#Astrid also picks up on the chemistry between Beetlejuice and Lydia and wonders why they don't just date each other

[itbeguilttriptime]

Episode ideas for my "Lydia and Beetlejuice are rival newspaper reporters" TV show concept:

-A hybrid lab creature escapes from a top research facility and the race is on to recapture it. Lydia and Beetlejuice both attach themselves to separate search parties in pursuit of the creature. Though they're both chasing the same story, they end up having to protect each other when the creature is found and goes feral on its pursuers. Upon further investigation, Lydia and Beetlejuice discover that the creature was horrifically mistreated while in captivity and together expose the facility's abuse. The creature is found suitable foster parents that treat it right.

-A famous horror film director is holding an exclusive one-night-only screening of a never-before-released film he's made. Beetlejuice and Lydia both sneak into the event in disguises. They instantly recognize each other but, out of professional respect, don't blow one another's covers. They watch the film, but something is very off about it, and the way the audience is so totally absorbed in it, like they're being hypnotized. As it turns out, they are being hypnotized, and the film's spell possesses everyone but Beetlejuice. The evil director has used the power of movie magic to turn the audience into his personal slaves, and Beetlejuice must find a way to break the spell (and save Lydia) before it's too late.

-Delores's cult is rapidly growing in influence and power and both Beetlejuice and Lydia are assigned to investigate and report on what's going on. However, there's a problem. The cult only accepts married couples, so Beetlejuice and Lydia are forced to make a truce so they can go undercover. They pretend to be a happily married couple indoctrinated into the cult. The ruse is surprisingly easy to pull off, except for when Beetlejuice invents outlandish stories when the other cult members ask them invasive questions about their intimate life, much to Lydia's embarrassment.

-In this AU, Rory is a smarmy politician running for senator, whose publicity campaign revolves around raising awareness for mental health issues and improving treatment/conditions for diagnosed people. When Lydia interviews him, he tells her the sob story of his dead fiancée and a part of her (the experienced journalist part) can tell that he's lying through his teeth for voter sympathy. But she can't prove it. In private, Rory believes that all mentally unwell people should be "locked up forever like they used to be" and has grand plans to that effect. Lydia and Beetlejuice work together to expose this slimeball before he gets elected.

-Lydia's co-workers Barbara and Adam Maitland go on vacation, and Lydia is assigned to take over Barbara's "Ask Mrs. Maitland" column for a few weeks. It starts with Lydia receiving an completely unhinged ask letter that she correctly guesses is a prank from Beetlejuice. Answering the real ask letters goes well for her at first, until Lydia gets a letter from a teenage girl who's getting bullied at school. Lydia advises the girl to "assert herself" more, not knowing that this girl has Carrie-esque powers. Lydia's encouraging response inspires the girl to go on an epic rampage of revenge against her classmates. Lydia has to stop her before she completely obliterates her entire town.