- “I'm not sure how to do this... I'm not a psychic. And apparently, I'm not much of a Banshee, either. But, I'm trying to help my friends. I don't know if you can hear me, or, uh, what I'm supposed to ask you... But, if I have this thing, it's got to work some of the time. It's gotta help someone."”
- ―Lydia to Meredith Walker in "Weaponized"
Lydia Martin is one of the two deuteragonists (alongside Stiles Stilinski) of the MTV series Teen Wolf and a major character in the 2023 Paramount+ sequel, Teen Wolf: The Movie.
She is a banshee whose powers were activated when Peter Hale bit her. She is the daughter of the estranged Mr Martin and Natalie Martin, the primary love interest of Stiles Stilinski, and the granddaughter of Lorraine Martin as well as the best friend of Allison Argent, Scott McCall, Kira Yukimura and Malia Tate. She is also close friends with Mason Hewitt, Liam Dunbar, and Corey Bryant, a good friend of Derek Hale, Noah Stilinski, Melissa McCall, the fellow Banshee and protege of Meredith Walker, the former love interest of Aiden Steiner and Jordan Parrish, and the ex-girlfriend of the late Aiden Steiner and Jackson Whittemore.
Lydia was introduced as the most popular girl in school before making bonds with the three main characters. At the end of Season 1, Lydia is bitten by the then Alpha Peter Hale; this bite does not turn her into a werewolf. Instead, it activates her banshee powers, abilities she inherited from her paternal grandmother.
She is a member of the McCall Pack, a former student at Beacon Hills High and the MIT, and a worker at the San Francisco's Energy Company.
History[]
Lydia Martin is a Banshee who was born on March 19, 1994. She unknowingly inherits her Banshee powers from her paternal grandmother, Lorraine Martin; however, Lydia will not come into these powers until she is bitten by then-Alpha werewolf, Peter Hale. She had been a classmate of Scott McCall and Stiles Stilinski since the third grade, where the latter harbored a major crush on her. However, Lydia paid no attention to him. (Formality)
At some point during her academic career, her IQ was tested, and she rated a genius-level score of 170. ("Unleashed")
Growing up, Lydia was very close with her grandmother and they would often read "The Little Mermaid" together. Because it was their favorite fairytale, Lorraine nicknames Lydia "Ariel" after the titular mermaid. When Lydia was in elementary school, her father had Lorraine admitted into Eichen House; while Mr. Martin believed his mother to be mentally ill, Lorraine was a banshee. (Time of Death")
One day, Lorraine performed trephination on herself while in the bathtub at Eichen House, which caused Natalie to be called to help deal with it. Though the young Lydia was told to stay in the car, she eventually got bored and followed her mother inside, where she found Lorraine surrounded by a pool of blood. Lorraine saw her in the doorway and stated, "They're coming, Lydia. They're coming for all of us," but for some yet-unexplained reason, Lydia repressed the memory until she read Gabriel Valack's novel The Dread Doctors, which was intended to trigger suppressed memories, specifically those that were suppressed by the Dread Doctors themselves. Horrified, Natalie immediately rushed her daughter out of Eichen House, while Lydia had no memory of this happening ("Required Reading").
Because of the constant fighting between her parents, Lydia becomes a queen bee, a mean girl persona, and one of the most popular girls in school. (The Tell)
Lydia also has a string of relationships; however, she never loved them. (Frenemy).
At some point, she began dating Jackson, Captain of the Lacrosse team. Over time, Lydia grows to love him, unlike her other boyfriends (Frenemy; Master Plan)
Despite her intelligence, she acts dim-witted around him to make him not feel insecure. (Magic Bullet; Pack Mentality).
At some point, Lydia's parents went through a divorce. Mr. Martin gave her the option to live with either her dad or her mom. Natalie believed this was pressure for a sixteen year old girl and explained why Lydia continued to hide behind her "Queen Bee" attitude. Ultimately, Lydia chooses to remain with her mother, who she was rather close to. Excelling in high school, Lydia began demonstrating exceptional leadership qualities, surprising Natalie and Mr. Martin. (The Tell).
Season 1[]
Season 2[]
In this season, Lydia's latent Banshee powers began manifesting after Peter attacked Lydia at the winter formal a few weeks ago. However on the night he bit her, a piece of Peter's soul latched onto Lydia's, who Peter's Spirit could partially possess. A few weeks after staying at the hospital after being attacked by Peter at the winter formal, Lydia took her first shower alone after the attack after a brief argument with her father. Stiles was still sitting in the lobby outside of her bedroom. However, she suddenly hallucinated that the shower drain was clogged, causing the water was turning black. Lydia started removing hair from the drain clog when a hand grabbed her, causing Lydia to scream a Banshee cry. Her father, Stiles, and Melissa rushed in and found that the window was open and the shower was clean.
Lydia, running around naked in a fugue state, made her way to the Hale House and vanished by the time Scott, Stiles and Allison got to the house. Lydia's friends believed that she was subconsciously looking for Derek, as he was the new Alpha since the former murdered Peter to avenge his sister's death. The next night, Scott and Stiles went into the woods to search for Lydia, this time without Allison. The latter stayed with his father and Scott chased down an individual, who he assumed was Lydia. However, when Scott tackled the figure, he was shocked to see that he was chasing an unnamed Omega. The real Lydia made her way to Sheriff Stilinski and Stiles, with the former giving Lydia his sheriff's jacket. [1]
A few days later, Lydia and Allison rode together in one of the girls' cars, where the unknown Banshee tried pretending that she wasn't afraid of what other people thought about her mysteriously vanishing from the hospital. At first, she tried convincing herself with the fact that Allison was facing more drama at school because her aunt Kate caused a fire and killed the Hale family except for Derek, Cora, Peter, and Laura. However, when they entered the doors, everyone was suddenly staring at Lydia but she didn't let this bother her. Later in the school day, she approached Jackson at his locker, trying to thank him for finding her bleeding out on the football field. However, Jackson thought that Lydia was trying to get back together with him. He immediately reminded her that she couldn't come running to him everyone she was in trouble Because he wasn't responsible for her. However, he warned her to stay inside at night because it was a full moon, much to Lydia's confusion. At the Argent House, Allison eavesdropped on her father and grandfather and told Chris and Gerard that she was on her way to meet Lydia. However, they refused to let her leave until Gerard and Chris asked her questions about why Lydia was not turned into a werewolf by Peter. However, Allison truly didn't know the answer to it. [2]
The next day at school, Lydia was at gym with Scott , Allison and Stiles, watching Erica fail at indoor rock climbing. Erica was having once of her epilepsy episodes but Lydia assumed she was having a panic attack until Allison informed Coach Finstock that Erica was epilepic but he had no idea that she had a medical condutuon. After science class, Lydia was suddenly accosted by Jackson at her locker. He accused her of being immune to a werewolf bite and the reason why he didn't have werewolf powers. However, Lydia was confused and shaken up by him yelling at her for no reason and she started crying. Jackson looked back at her with remorse for the way he handled his relationship with her. Running away into the girl's bathroom, Lydia hid in one of the bathroom stalls and started crying her eyes when she suddenly heard someone come in. When she saw the person's bare feet, Lydia told them that it was the girls' bathroom before they left. She quickly left the room and followed the mystery man near the trophies Later at lunch, she approached Scott and Stiles and was confused by Erica's sudden attractive appearance. Lydia went to Allison's house after school, where they were preparing for their double date with Stiles and Scott at the ice skating rink. They told Allison's parents that they were going to the library to study, but Chris warned Allison to keep an eye on Lydia to make sure she was not a werewolf and that everything was normal.
As Stiles started confessing how he felt about her, Lydia thought he was talking about Scott and Allison and agreed that they made a cute couple. However, as Lydia and Stiles started skating, Lydia hallucinated seeing aconite petals and saw Peter's face through the ice. The girl started screaming again, startling Scott and Allison, who came out running to see a worried Stiles holding a screaming Lydia.[3]
Sometime in the night in "Abomination," Lydia punched her mirror for no reason. The next morning Natalie goes to wake up her daughter for her an appointment with the school counselor, Marin Morrell. However, when Natalie Takes the covers off of Lydia she suddenly finds the sheets soaked in blood. Worried, Natalie grabs onto her daughter's hand and sees that her fists are bleeding. As the two look on they see Lydia's mirror broken and shattered. While at school, Lydia wears pink gloves so no one can see the cuts on her first. While Lydia is waiting for her turn, a boy sitting next to her tries to make conversation but she doesn't give him straight answers as to why she is at the school councilor's office.
Season 3A[]
After Jennifer's unsuccessful murder attempt, the paramedics took Lydia to Beacon Hills Memorial hospital for treatment. However, a severe thunderstorm knocks out the power, and Lydia had to transfer to the nearest hospital with the rest of the evacs. During her absence, Jennifer knocks Derek out and kidnaps Melissa, Scott joins Deucalion, and the Argents, Isaac, Peter, and Cora escape the hospital ("The Overlooked").
Season 3b[]
Season 4[]
Season 5[]
Season 6[]
The Movie[]
After having a relationship with Stiles, Lydia separated from him after having visions of his death with her in a car accident.
Personality[]
Lydia used to be a vain, shallow, ditzy mean-girl who flaunted her popularity around. Despite this, Lydia was one of the most intelligent people at her high school. She mainly kept up this appearance so her then-boyfriend Jackson Whittemore wouldn't feel like the odd one out. However, she did show signs of her true self several times throughout Season 1. For example she was impressed by Scott's lacrosse skills and genuinely praised him for it to Allison. Additionally, due to the absence of a father in her life, Lydia would later form something of a father-daughter bond with Sheriff Stilinski. She was also close with her paternal grandmother, Lorraine and read "The Little Mermaid" with her. In the first two seasons, Lydia maintained this appearance. After coming across one of Peter's crime scenes, Lydia becomes distraught and stays home from school the next day. She tries being a beauty queen by immediately putting makeup on herself after seeing her mascaras run, putting her mean girl attitude back on. By Season 3, however, Lydia no longer puts on this face and starts embracing herself. For example, she refuses to let her mom cover up the bruising around her neck because Lydia isn't afraid to show people that she is strong even though Jennifer tried to kill her.
In her romantic relationships, Lydia appreciates those with raw talent. For example, she started paying attention to Scott because he improved his game on the lacrosse field. Even before his breakup with Allison, Lydia sometimes flirted with him and later kissed him in "Lunatic." However, as time went on, Scott and Lydia developed a brother and-sister relationship. She was later attracted to Stiles Stilinski because he was an intelligent individual in his own right after he recognized her as just as intelligent. However, the fact that they had been best friends before their relationship also factors into this. Lydia also appreciates people with good tastes in fashion, as seen during her first interactions with Allison. However, she comes to appreciate friends who prove, time and time again, to be selfless, caring, and supportive.
After her breakup with Jackson, being attacked by Peter made Lydia feel traumatized and secluded and became more distant from her friends. Without Jackson to keep her grounded and Allison, Scott and Stiles keeping secrets from her, Lydia felt lost because her friends were acting "like total nut jobs." Because Scott, Allison and Stiles were too busy dealing with the Kanima and the Argents, Lydia was tormented by Peter Hale's spirit and faced most of her endeavors alone.
After becoming aware of the supernatural and developing closer friendships with Scott and Stiles, Lydia started becoming more compassionate and caring to others. However, she was resistant of her powers at first but learned to accept them and use them so she could save her friends and protect Beacon Hills. Lydia had self-doubt in her powers and abilities because of the Banshee powers she didn't want. Even after Peter had left her consciousness, she was still regularly traumatized by the deaths she would come to witness and the corpses to which she was drawn as a result of being a Harbinger of Death. At the end of the series, she becomes more confident in her abilities, especially after the trials she endured at Eichen House and being trained by Meredith Walker. She learned to accept her role and help Scott and their friends whenever they needed it.
Despite her newfound heroism, Lydia still made snarky comments, but mainly towards her enemies. During Kali and Aiden's confrontation with Lydia and Ethan at Derek's apartment, the Banshee sarcastically told Kali she was in desperate need of a pedicure," referring to the female Alpha's clawed toes. She added how she would be happy to give Kali a referral. Later during her and the pack's mission to rescue Derek Hale from Kate Argent, Lydia called Allison's late aunt a "psychopathic bitch" because she murdered Derek's family seven years prior to Season 4.
After being best friends with Stiles for two years, Lydia finally realized her romantic feelings for him, especially during his absence. Along with Scott and Malia, Lydia was successful in bringing him back to the trash world. However, it was also her memory and love for Stiles that truly allowed him to cross back over. After Stiles, Lydia's closest friendship are with Scott, Allison, and later, Malia. Theo noticed that it would be impossible to turn Lydia against Scott due to their close friendship so he targeted Stiles, Liam and Malia instead. It is shown she will go to great lengths to protect her family, friends and her pack
Powers[]
Banshee Physiology: After she was bitten by then-Alpha Werewolf Peter Hale in the Season 1 episode Formality, Lydia's Banshee nature was activated earlier than anticipated. However, she remained unaware of her nature until Jennifer Blake identified Lydia as a Banshee when the latter was trying to kill her in Season 3’s “The Girl Who Knew Too Much.” In Season 4, it was revealed that Lydia’s powers are hereditary on her father's side of the family. Her grandmother, Lorraine, was a Banshee, who predicted her wife's death and that Lydia would become a target for the Dead Pool and that Lydia had the potential to stop it. It is also implied that Lydia would have gained her powers sometime after her eighteenth birthday.
Abilities[]
- Genius Intelligence: Even from the start of the series, Lydia is considered a child prodigy and genius. Because of her intellect, Lydia was accepted into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Lydia has an IQ of 170, and knows mathematics, chemistry, physics, medicine, psychology, history, mythology, and foreign languages. She investigates supernatural crimes, due to her academic knowledge and Stiles' understanding of law enforcement.
- Charisma
- Multilingualism: Lydia is fluent in Latin (both Archaic and Classical), Spanish, and French in at least a conversational capacity.
- Skilled Artist: Lydia drew a very detailed picture of the Nemeton's roots she initially mistook for a tree. However, they realized this must have been the place where Jennifer was holding Sheriff Stilinski, Melissa McCall, and Chris Argent hostage.
- Combatant: Lydia was trained by Jordan Parrish in hand-to-hand combat, including
- hand-to-hand combat,
- Martial arts
- Krav maga
- Kickboxing
- Jiu-jitsu
- Karate.
Relationships[]
Family[]
- Lorraine Martin † - grandmother
- Maddy † - step-grandmother
- Aunt
- Grandfather (identity unknown)
- Natalie Martin - mother
- Mr. Martin - estranged father
- Stiles Stilinski - love interest, packmate and ex-boyfriend
Allies and Friends[]
- McCall Pack - Best Friends, Surrogate Family, and Allies
- Scott McCall - Alpha, Best Friend and Brother Figure
- Allison Argent - Best Friend and Sister Figure
- Malia Tate - Best Friend and Sister Figure
- Liam Dunbar - Packmate and Close Friend
- Mason Hewitt - Packmate, Close Friend and Younger Brother Figure
- Derek Hale - Friend and Temporary Enemy
- Corey Bryant - Temporary Enemy
- Eli Hale - Newest Recruit and Friend
- Alec - Recruit
- Kira Yukimura - Former Packmate, Sister Figure, and Best Friend
- Quinn †
- Meredith Walker - Fellow Banshee/Mentor/Former Enemy
- Hale Pack - Temporary Enemies
- Cora Hale - Friend
- Vernon Boyd † - Classmate and Former Enemy
- Peter Hale - Attacker, Ally, And Former Enemy
- Chris Argent - Friend
- Isaac Lahey - Former Packmate, Temporary Enemy, and One-Sided Unrequited Crush
- Beacon County Sheriff's Station - Allies and Temporary Enemies
- Noah Stilinski - Friend and Fatherly Figure
- Jordan Parrish - Former Love Interest; Spiritual Connection
- Aiden Steiner † - Former Boyfriend and Ally
- Ethan Steiner - Ally and Former Enemy
- Hayden Romero - Friend, Former Classmate and Former Packmate
- Deucalion † - Former Enemy
- Theo Raeken - Former Enemy, Situational Ally, and Attacker
- Braeden
- Beacon Hills High School - Former School
- Danielle - Guest and Classmate
- Coach Bobby Finstock - Former Economics and Gym Teacher
- Mr. Thomas - Former Principal
- Harley - Classmate
- Mrs. Finch - Former A.P. Biology Teacher
- Ms. Fleming - Former Calculus Teacher
- Ms. Ramsey - Former Sophomore English Teacher
- Ken Yukimura
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Lenore - Fellow Banshee
- Halwyn † - Spiritual Connection
- Nolan Holloway - Former Enemy
- Noshiko Yukimura
- Alan Deaton
- Melissa McCall - Close Friend, Nurse and Motherly Figure
- Marin Morrell - Former Guidance Counselor
- Danny Mahealani - Friend and Former Classmate
- Satomi's Pack
- Satomi Ito †
- Jiang †
- Tierney †
- Brett Talbot †
- Lorilee Rohr †
- Hikari Zhang - Possible Packmate
Enemies[]
- Gerard Argent
- Hale Pack
- Erica Reyes † - Classmate and Temporary Enemy
- Alpha Pack
- Kali † - Possible Intended Killer
- Jennifer Blake / The Darach - Former Teacher and Attempted Killer
- The Nogitsune - Kidnapper
- Oni
- Calavera Family - Situational Enemies; Tentative Truce
- Severo Calavera
- Araya Calavera
- Kate Argent
- Berserkers
- Chimera Pack - Attempted Kidnappers
- Tracy Stewart - Classmate, Former Friend, And Attempted Kidnapper
- Josh Diaz
- The Deadpool Assassins
- Eichen House - Former Psychiatric Facility, Captors and Tormentors
- William Barrow †
- Dr. Conrad Fenris - Situational Enemy
- Dr. Gabriel Valack † - Doctor and Psychological Tormentor
- Nurse Cross - Tormentor
- Schrader † - Tormentor
- Brunski † - Grandmother's Killer and Attempted Killer
- Dread Doctors †
- Sebastien Valet/The Beast of Gévaudan † - Attempted Killer
- Ghost Riders †
- Caleb (Phantom)
- Claudia Stilinski (Phantom) † - Victim
- Monroe's Army
- Tamora Monroe
- Gabe † - Former Classmate and Attempted Killer
- Sydney - Former Classmate
- Adrian Harris - Former Chemistry Teacher and Attempted Killer
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Lydia Martin is the second character to appear in more episodes, behind Scott McCall's actor Tyler Posey. They are also the only two characters who starred in all six seasons
- According to Allison, Lydia has had boyfriends in the past, but to Lydia's dismay she never loved them in a away Scott and Allison do until she realized that she never stopped loving Jackson.
- She has had the most love interests of anyone in the main cast: Stiles Stilinski, Scott McCall, Jackson Whittemore, the many flings she had over the summer 2011 break, Aiden Steiner and Jordan Parrish.
- Lydia apparently killed Conrad Fenris when she was saving Jordan from him. However, he is revealed to be alive in The Movie when the pack hands Harris over to the authorities and he is sent to live in Eichen House.
- A few hints that foreshadowed Lydia's powers and abilities as a Banshee:
- When she and Jackson go to the video store, Lydia screams Upon seeing Peter Hale (in Alpha form) crashing out of the window. Not to mention, he killed the rental store owner, foreshadowing Lydia's banshee abilities.
- Mr. Martin questions the teacher if Lydia is suffering from irrational behavior, foreshadowing how he believed his mother, and Lydia's paternal grandmother, Lorraine, were ill and sent her to Eichen House.
- After Peter attacks her, Lydia is immune to the bite, doesn't heal quickly, Kanima venom, mountain ash barrier, etc.
- Seeing wild Hallucinations and being drawn to death.
- The fact that the Season 3 opening has Lydia screaming.
- None of Lydia's banshee screams are real and are digitally created.
