12. The Romance Was Short-Lived, But Then It Isn't, Sort Of
The first Hunger Games established that Katniss and Peeta's relationship, which was initially designed to be all for the cameras to manipulate sponsors and the system to ensure both their survival was growing beyond artifice into something very much real. But by the start of Catching Fire, Katniss has reset to her will-they-won't-they romantic affair with best friend Gale (Liam Hemsworth, who is probably grateful to be attached to someone less unhinged than his former real life girlfriend and her tongue,) and Peeta is relegated to being a sort of hang-dog in the background making biscuits and bread for everyone. The pair are forced to continue the pretence of their romance by President Snow, and eventually, the old feelings of romance return when they are once more in peril, especially when Peeta once again ends up flirting with death every couple of minutes (he's the equivalent of the Hunger Games tamagotchi in that respect.) The Baker Boy is pretty badly sold down the river by the film, as he is presented as resourceful and smart, but lacking in any kind of physical presence to back that up, and he is the epitome of the blunted knife, so immasculated is he by Katniss' cold treatment of him. Josh Hutcherson does well with the material, even if it's hard to really root for him even when he's falling over himself to be selfless and adorable, because he's just so wet. It's hard to tell whether Katniss actually cares for either of the men vying for her attention, given how willingly she falls into either of their arms whenever they give her so much as a suggestive glance, but it's painfully obvious where the romantic story will end, even for viewers who haven't actually read the final book.