Stranger Things Season 5's New MVP Is Derek Turnbow — and Fans Can’t Stop Laughing

Remember that mystery kid in the rainbow-striped T-shirt on the first Stranger Things season 5 character posters? The one everyone squinted at like, wait, who is that? Yeah, him. He somehow went from instant-loathe to mid-season MVP. Did not have that on my bingo card.

Spoilers for Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 ahead.

Meet Derek Turnbow, your unexpected new favorite

Derek Turnbow, played by Jake Conelly, shows up as the new kid in Holly Wheeler's class, and he is... a lot. Mouthy, bratty, pushy. The show rolls him out like he's designed to irritate you. And then, somehow, he wins you over. It is genuinely rare to introduce someone in the final season, make audiences hate him for a few episodes, and then have him doing legit hero stuff by the volume 1 finale. But here we are.

'After watching Season 5, I think I should take back my opinion on this bro, he was amazing.'

'I can't believe the show actually made me sympathize with him a bit.'

That shift tracks with what the season reveals: he starts off spoiled, sure, but there are bigger problems at home. Once someone finally gives him real attention and a little validation, he loosens up and pivots into a likable goofball. Classic 'annoying kid' setup, but executed the right way.

What actually happens with Derek

• Derek starts as the loud kid in Holly Wheeler's class. Not subtle, not polite, and definitely not filtered.
• Holly then disappears into the Upside Down, lured by her imaginary friend 'Mr. Whatsit' — who is actually Henry Creel, aka Vecna, wearing a cutesy mask.
• Will digs into 'Mr. Whatsit' and realizes Vecna has also been poking at Derek, trying to reel him in the same way.
• The Hawkins crew makes the messy call to drug and abduct Derek to keep him from becoming the next victim. It goes about as smoothly as you would expect.
• After a scuffle and a wake-up call, Derek decides he wants in. He flips on his 'delightful Derek' charm mode and persuades other kids who were in contact with Mr. Whatsit to slip out of military confinement alongside him.
• Hero points for the attempt, but the win does not stick: Vecna still breaches into the real world and sics Demogorgons on the kids, yanking them from their various hiding spots — Derek included.

So where does that leave him?

Derek gets grabbed in the chaos, but given how quickly he adjusted and stepped up, I would not count him out. The obvious question is whether he can rally again and help his classmates from inside the Upside Down. We find out in volume 2.

Release timing

Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 is streaming now on Netflix. Volume 2 lands on Christmas Day. Exact drop times vary by region.