Warning: Spoilers ahead for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!Before the Deetz family to Winter River without their say in the matter. Still, I had hoped Delia would grow closer to her stepdaughter following Beetlejuice's original ending.

If not a stronger bond, I was excited to see Beetlejuice 2's ending put 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

Winona Ryder as Lydia looking shocked and Catherine O'Hara as Delia shouting in sadness in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Custom Image by Grant Hermanns

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 2 depicted 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 itting 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 my biggest mystery surrounding the Deetz family leading into Beetlejuice 2. Despite the evolved relationship, Delia was still brutally honest regarding her family.

Delia's Reaction To Lydia & Astrid's Strained Relationship Was A Fun Surprise

Delia Provided Lydia With Family

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Of course, it's important to note that Beetlejuice 2 heavily focused on three generations of Deetz women, with Astrid ing 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 in Beetlejuice 2 was an exciting aspect of the sequel, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much Delia ed Lydia regarding the strained mother-daughter relationship.

As Lydia continued to struggle with Astrid, it was Delia who provided , 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 , 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

Delia Had One Last Important Family Moment Before Returning To The Afterlife

Delia, Astrid, and Lydia looking at the ground in Beetlejuice 2
Warner Bros. Pictures
 

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 of Beetlejuice 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 in Beetlejuice 2 just before the three Deetz women became a stronger family unit.

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After Beetlejuice 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 before Delia claimed that she would haunt Lydia and Astrid after reuniting with Charles, which opens the door for O'Hara's return in Beetlejuice 3. However, it's a shame that Delia had to leave Lydia and Astrid as they began a new chapter in their relationship.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Film Poster
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
PG-13
Comedy
Supernatural
Fantasy
Horror
Release Date
September 6, 2024

Cast
Danny DeVito, Sami Slimane, Amy Nuttall, Mark Heenehan, Charlie Hopkinson, Liv Spencer, Skylar Park, Matthew Lyons, Jane Leaney, David Ayres, Sophie Holland, Walles Hamonde
Runtime
104 Minutes
Director
Tim Burton
Writers
Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Mike Vukadinovich, Seth Grahame-Smith, Michael McDowell, Larry Wilson
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures