With its fifth and final seasonNetflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ goes back to its roots by refocusing the story on children. It all began with the kidnapping of 12-year-old Will Byersand nowchildren aged 9-12 have started to disappear again. The first four episodes of Season 5 give us a glimpse into the battle that is to ravage the town of Hawkinsbut it also sets the stage for unlikely heroes to emerge. One of them is Derek Turnbow. In a typical ‘Stranger Things’ fashionhe turns out to be much more than what meets the eyewhich is why he is one of the standout characters of the show. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Derek Turnbow Becomes an Unlikely Hero in Stranger Things Season 5

When we first meet Derek Turnbow in the first episode of the fifth seasonhe appears to be just another bully. While he is known for terrorising other kidshis focusat least in the beginningseems to be on Holly Wheeler. His nature earns him the nickname “Dipshit Derek,” but in a conversation with HollyWill points out thatdespite how he appearsDerek is just another kid who is afraid of monsters and is trying his best to survive in his own way. This turns out to be true as we discover that he is Vecna’s next target. Knowing that Derek’s family will be attacked just as the Wheelers werethe gang decides to kidnap them and take them to safety. It doesn’t turn out the way they expectedbut it also leads them to turn towards Derek for help. Since they protect him from a demogorgonhe is inclined to trust them over the imaginary friendMr. Whatsitwho is more trouble than previously imagined.

Since the military takes in the other kids his ageDerek becomes the only person who can help them break into the facility and rescue the kids. This sudden turn of events shows that Derek is more than just a bully. A sense of purpose and positive affirmation from others leads him to take chargeand he rebrands himself as “Delightful Derek.” He also turns out to be rather cleveras he quickly finds the kids and singles out the ones who have been targeted by Mr. Whatsit. With the ganghe manages to get several kids out of the facility before things go awry. In all of thisDerek proves himself to be a resourceful and courageous kidand he will continue to be a valuable asset in the fight against Vecna and in saving Hawkins from becoming another version of the Upside Down.

Jake Connelly Brings Innocence and Lovability to Derek

13-year-old Jake Connelly plays the role of Derek in the fifth season of ‘Stranger Things.’ This is his first major roleand before thishe’d worked in a couple of Windows commercials. The Chicago-native’s acting journey began when a friend of his motherwho directs commercialsasked if young Jake would be interested in working on one. Jake and his parents decided to give it a chanceand he fell in love with the art of acting. It led him to get some headshotsand soon he was signed on by a talent agency and auditioning for several rolesone of which turned out to be for ‘Stranger Things.’ He revealed that he was told he’d been selected for the role while he and his family were in the basement of their house following a tornado warning. Apart from the Netflix showhe appeared in a short film called ‘Between the Silence.’

Jake described his experience working on the show as a thrilling experience. He revealed that he had to balance his studies with work. The fact that he had to return to school after filming kept him grounded and prevented him from experiencing stage fright. Whatever nervousness he initially felt was gone when he came on setas he found the cast and crew to be very supportive and welcoming. When the filming endedhe was allowed to keep Derek’s prop glasses and lunchbox as souvenirs. The Duffer brothers reciprocated Jake’s feelingscalling him a “special kid.” They revealed that initiallythey had a different picture of Derek in mindbut when Jake came on boardhe brought a unique touch to the character. Sothey rewrote the role to make him closer to Jake’s interpretationwhich brought more depth to Derekturning him into an unexpected fan favourite.

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