It’s been 11 years since The Hunger Games was released. That film helped make Jennifer Lawrence a star, kick-started a franchise and brought the world in Suzanne Collins’ books to life. The original series—four films based on three books—wrapped up in 2015. Now, eight years later, we get a return to the world.

This new film—The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes—tells the story of a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth). We begin in the midst of the war that made him an orphan. Now more than a dozen years later, Snow is a top student in the capital on the verge of a scholarship that will send him to university.

The final test for him and the rest of the top contenders in the class is to serve as a mentor to the contestants of the annual Hunger Games. He is paired with Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from District 12. Can he turn her into a star and gain himself notice in the process? Or will he get too close to Lucy and change his course?

Those are the questions and challenges in the narrative. We also get some interesting supporting turns from Peter Dinklage, as Dean Casca Highbottom, the head of the school and creator of the games. We see the toll being the creator has wrought on him. We also get Viola Davis as Dr. Volumina Gaul, head of the war department and the game-maker.

This film wants to explore the idea of the games and what it means for society. Snow’s best friend, Sejanus Plinth (Josh Andres Rivera), came from the districts and opposes the cruelty of the games. For much of the film, Snow is torn between points of view, especially as he comes to see Lucy as something more than an assignment.

The problem with prequels is we already know how it’s going to end up. The stakes for Snow are somewhat low. We know he won’t die. We also know he won’t find compassion to make a change. We’ve seen him in the later films. We know the games continue and he leans into becoming something of a villain. That makes it hard to invest in his potential as a hero.

That being said, I wasn’t sure I wanted a return to the world of Panem. It felt like the original franchise was a set of diminishing returns after the original. But this film drew me back into what worked best for me in the first film. I enjoyed the consideration of the games and what they mean and say about society.

I also appreciated Blyth in the lead role. He adds humanity and depth to Snow, while Zegler shines as Lucy Gray Baird. Her songs are beautiful and her performance as fierce. You can’t help but root for them, particularly during the game sequence.

The third act and much of the time in District 12 fell a bit flat, but this still ends up being a worthy prequel. Though you know where we’re going to end up with Snow, there is enough here to draw you into the journey.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.