I was happy to see Michael Keaton's Betelgeuse back and better than ever in Beetlejuice cast , but we also meet new characters like Astrid and Delores. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice provides the same silly dark humor of the first movie, but it also expands on its world in interesting ways.

One of my favorite additions to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was Bob. Compared to the other new characters introduced in the movie, Bob does very little, yet he makes a big impact on me because of his sweet demeanor. In an afterlife where everything is scary and unexpected, Bob defies the odds by being somewhat demure and unassuming. He doesn't scare any trick-or-treaters like his co-workers, nor does he have any schemes like Wolf Jackson. He is simply a loyal worker who puts himself at risk for his undeserving boss. Therefore, Bob's tragic death hit me especially hard.

Betelgeuse Intentionally Killing Bob Is The Worst Thing He's Done In Beetlejuice

Bob's Death Came As A Surprise

After seeing Bob's violent death in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, I couldn't help but think that it was one of the most despicable things Betelgeuse has ever done in the franchise. Despite the fact that Betelgeuse is the titular character, he is far from being a hero. The demon acts on his own desires, and even if he does some good, it is only because it aligns with his own personal schemes. In this way, it should be no surprise to see Betelgeuse putting others at risk, yet his manipulation of Bob felt particularly awful because Bob never deserved such a fate.

Just when I found my new favorite character in the Beetlejuice franchise, he was killed without any fanfare.

What makes the scenario worse is that Bob's death came as a surprise to me. Although Betelgeuse explicitly tells Bob to stand in as his decoy, I assumed Bob would somehow escape Delores' clutches. I never thought that Delores would actually suck out Bob's soul, killing him before he could garner any significant screen time. In retrospect, it makes sense that Betelgeuse wouldn't care about Bob's sacrifice, but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Just when I found my new favorite character in the Beetlejuice franchise, he was killed without any fanfare.

Why Tim Burton Thinks Bob's Death Is Deserved In Beetlejuice 2

Bob's Death Isn't Entirely Logical

Surprisingly, Tim Burton has actually spoken out about Bob's death in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. In the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice commentary, Burton says of Bob's demise, "You know what, he deserved it. There you go, kiss ass." Through this quote, Burton is saying that Bob got what was coming to him. By being completely loyal to Betelgeuse, he met the end that he deserved. Considering how evil Betelgeuse is, I totally understand where Burton is coming from. Yet, I still can't wrap my head around why Bob was characterized the way he was in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Based on Burton's comments, it seems to be that Bob was created simply as a tool for Betelgeuse to use. Bob exists so that he can be the demon's decoy and die in his place. Yet, if Bob was always meant to die, then I don't understand why he was characterized to be so likable. Despite being loyal to Betelgeuse, Bob never comes across as an evil henchman who deserves to die. In actuality, he seems like an innocent follower who meets a tragic end. Anyone could have died in Betelgeuse's place, so I don't understand why it was Bob.

Bob's Death Is Beetlejuice 2's Biggest Reminder That Betelgeuse Is Not A Hero

Betelguese Is Better As A Villain

Ultimately, Bob's death serves as a wake-up call that Betelgeuse will never be the hero audiences want him to be. He will consistently be chaotic, immoral, and selfish. I think it is easy to forget that Betelgeuse is a villain, especially in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice because of him helping defeat Jeremy and saving Astrid from the afterlife. However, he does this so he can claim Lydia, not out of the goodness of his heart. In this way, Bob's sacrifice meant nothing to him, and shouldn't come as a surprise to audiences, even those who quickly fell in love with Bob.

In reality, Betelgeuse is better as a villain than a hero. His role as a villain makes him a much more interesting character and helps make Beetlejuice stand out from other horror comedies. While other franchises would try to redeem Betelgeuse, Burton constantly reminds viewers that this is not a good guy, but a certified demon. Bob's death proves this point, and though I am not happy about it, I can accept that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is better this way.