Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!In many ways, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice captures the spirit of the original, and that extends to Beetlejuice’s persistent desire to marry Lydia. The sequel took 36 years to make, and it was certainly worth the wait as Michael Keaton’s тιтular character is defeated again at the end of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, though the demon returns to the Netherworld with far less resistance than we saw in Tim Burton’s cult classic. The confirmation of Beetlejuice 3 from Warner Bros. executives can only make us wonder what will come next for the Deetz family, as Lydia’s inevitable reunion with Betelgeuse approaches.
The original film never fails to deliver on the “strange and unusual,” with interesting set designs and new wacky characters that ultimately make Beetlejuice so popular. The sequel sees Lydia and her family return to Winter River after the death of her father, Charles. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice significantly changes Lydia’s character and, in turn, brings about an evolution in the demon’s character. However, the heart of these films still lies in the dynamic between Lydia and Betelgeuse, a connection that the sequel’s events have made far more interesting. As a result, it seems Betelgeuse’s true intentions run much deeper than they initially appear.
Beetlejuice Tried To Marry Lydia In The First Movie To Escape The Afterlife
Beetlejuice’s Intentions Were Entirely Self-Serving In The First Movie
Regardless of Betelgeuse’s intentions, his behavior in Burton’s 1988 movie felt quite concerning considering Lydia was only 17 years old. While it’s not necessarily a justification for his actions, his reasons for wanting to take the “strange and unusual” girl’s hand in marriage were made quite clear multiple times. The trickster demon was not so inclined to marry Lydia for who she was, but instead, because of what she could give to him. The first film centers around Betelgeuse’s ploy to break from the constraints of the Netherworld and return to the living realm — and Lydia was a seemingly easy target.
In fact, there were numerous instances throughout the cult classic where which Betelgeuse clearly finds the task inconvenient and incredibly difficult. The original movie provides the context for the situation, with it becoming clear that the striped-suit demon is marrying Lydia for personal gain. At one point, the demon tells her to think of his “greencard” offer as “a marriage of inconvenience.” Not to mention, Betelgeuse’s interactions reveal a stark contrast, too. His behavior towards Barbara is often crude and inappropriate — marked by sleazy undertones. However, his dealings with Lydia, while still manipulative, are notably more controlled and lack any of these insinuations.
Lydia asks Betelgeuse for help with the Maitlands, and he clarifies the circumstances, saying, “Look, I’m what you might call an illegal alien, OK? I want out, for good. In order to do that, hey, I gotta get married. Hey, these aren’t my rules… come to think of it, I don’t have any rules. C’mon, look, you think of it as a marriage on inconvienience, OK? We both get something, I get out, you get to say you’re hitched with the most eligible bachelor since Valentino came over. We’re even, babe.”
Juno mostly explains the terms of Betelgeuse’s existence, revealing he was her ᴀssistant before he decided to become a freelance bio-exorcist and “got himself into more trouble.” To summon the demon, his name must be spoken thrice, but the curse makes him unable to utter it himself. Ultimately, this means that Betelgeuse has been trapped in the Netherworld for centuries with no way to cross into the mortal world unless summoned — which he appears to not be having much luck with. While it does not excuse his actions, it certainly provides an explanation as to why he is so determined to marry Lydia.
Beetlejuice’s Motivations In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Are More Complex
Beetlejuice Does Not Mention His End Goal In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Without question, the most intriguing element of Burton’s sequel is the introduction of the demon’s ex-wife, Delores, during the integration of Beetlejuice’s full backstory. As it was discovered, Betelgeuse was alive during the mid 17th century, during the Black Plague in Italy, making him of Italian descent. It’s quite fitting that Italian actress, Monica Bellucci, plays Delores, who we see murder him as part of her soul-sucking death cult in a flashback. In the sequel, Betelgeuse is desperate to escape his ex-wife, and strikes another deal with Lydia, which appears to shift his motivations in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
That being said, the chaotic force does not seem set on escaping the afterlife this time around. While still acting in his own interest, the shift in Betelgeuse’s behavior in the sequel is accompanied by a more deliberate and calculated thought process. Interestingly, he never mentions his desire to escape the Netherworld in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, but focuses his efforts on making contact with the Deetz family, namely Lydia, once again. This makes us wonder whether his attempts to marry Lydia were for escape alone — or whether, three decades after their first encounter, it could have evolved into something entirely different.
Does Beetlejuice Actually Love Lydia In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice?
Beetlejuice May Have Developed Genuine Feelings For Lydia Deetz
During Beetlejuice’s introductory scene in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, he speaks of a “definite psychic connection” with Lydia. This information is quickly followed by the revelation that “long distance relationships can be difficult, especially when one of you is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, and the other is ignoring you for 30 years.” Far from being insignificant, the throwaway line implies Betelgeuse has been attempting to reach Lydia for over three decades since their initial encounter. Without more context about these encounters, it’s hard to be certain, but it’s plausible that Betelgeuse developed feelings for her during this time, which led to the events of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
It’s hard to believe Betelgeuse would go to such lengths to contact Lydia over so many years simply to escape the living world. Given his power, it’s likely that he would have had the means to find another escape route through someone else, paticularly after 30 years. Though still unsettling, the picture of her on Betelgeuse’s desk at his afterlife call center suggests his commitment to Lydia stems from something far more significant, revealing a surprisingly profound bond. Even though Betelgeuse’s is known for his theatrics, his declaration of Lydia as the “love of [his] life” during the sequel does carry a surprising air of sincerity.
For the most part, Beetlejuice is motivated by his own heart rather than obligation — such as exposing Rory, or saving Astrid by banishing Jeremy Frazier.
The MacArthur Park dance scene clearly carries a more profound meaning, and the song was undoubtedly a deliberate choice. The last act is symbolic of Betelgeuse believing he’ll never find another love like Lydia again. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice makes significant changes to his character, too. Betelgeuse is a chaotic neutral, but in the sequel, he often leans into chaotic good in Lydia’s best interest. For the most part, Betelgeuse is motivated by his own heart rather than obligation — such as exposing Rory, or saving Astrid by banishing Jeremy Frazier. These actions signify his significant growth from Beetlejuice and imply he truly has genuine affection for Lydia Deetz.
