The Right Way To Watch The Divergent Series In Order

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As a longtime lover of dystopian young-adult fiction and someone who spent countless hours engrossed in the pages of “Divergent,” I can’t help but feel a pang of melancholy when I think about the series that could have been. Having grown up with Harry Potter and Katniss Everdeen, I eagerly anticipated the escapades of Beatrice Prior, only to find myself somewhat disappointed as the story progressed.

During the 2010s’ early years, teen dystopian dramas became extremely popular. The phenomenal success of Suzanne Collins’ novel “The Hunger Games” and its sequels “Catching Fire” and “Mockingjay,” all of which were adapted into highly successful films, sparked a trend. Many other adaptations like “The Maze Runner,” “The Giver” (with a brief appearance by a young Taylor Swift), and “Ender’s Game” were produced as a result. The “Divergent” series also came out during this time, although it didn’t fare well after the initial movie had a moderate success.

Let me clarify the sequence of events regarding the Divergent movie series. The first film was released in 2014 and was an adaptation of Veronica Roth’s popular young adult dystopian novel with the same title. The movie boasts a talented cast, including Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, Theo James, Tony Goldwyn, Ashley Judd, and Academy Award winner Kate Winslet. The storyline is intriguing as well. Despite this promising start, the series produced four more movies. However, the titles do not clearly indicate the correct order, so let me help you sort it out.

What is the Divergent series about?

In the world of “Divergent,” it shares similarities with both “The Hunger Games” and “Harry Potter.” The story begins with Beatrice Prior, played by Shailene Woodley, who is preparing to take an assessment test. This test, triggered by a serum, determines which faction she belongs to for life, as she makes a permanent commitment during the Choosing Ceremony. Interestingly, despite her family being from Abnegation (the faction symbolizing selflessness), with her father Andrew (Tony Goldwyn) even leading the faction, Tris’ test results reveal that she is ‘divergent,’ possessing qualities that could fit into any of the four other factions: Dauntless (boldness), Erudite (intellect), Candor (honesty), and Amity (compassion).

Essentially, Tris makes a decision that separates her from her family forever by joining Dauntless, which might have been more than she could handle. Accompanying other newcomers like Christina and Peter from Candor (played by Zoë Kravitz and Miles Teller), Tris learns to become a brave and fearless warrior under the guidance of Eric Coulter, the intimidating leader of Dauntless, and his deputy Four (Theo James). Fortunately for Tris, Four recognizes her abilities, even as he continues to push her hard during regular “fear training” sessions (similar to those of the other trainees) to make her stronger.

In the thick of it all, I find myself among those who uncover a shocking truth: our factions are engaged in war. The ruthless leader of the Erudite, Jeanine Matthews (played by Kate Winslet), orchestrates an insidious plot to manipulate numerous Dauntless recruits into cold-blooded murder of those in Abnegation. However, here’s a twist: the serum she uses to brainwash the Dauntless fails on anyone who exhibits Divergence. In this chaotic situation, my friends Four and I, both divergent individuals, thwart Jeanine’s sinister plan. Yet, in this struggle for survival, I tragically lose not only my father but also my mother Natalie (portrayed by Ashley Judd). With heavy hearts, we escape the ensuing turmoil together.

Here’s the best way to watch the Divergent series in order

A year following the release of the initial “Divergent” film, which garnered mixed critical responses but proved profitable at the box office, its sequel titled “The Divergent Series: Insurgent” premiered in 2015. In the wake of Jeanine Matthews’ failed attack, she proclaims anyone associated with Dauntless as an enemy, forcing Tris and Four into hiding; during their evasion from their adversaries in Erudite and other factions, they strive to comprehend why Jeanine targeted Abnegation initially and why Erudite is so determined on pursuing this war. During their journey, Four and Tris also explore the Factionless camp, a deprived region inhabited by those not belonging to any factions, and the inhabitants there rally to support their mission.

Sadly for Tris, her brother Caleb (Ansel Elgort) has completely switched sides to Erudite, turning against her. This leads Tris to face a series of tests at Jeanine’s behest to prove she’s genuinely Divergent. While Tris and Four discover the truth — that every faction participant is simply part of an isolated experiment — they manage to imprison Jeanine. Despite their success in “Insurgent”, these events pave the way for the third installment, “The Divergent Series: Allegiant.

Lionsgate tried to divide the story of “Allegiant” into two films, following the trend set by “Harry Potter” and “The Hunger Games” who also split their final installments. However, this decision marked the end of the franchise. The first part, titled “Allegiant – Part 1,” centered around Four and Tris exploring the world beyond their enclosed experiment and encountering its threats. Unfortunately, “Allegiant – Part 1” flopped at the box office so severely that the series ended instantly. A sequel, renamed “Ascendant,” was never released, and attempts to adapt it into a Starz miniseries also failed.

What’s next for the Divergent series (if anything)?

It’s extremely unlikely that there will be any additional films in the “Divergent” series due to Shailene Woodley’s comments about the decline in quality and difficult experiences during filming. In a 2018 interview with Net-a-Porter, she expressed her dissatisfaction with the movies, saying they made her reconsider her career and consider quitting acting altogether. However, she also mentioned that her role in HBO’s “Big Little Lies” reignited her passion for acting.

In a 2020 interview with Dax Shepard on his “Armchair Expert” podcast, Zoë Kravitz, Woodley’s co-star, expressed that the “Divergent” films were not among her favorite projects and as the series progressed, she felt the story lost its direction, making it difficult to continue. The comment suggests that future “Divergent” productions are unlikely, given the decline in popularity of dystopian young-adult content and the financial struggles Lionsgate faced with “Allegiant”.

It’s possible that a remake could happen for some franchises from the teen dystopian era of the 2010s, but only “The Hunger Games” has truly thrived and continues to be popular (the prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” was successful both critically and commercially, and another book featuring Haymitch Abernathy is on its way). In any event, if you’re planning to watch the Divergent series, start with “Divergent,” move on to “Insurgent,” and finish with “Allegiant.” Unfortunately, the film adaptation of the story arc did not receive a complete conclusion.

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2024-11-20 22:32