Warning: Spoilers ahead for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!BeforeBeetlejuice 2released, I couldn’t wait to see how Delia and Lydia’s relationship had evolved since the original 1988 movie ended. Catherine O’Hara and Winona Ryder were two ofBeetlejuice 2’s returning cast members,reuniting with Michael Keaton and director Time Burton for the sequel set 36 years after the first movie debuted. Delia and Lydia were never exactly close inBeetlejuice, especially after Charles movedthe Deetz familyto Winter River without their say in the matter. Still, I had hoped Delia would grow closer to her stepdaughter followingBeetlejuice’s original ending.
If not a stronger bond, I was excited to seehowBeetlejuice 2would present Delia and Lydia’s relationship, even more so after Jenna Ortega joined the movie as Lydia’s teenage daughter, Astrid. There was no chance that Delia would go on to fully see eye to eye with Lydia; the two characters are just too different. But based on their shared experiences in the original movie, I assumed there would be a better understanding between the two. Not only did the sequel pay off my hopes, butBeetlejuice 2’s endingput an interesting twist on the future of Delia and Lydia’s relationship.
Delia & Lydia’s Evolved Relationship Was One Of My Favorite Aspects Of Beetlejuice 2
A Lot Has Changed For The Deetz Family Since 1988
Delia and Lydia’s complicated relationship was a fun element of Tim Burton’s 1988 movie. Catherine O’Hara’s character wasn’t necessarily the evil stepmother archetype, but she certainly didn’t put much effort into bonding with Lydia. Nearly 40 years later,Beetlejuice 2depicted Delia and Lydia as somewhat closer, likely due to the fact that Lydia was now an adult and a mother. And when I say “closer,” I mean they tolerated each other and showed that they cared for one another from a distance.
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In fact, one of my favorite scenes with Delia and Lydia acknowledged when their relationship changed, with Lydia claiming that Delia started to like her after she became famous. Delia quipped that she began to like Lydia before that, hilariously admitting that she didn’t like her stepdaughter during the events of the first movie. The scene also revealed that Lydia’s birth mother is still alive, finally solving mybiggest mystery surrounding the Deetz family leading intoBeetlejuice 2.Despite the evolved relationship, Delia was still brutally honest regarding her family.
Delia Provided Lydia With Family Support
Of course, it’s important to note thatBeetlejuice 2heavily focused on three generations of Deetz women, with Astrid joining the mix. Before Ortega’s character even appeared onscreen, Delia questioned whether they needed to inform Astrid about Charles' death, indicating that Delia was well aware of her step-granddaughter’s gloomy demeanor.Astrid’s attitude toward Lydia inBeetlejuice 2was an exciting aspect of the sequel, butI was pleasantly surprised by how much Delia supported Lydia regarding the strained mother-daughter relationship.
As Lydia continued to struggle with Astrid, it was Delia who provided support, questioning what happened to the “obnoxious little goth girl” who would always give her hell.
When Astrid wouldn’t answer her mother’s calls, Delia took it upon herself to get Astrid’s attention by yelling at her from outside the window of her boarding school. Delia even told Astrid to stop torturing Lydia, something that she had experienced from Lydia decades prior. As Lydia continued to struggle with Astrid, it was Delia who provided support, questioning what happened to the “obnoxious little goth girl” who would always give her hell. I can’t help but think that the sequence was Delia’s odd way of reminding Lydia that she was stronger than she thought.
What Delia’s Fate Means For The Deetz Family
While I’m glad Delia and Lydia’s relationship in the sequel paid off as I had hoped, I wish there was more screen time between O’Hara and Ortega.By the events ofBeetlejuice 2, Delia was more equipped to deal with teenagers, so she seemed to have a better relationship with Astrid at the onset. It also helped that Delia and Astrid felt the same way about Rory, with both realizing how truly awful he was for Lydia. Unfortunately,Delia was killed off inBeetlejuice 2just before the three Deetz women became a stronger family unit.
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AfterBeetlejuice 2’s “MacArthur Park” scene, the trio of Delia, Lydia, and Astrid stood strong against threats from the Neitherworld. Though Keaton’s character was sent back to the afterlife, Delia couldn’t stick around. Lydia was visibly upset when learning about her stepmother’s fate beforeDelia claimed that she would haunt Lydia and Astrid after reuniting with Charles, which opens the door for O’Hara’s return inBeetlejuice 3. However, it’s a shame that Delia had to leave Lydia and Astrid as they began a new chapter in their relationship.
