While the Hunger Games film never talked about it, the Catching Fire novel explained why she could only communicate through hand gestures. Katniss briefly mentioned that a previous stroke could have caused Mags' garbled speech. However, post-traumatic stress disorder could have also caused her speech incapacity.
Early on in Catching Fire, it was made clear that Mags didn't talk, and instead, she used hand gestures to communicate. Interestingly enough, her inability to speak was never directly explained in the movies. The book, on the other hand, insinuated that it was due to a medical condition.
Chia Mags kisses Finnick on the mouth to briefly let him know that this is the last time she will see him. It's her way of saying "Goodbye" but in a more affectionate way.
Johanna later reveals that Mags was Finnick's mentor when he won the Hunger Games, and the two of them shared a close bond – much like the one that Haymitch and Katniss share. Mags is one of the people Katniss identifies as a potential ally in the arena.
The following year after Lucy Gray Baird's victory, another female tribute emerged as the Hunger Games winner. Mags Flanagan became the first victor from District 4, living off of nuts and her survival skills by creating fishhooks. She was also the first victor to move to Victor's Village before serving as a mentor.
Given that she is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect Peeta, it's safe to assume that the Morphling was committed to the rebel cause. Like the other victors, she knows the power that Katniss has as a lightning rod for the rebellion, and she knows that Katniss will not help without Peeta.
Mags, an eighty-year-old woman, volunteered for the 75th Hunger Games in the place of Annie Cresta, becoming a tribute alongside Finnick Odair, whom she mentored in the 65th Hunger Games and (according to the book and film) practically raised.
The group eventually outruns the fog except for Mags, who sacrifices herself so that Finnick can help Katniss save Peeta. They trip and tumble down a hill but eventually stop, and Katniss watches the fog approaching. It stops just before it can get to her because it is being contained by some type of force field.
Mags is clearly aware of the plan, as Finnick has included her in their alliance. He watches after her and brings her water from the tree when she is dehydrated and exhausted. However, in order to protect Katniss, Mags sacrifices herself to the poisonous fog so that it wouldn't kill Katniss and Peeta.
After winning the games, Finnick was forced into prostitution by President Snow. He was blackmailed into going out with wealthy citizens of the Capitol for the safety of his loved ones, such as his District 4 sweetheart and fellow victor Annie Cresta (Stef Dawson).
Shortly after, we see that the tribute accompanying him from District 4, his former mentor Mags (the late Lynn Cohen), volunteered to protect him and Annie Cresta (Stef Dawson) — the love of Finnick's life.
It's a horrifying death, though Katniss puts him out of his misery when she sets off an explosion in the sewer to free him of his pain. At the time of Finnick's death, he was either only 24 or 25, making The Hunger Games loss even more devastating.
She's half-family, i.e., sorta or partially family, because there's affection but not blood relation. There are literally only 2 people in Finnick's family (Mags and Annie), and Mags is 1 of them.
(Katniss recognizes her because she was also in the forest outside District 12 when the girl was captured, and she feels guilty that she did nothing to help.) As punishment, the Capitol cut out the girl's tongue and then forced her into a life of servitude as an Avox.
Mags (Lynn Cohen) was a willing participant in the 3rd Quarter Quell. Despite knowing she wouldn't make it out of the arena alive, viewers grew fond of Mags as she was not only willing to volunteer for Annie to be in the Hunger Games, but stepped into the poisonous fog to sacrifice herself with no hesitation.
Catching Fire's Mags Flanagan was District 4's female tribute in the 75th Quarter Quell, along with male tribute, Finnick Odair. At 80-years-old, she was the oldest tribute.
Later, the two learn President Snow considered their actions to be an act of rebellion against the Capitol. After their last interview, in which the two continue to affect their romantic feelings for one another, Peeta comes to the realization Katniss has staged her love for him all along.
Finnick couldn't carry both Peeta and Mags, so Mags heroically sacrificed herself by walking into the poisonous fog to allow the group to move at a faster pace. It was later revealed Mags was part of a bigger alliance to ensure Katniss and Peeta's survival.
The 75th Hunger Games took place in 75 ATT. The 75th Hunger Games, also known as the third Quarter Quell, were rigged by President Snow in an attempt to silence the more rebellious Victors who seemed to side with rebel forces within Panem.
The silent Mags in The Hunger Games was near the end of her life and knew neither she nor Annie would make it out of the 75th Hunger Games alive, so wanted to give Annie and Finnick a chance at a life together.
Ten years later, he was reaped into the Third Quarter Quell, of which he was one of the survivors. Finnick participated in the Second Rebellion but was killed by lizard mutts during a mission to infiltrate the Capitol.
After winning the games, Snow forced Finnick into prostitution and sold his body to Capitol residents to gain their trust. Finnick only agreed to take part because Snow threatened to torture his loved ones. Even though he bedded several women throughout his time as a victor, Finnick's love for Annie remained true.
Johanna won the 71st Hunger Games by pretending to be weak and that made all the other tributes leave her for last. Then she unleashed her full potential and violently killed all the remaining tributes.
Peeta used the dyes to paint a picture of Rue after Katniss covered her with flowers when she died. He says he wants to hold them accountable for killing Rue, and Effie tells him that that kind of thinking is forbidden. Katniss then tells the team she hung a dummy of Seneca Crane.
