Some people genuinely want Betelgeuse and Lydia to end up together in the next Beetlejuice movie, including Winona Ryder, but the relationship should go in an entirely different direction. Ryder was one of Beetlejuice 2‘s returning characters alongside Michael Keaton’s Betelgeuse, which allowed the pair to reunite onscreen after 36 years. This time, however, Lydia didn’t have Adam and Barbara Maitland around to protect her from the “trickster demon.” Betelgeuse changed since we last saw him stuck in the Neitherworld waiting room, but that doesn’t mean he belongs with Lydia.
I’m sure we can all agree that Betelgeuse was a flat-out creep in Tim Burton’s original movie from 1988. Granted, he was a sleazy character meant to serve as the problematic presence in the movie, so his demeanor made sense at the time. With all that said, the fact that Betelgeuse wanted to marry Lydia, who was around 16 at the time, is one aspect of the original movie that hasn’t aged very well. With Beetlejuice 2 giving the тιтular character some redeeming qualities, the potential romantic pairing has led to an interesting debate.
There’s Still Debate About Whether Betelgeuse & Lydia Should End Up Together
A Lot Of Beetlejuice Fans Support A Betelgeuse-Lydia Love Story
Following the release of Beetlejuice 2, there’s been an increase in fans supporting a Betelgeuse and Lydia romance. Whereas Betelgeuse pined for Lydia for over 30 years following the events of Beetlejuice, Lydia wanted to forget he ever existed. Unfortunately for Lydia, she had no choice but to ask him for help in the sequel when Astrid got caught up in a dangerous situation. Their reunion nearly ended in another wedding ceremony in Beetlejuice 2‘s ending, leaving some realizing how much they had hoped Betelgeuse and Lydia would have a romantic relationship.
While the possibility of Betelgeuse and Lydia ending up together might be unthinkable to some, Winona Ryder is on the side that supports the idea. Before Beetlejuice 2 was released, Ryder admitted to supporting the Betelgeuse and Lydia relationship, but she made it a point to call the idea “crazy.” As true as that might be for some, including myself, who just can’t see the romantic connection between the characters, it’s interesting to see the push for a potential Beetlejuice 3 to give Lydia and “The Ghost with the Most” an endgame situation.
Why A Betelgeuse & Lydia Romance Would Never Make Sense
Lydia Is Still Haunted By Betelgeuse
Logically, a romance between Betelgeuse and Lydia wouldn’t work, seeing as one is stuck to the confines of the afterlife while the other is still living. Sure, we all know that Lydia can communicate with the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, but that doesn’t mean a romance with a ᴅᴇᴀᴅ demon would be possible, even with her abilities. I also can’t see justifying Lydia’s death or Betelgeuse’s resurrection attempt (again) as the way to get them together. More than anything, however, I can’t get past Lydia’s past encounters with Betelgeuse and her current feelings towards him if it meant supporting a potential relationship.
Even after sending him back to the afterlife a second time, Beetlejuice 2‘s dream sequence proved that Lydia had nightmares of Betelgeuse still being around.
Aside from the lingering concern that Betelgeuse was excited to marry a teenager, it’s impossible to ignore Lydia’s uncomfortable behavior when around him. She wasn’t necessarily afraid of him when they first met, but Lydia certainly didn’t enjoy being in his presence. Fast-forward 36 years and Lydia was still haunted by his existence, fearing his inevitable return. Even after sending him back to the afterlife a second time, Beetlejuice 2‘s dream sequence proved that Lydia had nightmares of Betelgeuse still being around. Surely, that mindset wouldn’t set the foundation for a good romantic relationship between the two.
Beetlejuice 3 Should Copy The Cartoon By Making Betelgeuse & Lydia Friends
The Franchise Still Has A Way To Reunite The Characters
As much as I’m against Betelgeuse and Lydia ending up together romantically, I actually do want to see the two explore a different side of their relationship. Following the first movie’s release, the Beetlejuice franchise continued through a cartoon spinoff, but in this depiction, Betelgeuse and Lydia were friends who embarked on misadventures throughout the Neitherworld. Beetlejuice 3 would benefit by copying the cartoon’s approach to Betelgeuse and Lydia’s relationship, leaning into a growing friendship rather than the divisive and questionable romantic path.
Interestingly, Beetlejuice 2 paid off the cartoon’s character team-up by having Betelgeuse and Lydia working together in the afterlife to save Astrid. In typical Betelgeuse fashion, he manipulated Lydia a bit in an attempt to get something out of the deal before agreeing to help, but in his defense, Betelgeuse did hold up his end of the bargain. If it wasn’t for Betelgeuse, Jeremy may have carried out his villainous plan in Beetlejuice 2, leaving Astrid stuck in the afterlife. It would be fun to see Betelgeuse stop chasing after a marriage with Lydia and instead let Beetlejuice 3 explore a potential path that would allow the duo to become unlikely friends.
