Who Is the Bad Guy in The Hunger Games? It’s Complicated

Is President Snow really the villain?

Well, yeah. Let’s not sugarcoat it—President Coriolanus Snow is the obvious bad guy. The dude poisons his enemies, manipulates children, and turns mass murder into national entertainment. I mean, come on. Watching kids kill each other for sport? That’s nightmare fuel.

But the more I rewatch the films (and reread the books, yes I’m that person), the more I realize: it’s not as black-and-white as I thought when I first saw it in 2012.

Actually, I had this long convo with my friend Maya last week. She’s Team “Snow is evil incarnate,” and I used to agree. But now? I’m not so sure he’s the only villain in the story. Or even the worst.

The Capitol: The real monster behind the mask

A system built on suffering

The Capitol isn’t just a city—it’s a system. One that thrives on inequality, propaganda, and fear. It’s the machine. And Snow? He’s just its most polished spokesperson.

The Games, the Districts, the Peacekeepers—they all serve one thing: control. And that’s what makes The Hunger Games so unsettling. It’s not just about one bad guy. It’s about how an entire society can turn evil into routine.

When I first watched the movies, I remember thinking the Capitol looked kinda cool—flashy outfits, wild hair, all that. But now? It’s straight-up dystopian. Like, "this could actually happen" levels of terrifying.

The people who look away

Another thing that gets under my skin: the regular Capitol citizens. Most of them aren’t evil, but they let it happen. They watch the Games like they’re the Oscars. They laugh, they cry, they bet on who’ll survive. And that kind of ignorance? It’s dangerous. It is complicity.

Plot twist: Was Coin also a villain?

Alma Coin: the rebel with... questionable morals

Okay, here’s where it gets messy. President Alma Coin, leader of the rebellion—she’s supposed to be the good one, right? The savior?

But no. Not even close.

By the end of Mockingjay, Coin basically becomes a mirror of Snow. Manipulative, power-hungry, and totally fine with killing kids (again—what is wrong with these people?!). The second she suggests holding a new Hunger Games with Capitol children, I was like… nope. She lost me there.

Katniss saw it too. That moment when she turns her arrow on Coin instead of Snow? I still get chills. That scene changed the way I saw the entire series.

Honestly, that moment made me realize: the worst villains often wear the mask of justice.

What about the Careers? Or Cato?

Victims or villains?

Some folks say the other tributes—like Cato, Clove, or Marvel—are villains too. And yeah, they kill. Some of them even enjoy it.

But here’s the thing: they’re kids. Raised in a system that taught them violence equals survival. Can you really blame a 17-year-old who’s been brainwashed since birth?

I mean, when Cato breaks down in the final moments before he dies? That hit me hard. It’s like he realized—too late—what the Games really are. That he was just a pawn the whole time.

So no, I don’t think the tributes from Districts 1 and 2 are villains. They’re tragic. And terrifying, sure—but not evil.

Final thoughts: Villains in Panem aren’t always who you think

If you’re still reading, you probably figured out I’ve got feelings about this (lol). And they’ve evolved over the years.

So—who is the bad guy in The Hunger Games? Technically, it’s President Snow. But also the Capitol. And Coin. And even the silence of those who look away.

The real villain isn’t just a person. It’s power without empathy. It’s what happens when fear and control matter more than human lives.

And honestly? That makes the story way more real—and way more haunting.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.