missed seeing it on screen. Again, I do understand why it was cut. The thing I missed most of all was the songs that didn’t make it into the movie. Specifically, I was surprised to see that “Deep in the Meadow” didn’t make the cut, as that song is vital to the first movie as well (reminder: Katniss sings it to Rue as she passes away in the arena). I truly think that would’ve been incredibly interesting to throw in that not only did Lucy Gray write “The Hanging Tree” but she also wrote this other melody that comes back to haunt Snow in his later years. Overall, I can definitely see why all of these changes and cuts were made. But, rumor has it there’s another hour of the film out there that was cut… Just saying.

What is your favorite part of the movie?

Lucy - Oh my God this question is so hard. Okay. I think my favorite part of the movie had to be Rachel Zegler's performance of “The Old Therebefore” at the end of the 10th Hunger Games. The shock the spectators feel the love and emotion that’s produced by her song, and the way Lucy Gray stares right into the eyes of the viewer so you feel like you’re there watching the games in real-time. Just wow. It’s truly one of those moments that makes you want to be able to watch a movie for the first time again. 

Ashley - My favorite part was definitely the entire sequence towards the very end where Coriolanus loses his mind after Lucy Gray leaves him alone for a mere two minutes. Girl saw the red flags and RAN! We truly see Snow reveal just how insane he is for the first time on the outside rather than just deciphering it through his eyes and the tension in that scene is wild. It is impeccably constructed and keeps the audience’s eyes glued to the action for fear that they could miss something, just like Coriolanus feared he’d miss a glimpse of Lucy Gray evading him.

Favorite performance (acting-wise)?

Lucy - Overall I’d have to say Rachel Zegler, because, holy shit. She is just so talented. I’ve been a fan of her since my freshman year of high school and it’s so exciting to see her get the positive attention she has worked so hard for, it is so well deserved. Rachel Zegler you will always be famous!!! Another great performance came from Josh Andres Rivera. He made the most of every moment he was on screen, and his final scene was absolutely heartbreaking. Fantastic performances all around. 

Ashley - Rachel Zegler. Oh, how I love her. She did NOT disappoint (and never has, so I wasn’t surprised). Her emotion is so real and raw no matter what the situation is. And, don’t even get me started on her voice- it is ETHEREAL. Rachel gives 100% in everything that she does and that is not lost in this film at all. From watching her YouTube videos to seeing her lead a blockbuster hit, I feel so honored that she shares her talent with the rest of us.

Favorite original song? 

Lucy - When I heard the book was getting adapted into a movie I was SO excited, but also so nervous because music is featured so heavily throughout the novel. It was absolutely amazing to see how well they translated the lyrics off the pages and onto the screen. With that being said the one that has been stuck in my head the most is “Nothing You Can Take From Me”. I think this song especially showcases not only the strength that Lucy Gray has when we first hear her sing it but also how much we miss by not seeing more of the Covey when they join her the second time she sings it, full-out performing the fantastic folk song. I think the song perfectly displays the duality of Lucy Gray’s character, her resilience, along with the bubbly bright side that her family brings out in her. 

Ashley - Obviously, “The Hanging Tree” immediately hit home with me considering that that’s from the original series so I do have a special place in my heart for the absolutely GORGEOUS new version we got. But, I will say, I think my favorite was probably “The Old Therebefore”. One of the reasons was most definitely due to the pure power and strength that Rachel Zegler put behind the song as she sang it. It was, in one word, breathtaking. That specific part of the scene where Lucy Gray looks straight into the camera and sings at it has not left my brain for one minute since seeing the film.

How many Peeta edits do you get on your TikTok FYP (specifically variations on the whistle video)?

Lucy - It’s every other video at this point. Honestly, I don’t even mind I think they’re hilarious. My FYP right now is just Hunger Games edits and Josh Hutcherson “Whistle” videos. 

Ashley - An endless amount and I’m thankful for it. I hope they never stop (especially the Josh Hutcherson “Whistle” ones).

Do you think that, overall, the movie was adapted well from the book?

Lucy - Absolutely! In my opinion, it’s the best adaptation out of the entire series, and I’m so glad it’s been so successful. Being able to watch the story of the book unfold in front of me on the silver screen was just fantastic. The Hunger Games renaissance is upon us and I couldn’t be happier. 

Ashley - For SURE! Besides Catching Fire, I think that this was one of, if not, the best out of the entire series that was adapted (so echoing what Lucy said). I got to see it early at the NYC premiere event and immediately after I left the theater and bought a ticket for another showing. It was phenomenal getting to see a novel adapted so well to the screen as that doesn’t seem to happen often in a truthful manner anymore.

Final thoughts?

Lucy - Just go see it. If you like The Hunger Games at all go see the movie. Read the book too. It’s so cool to see what is written come to life throughout the film, and there are so many moments that are adapted line by line. 

Ashley - The entire cast is amazing. Not a single person faltered once and everyone brought their character from page to screen so well. Please go check out the film if you’re even the least bit interested- even if you haven’t seen the original series! And, if you want even more, you should read the novel itself. It is so wild to see everything through Snow’s point-of-view be accompanied by the insane words of his inner thoughts. Suzanne Collins, you are a genius.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is out in theaters now! Check it out!

Written and Interviewed by Lucy Anderson

Our Flag Means Death: Season 2

In the Spring of 2022, HBO Max released the first season of Our Flag Means Death in weekly installments. The show grew traction due to its comedy and diversity, and queer fans flocked to it. Many people were worried it would end up as another case of queerbaiting, though we were all pleasantly surprised to find that there was no baiting involved. The first season ended on a cliffhanger, and everyone waited eagerly for news of a renewal for a second season. HBO, however, was going through the process of transitioning to just Max, and many of the original shows were at risk of being canceled. There was no news for Our Flag Means Death for months, though the cast, crew, and fans remained hopeful. It wasn’t until June that it was officially announced to have been renewed–which was a fitting announcement for Pride Month–and throughout the year we got little hints regarding the second season’s production.

Word got out that we would only be getting eight episodes for season two, as opposed to the ten in the first season, which instantly made fans a bit worried about what was in store. The show’s episodes are only about a half hour, so they would definitely be working on a time crunch. Still, after the uncertainty of the previous year and the revival of the show’s fanbase, fans were mostly optimistic, as we knew that the cast and crew really cared about the show.

Warning: from here on out, there will be spoilers!

It was announced that the season would premiere with three episodes and would continue to release two episodes a week. It was exciting, especially for fans like myself who kind of prefer when streaming platforms release everything at once. The first few episodes set things up pretty well, though it was clear that things were moving pretty fast. Zheng Yi Sao was a great new addition to the cast, and I think it’s funny that the writers don’t care much about historical accuracy, since the real pirate queen didn’t live for several decades after Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet died in real life. I was a tad thrown off by her relationship with Oluwande, though I think this and several other things I thought were underdeveloped were mostly due to their lack of time. Similarly, Jim and Archie’s relationship felt very sudden, and though it wasn’t at all bad, I just wish we had been able to see more of them. This also seemed like a great opportunity for a polyamorous relationship to be explored, but if that was going to be something they wanted to explore, I think they just didn’t have the time to develop it. Jim and Olu made weird comments about them being more like family than romantic partners, which I thought was… an interesting choice, given how compelling they made their relationship in season one.

A lot of characters who were pretty important in season one got pushed to the background this season, to the point where barely any characters were given much of a character arc. While Stede and Ed are obviously the main characters, there was still plenty of a focus on the rest of the crew in season one that was not present this season. The most of an arc we got for any character was Izzy’s, which, to be fair, was very good. I was a bit of an Izzy hater in season one, and honestly, he wasn’t supposed to be super likable then. Season two really sold me on his character, though, and his relationship to the crew was very well done and heartfelt. This season dealt with disability in a very positive light, as well, in having the crew step up to craft Izzy a prosthetic leg when his was cut off. He was no less capable for it, and it made him much closer to the crew.

If for whatever reason you’re still reading this and haven’t seen season two and don’t want to be spoiled further, begone! I cannot write this article without discussing Izzy’s death. I, like many other fans, was extremely jarred by this and did not like this decision by the writers at all. Many of my issues with this season stemmed from issues of money and pacing, but this was the one writing problem I had. The season made Izzy such a compelling and interesting character with very complex relationships to so many of the characters, and he seemed like he was constantly at risk of dying and kept pulling through. When what finally took him out was a sudden gunshot wound, I think it’s fair for fans to be a bit startled, especially considering Lucius and Pete’s matelotage happened immediately after. We had no time to process any of the scenes that were meant to be very emotional in the last episode, and I was a bit stunned when the finale ended. The episode was totally setting up Izzy’s death with his touching monologue about not fitting in and the crew being a family, but it honestly could have worked just as well for Izzy to have become the new captain of the Revenge.

I had plenty of issues with this season, but don’t get me wrong, I still found plenty to enjoy. Ed and Stede were just as great of a couple as they were in season one, even if their story felt rushed. There were plenty of callbacks and parallels to the first season that worked really well. As I mentioned before, we had some cool new characters introduced, like Zheng Yi Sao and Archie, as well as Mary Read and Anne Bonny who made an appearance in one episode. I definitely liked the season; I just wish it had been given more time. It’s still a really fun show, which I think can be forgotten in the more hard-hitting moments, as it is ultimately a comedy, and I’m curious to hear if we’ll be getting another season after the way this one ended.

Written by Alec Conwell

Songs for the Crazy and Young; A guide to Hana Bryanne

Written by Toni Desiree

Photography by Khami (Khameron) Auerbach

It’s January of 2021, and I'm suffering immensely, AKA I'm a second-semester junior, who has no clue what she wants to do after high school nor what the world will even look like. I had been scrolling for anywhere between hours and days with the blended reality of what the world was vs. what was just my computer. My existence at this point and time, was me, my laptop, and three apps on my phone. My existence was online classes from 8-4 and rotting away at home from 4-10, but it was winter break so it was time to change things up. Now I was sad from 4-8 and scrolling from 10-4. Upon my scrolling, I found what felt like a tissue. I say tissue because it didn't feel like someone distracting me or making me feel like I should rush this feeling away, it felt like someone giving me a tissue and letting me be sad, to feel seen like that in under a minute is life-changing.

The life-changing part was her explanation of the lyrics. In her words, the song “Klepto” was “a super angsty song about the feeling of being fifteen and terribly sad”. I felt so connected because, at this point in life, I had been everything she discussed, even though I just turned sixteen, I had spent more time being 15 and sad than being 16 and assured so this was my perfect territory. Although she's not the first to write a song like this, Taylor Swift’s and Goldroom’s songs of the same name, “Fifteen”, coming to mind, she is the first to take it seriously in an unashamed, delicate, and complex way.

In a 59-second Tiktok, she took the words and feelings from my mind and put a melody of soft yet melancholy tones right there for everyone to see, and in even less than that she explained how okay it was to be that, feel that, and allow that, she connected words to feelings I thought only I had shared and made it into music. Today, more than two years later, I got to speak with her before the release of her upcoming album Dollface.

1) Hi, Let’s start with an introduction. Who is Hana Bryanne?

I'm Hana Bryanne. I'm a musician and writer from California, currently based in Los Angeles.

2) Dollface is going to be your debut album, congrats by the way, my first question is, what does this album represent for you?

Thank you! This album is my little baby. I've been writing it for a long time now; basically, since my first EP was finished in 2020. It's a collection of songs that I think really honestly chronicles my past few years. I moved to New York and then left. My mom got sick and then better and then sick and then better again. I fell in love and it all crashed down around me. There's just been a lot of changes in my life, so now that I'm hitting this point of stillness it's nice to look back on this album and exhale a little. It also feels reclamatory to sing about the violence my body has been subjected to in beautiful songs that belong just to me.

3) What approach did you take when it came to creating Dollface?

In comparison to writing it, which I did alone, and it just kind of poured out of me, making this record took a long time. I was working with a few collaborators, including Carter Jahn, Max Bienert, and Ritwik Krishnan, and I was also working a lot so I could afford to live in LA. We would often work in the evenings after I got off my day job. It's nice to be able to sort of let things marinate in the mornings after; I had a lot of time to listen back to board bounces and think about the direction I wanted to go with the songs. It'll be interesting to try something different next time and do some more live tracking, but for my first big project like this, I preferred having the cushion of plenty of time.

4) You recently went on tour, What was it like performing your songs live with a crowd for the first time?

Crazy magical. People have just been so lovely. I grew up in the theatre, and I was a ballet dancer even up through college, so I've spent my whole life performing and it's truly my favorite thing to do. Everything that's happened in the past few years just feels so much more real when I'm standing on stage in front of people who, like, know the words to my songs. I'm not sure how I got so lucky.

5) As the oldest and only girl, I find your songs more relatable than I'd like to admit which is funny, because you're the youngest sister, How do you find the reception of your music and audience different from what you might've expected?

That's funny. I think I've realized recently that as much as I cling to the "youngest daughter" moniker, I'm actually a somewhat nontraditional youngest daughter, so maybe it makes sense that my work speaks to your oldest daughter sensibilities. There are a few things I sing about frequently that I knew in concept that other people, especially young women, would relate to, like sexual violence, but obviously knowing and experiencing are very different things. It comforts me to know that I'm not alone in wanting to sing and scream about these things that have happened to me. I think when the album comes out it'll be interesting to see how people respond to "Clementine", which is a song of which people have gotten attached to the demo version, either at shows or via the Internet. It sounds really different on the record, but in a way that I just adore. That's probably my favorite song on the album, so I'm stoked for people to hear that one when it comes out.

6) When you wrote “klepto” you were 18, and now you’re 21, how has life changed for you from then compared to now?

Immeasurably. I mean, even just looking at how that song in particular changed my life, it really gave me an audience, one that I'm so grateful for. The material facts of my life are so different now; I live in a new city and am surrounded almost entirely by people I didn't know at 18, people I adore. Internally too, I'm so different now. I'm happier for sure. I haven't slowed down at all, though. The ambition and hunger have only really grown.

7) If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Usually, the answer to most problems is that you should break up with your boyfriend because he probably sucks. Even if he's not a bad guy, he still probably sucks. Also, get a good lawyer.

8) You give such weight to words in a way I don't see a lot of artists do, is there any song you'd like to give an explanation to that you haven't dissected or spoken about before, or maybe give an early explanation to one on Dollface?

That's very kind, thank you. I think my favorite lyric on the album is probably "Come on, baby, try me/I can show you what dramatic is" which is from "Lake Michigan". It's pretty self-explanatory but it's my favorite so I love to call attention to it! That whole song is rather tongue-in-cheek. The second pre-chorus is just about bad sex: "He made an honest woman out of some hot-tempered thing/Yeah, they pay me by the hour just to stare up at the ceiling".

9) Outside of songwriting you also write such wonderful poetry and essays about girlhood, growing up, and society, in what ways has your writing shaped your music, and vice versa?

I think they all sort of play into the same world. The essays have served as quasi-companion pieces to the album. I have a lot to say, and it feels great that my voice is being valued. I think being a writer helped to sow my confidence in regard to dealing with men in the music industry. Of course, this should never have been the default assumption in the first place, but it helped me to stand up for myself and be like "No, actually, I'm not stupid and I'm not vapid or self-obsessed and I really do know what I'm talking about more than you do because this is my work." It was hard for me to get there, but the writing helped fuel that fire in me. It also is a really great place to work things out conceptually. Songwriting requires more concision than essays. There's not as much real estate. It's helpful to see the ideas as very sprawling, like an essay or poem form, before paring down to just the protein of the thing in the music.

10) My last question for you is, if you could ask your future self anything, what would it be?

Oh god. I don't think I'd really want to know anything. What are the winning lottery numbers, maybe?

Dollface comes out September 15th, and the rest of Hana Bryanne is available to stream on her Spotify. Her writing, music, and her socials, are all linked below. Hana will be playing at the Sultan Room on November 26th in NYC, tickets to her show are on sale now.

Substack

Spotify

Instagram

TikTok

If you enjoyed this article and want to read more like it, this and many others are also available on 47magazine.com

Written by Toni Desiree

Photography by Khami (Khameron) Auerbach