"Going by the traditional Hollywood rules, make no mistake: Peeta is a Movie Girlfriend."

I just tweeted this link, but it's a really thought-provoking essay (and then there are the comments, ZOMGGGGG), so I don't want you non-Twitter folks to miss out:

Peeta is Pepper Potts and Gwen Stacy, helping and helping and helping until the very end, when it's time for the stakes, and the stakes are: NEEDS RESCUE. Peeta is Annie in Speed, who drives that bus like a champ right up until she winds up handcuffed to a pole covered with explosives. Peeta is Holly in Die Hard, who holds down the fort against the terrorists until John McClane can come and find her (and she can give back her maiden name).

In fact, you could argue that Katniss' conflict between Peeta and Gale is effectively a choice between a traditional Movie Girlfriend and a traditional Movie Boyfriend. Gale, after all, is the one whose bed she winds up steadfastly sitting beside after she helps bind his wounds. Gale explains the revolution to her. She puts up a plan to run; Gale rebuffs it because he presumes himself to know better. Gale is jealous and brooding about his standing with her; Peeta is just sad and contemplative.

Comments

[Michelle]

Well, I just took a ride on the crazy train and read every.single.comment after the article. Why did I not listen to your warning???

[Leila]

WOW. I didn't even make it all of the way through because some of them made me want to throw my laptop out the window!

[Michelle]

What can I say, I'm a "cut off my nose to spite my face" kind of girl. But honestly when I fall into a comment rabbit hole like that I usually tell myself that most of those people don't ACTUALLY feel that way, they are just trolling. This prevents me from weeping for the human race or take a long walk off a short pier.