WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for Beetlejuice 2!
After being entirely ignored in Tim Burton’s 1988 original movie, Deetz family initially moved into the Winter River house in Beetlejuice, it was confirmed that the small clan consisted of teenager Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder), her father Charles Deetz (Jeffrey Jones), and her stepmother Delia Deetz (Catherine O’Hara). However, the fate of Lydia’s mother and the reasons for why the teen moved away to live solely with Charles were never addressed, leaving a big mystery about the family’s dynamics.
Now that Lydia and Delia have returned in Beetlejuice 2’s main cast of characters, some more pieces of the Deetz family puzzle are finally put together. As Lydia discusses the hardships of her own teenage daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), “hating” her, Delia remarks that Lydia treated her similarly at that age. The two Deetz women mention how Lydia’s mother indirectly contributed to their strained relationship in the 1988 movie, with Delia at one point even implying that Lydia’s mother died. Lydia immediately corrects Delia and states that her mother isn’t dead, but fails to mention what exactly happened to her.
Lydia's Mother Is Still Alive In Beetlejuice 2 – What Happened To Her?
Beetlejuice 2 Avoids Answering Where Exactly Lydia's Mother Is Today
After decades of mystery surrounding the fate of Lydia Deetz’s mother, Beetlejuice 2 finally confirms that she’s alive. However, Lydia’s mother still isn’t given a name and doesn’t actually appear in the sequel. Considering the fate of Lydia’s mother has been a burning question since the 1988 movie released, it’s relieving that Beetlejuice 2 confirms she’s alive while mentioning her in an organic way in the sequel. There have long been theories that Lydia’s mother was dead given her absence, so Beetlejuice 2 confirming her survival by directly denying her death is a great nod to this long-standing fan speculation.
Lydia tells Delia in Beetlejuice 2 that she resented her stepmother as a teenager for replacing her own mother, but this may have come from a place of Lydia being neglected and abandoned by her parent.
Since Lydia’s mother still isn’t included in Beetlejuice 2’s plot and is absent from Charles Deetz’s funeral and Lydia’s almost second wedding, it seems they don’t have a close relationship. Lydia’s mother is seemingly absent from her life, just as she was when Lydia was a teenager. Lydia tells Delia in Beetlejuice 2 that she resented her stepmother as a teenager for replacing her own mother, but this may have come from a place of Lydia being neglected and abandoned by her parent. While unconfirmed, it’s implied that she prioritized her new life over raising teenage Lydia after divorcing Charles.
In the Beetlejuice The Musical Broadway adaptation, Lydia's mother is revealed to have died before the Deetzes moved to Winter River. However, this musical isn't canon to the movies.
Beetlejuice 2 Still Doesn't Explain Why Lydia Didn't Live With Her Mother As A Teenager
Why Didn't Lydia's Mother Have Custody Of Her In Beetlejuice?
Though it’s now confirmed that Lydia’s mother is alive, Beetlejuice 2 doesn’t give any additional information about why teenage Lydia moved to Winter River full-time with just Charles and Delia. It’s implied that Lydia was solely raised by her father and stepmother – and, of course, the Maitlands by Beetlejuice’s 1988 ending – but seemingly didn’t visit or have much communication with her mother. Since Lydia’s mother was alive, it’s possible that she moved far away but still had with Lydia, felt Charles was better suited to raise Lydia, or tragically left the family altogether to start a new life.
-
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
7/10- Release Date
- September 6, 2024
- Runtime
- 104 Minutes
- Director
- Tim Burton
Cast
Beetlejuice
Lydia Deetz
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYBeetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now ed by Jenna Ortega in a new role.
-
Your comment has not been saved
Beetlejuice
9/10- Release Date
- March 30, 1988
- Runtime
- 92 minutes
- Director
- Tim Burton
Cast
Catherine O'Hara-
WHERE TO WATCH
RENTBUYTim Burton's Beetlejuice stars Michael Keaton as the titular "bio-exorcist", an obnoxious spirit who specializes in driving living occupants out of homes. When Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) die suddenly, they into the spirit realm, and must stay in their home. However, in the living world, the Deetz family purchases the house and moves in, prompting the Maitlands to enlist the help of Beetlejuice to drive them away.
Your comment has not been saved