Entertainment

How 'Game of Thrones' Characters Would Fare in 'The Hunger Games'

Fans of The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones know what it is to suffer pain. Having withdrawals after Jennifer Lawrence’s performance in Catching Fire, and stuck in limbo while waiting for The Winds of Winter? We’re here to help. What if we threw main characters from Game of Thrones into the brutal arena of the Hunger Games? We think of Game of Thrones characters as being pretty tough, but would they truly survive in a controlled, inhumane atmosphere? And perhaps the most important question, could they defeat Katniss?

Image: Lionsgate/HBO

by Lacy Cooke

Danaerys Targaryen

Dany’s great strength lies in her dragons, weapons the Gamemakers would never allow in the arena. However, Dany is also skilled at surrounding herself with allies. She would have to rely on that skill to survive, yet she wouldn’t be drawn to the Careers, but to players who show mercy and compassion, like Rue, Peeta, or Katniss. However, she has no proven skill with weapons, and caught on her own, face to face with a Career, she would probably die. And while she and Katniss might initially get along, Dany’s sense of entitlement would deter Katniss, to the point where Katniss would probably assassinate Dany the hundredth time she declared herself Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons.

Image: HBO

Joffrey Baratheon

Joffrey has all the makings of a Career Tribute, and he would ally himself with the Careers as soon as they entered the arena. He would be a ruthless killer as long as the kills were easy, because for all his evil, Joffrey spends more time naming his weapons than he does wielding them. His patronizing manner and unfortunate habit of commanding the other Careers would quickly make him enemies, and it would be a simple matter for one of the other Careers to serve him poisonous nightlock berries and make an end to his pitiful existence. He would not last long enough to face Katniss, but oh, how we’d love to see her kick his royal tail.

Image: HBO

Robb Stark

Skilled in swordplay and brimming with charisma, Robb would be a natural favorite going into the arena. He wouldn’t be a Career, but he would still be an important contender. However, Robb lacks the ruthlessness required to survive in the arena, and the trust he placed in his friends would be his downfall. Bereft of Grey Wind, he would walk right into a trap. And although he could probably defeat Katniss if he met her in single combat, he would not last that long in the arena.

Image: HBO

Sansa Stark

Sansa is terrible at making allies, hopeless when choosing whom to trust, and completely unskilled with blade or bow. Going into the competition, many would expect her to be one of the first to die. If she survived the initial dash for weapons and supplies, however, Sansa would surprise the Capitol. Her girlish hopes and dreams, embodied in songs of valor, would endear her to sponsors, who would send her all sorts of aid, like little silver parachute Florians. Send her against Katniss, however, and Katniss would make an easy end of the Capitol darling.

Image: HBO

Jon Snow

We all know Jon Snow knows nothing. Would he know enough to survive in the arena? Capable with weaponry, Jon nonetheless has a streak of compassion that would prevent him from killing girls, young tributes, and basically all tributes who weren’t blatantly evil. And let’s face it, if he hadn’t met Ygritte already, he’d be dazzled by Katniss. Fiery and independent, Katniss is just the type of girl he’d fall in love with, especially if there was a cave nearby. However, Katniss would not hesitate to betray him and fill him full of arrows.

Image: HBO

Arya Stark

Armed with the adages of Syrio Forel and her needlework practice, Arya would be a formidable contender in the arena. Plus, her awareness of her surroundings would make her difficult to track. However, Arya tends to search for a pack, friends whose paltry survival skills usually get the entire pack caught. If Arya and Katniss met in the arena, they would be instantly drawn to one another. They have a lot in common: both lost their families at a young age, and both are fiercely independent and willing to sacrifice. Could they be a power duo even more effective than Katniss and Peeta in the 74th Hunger Games? If they ever found themselves in a situation where one would have to kill the other, however, they wouldn’t hesitate to strike. Ultimately, Arya would rule the day. Even after the death of those she loved, Arya would never give into morphling, but continue to kill her way out of sticky situations.

Image: HBO

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