One of the most unexpected delights in Season 5 Part 1 of Netflix’s Stranger Things is the transformation of the newest classroom bully, “Dipshit” Derek Turnbow, portrayed by Jake Connelly. Under the right circumstances, Derek reveals a surprisingly “charming” side.

**Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things Season 5 Part 1, now available on Netflix**

Throughout the first four episodes of the season, Derek Turnbow transitions from being Holly Wheeler’s (Nell Fisher) playground nemesis to a potential target of the menacing Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), and eventually, a comedic yet integral part of the show’s beloved group of heroes.

But how does this transformation occur? Who exactly is Derek Turnbow? What insights can we glean about the actor behind this mischievous character? And considering the show’s history, is Derek destined to meet the same tragic end as other breakout characters?

In previous seasons, Stranger Things has introduced memorable supporting characters like Barb Holland (Shannon Purser), Bob Newby (Sean Astin), Alexei (Alec Utgoff), and Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn). Each of these characters quickly captured the audience’s affection, only to ultimately meet their demise in the series.

Derek Turnbow is a new character introduced in the fifth and final season of Stranger Things (although his sister Tina has been referenced as early as Season 3). He’s part of the Turnbow family, a rich and rude clan known for running Turnbow Reality in Hawkins.

We first meet Derek when he bullying Holly Wheeler at recess, forcing the playground merry-go-round she’s laying on to go dizzyingly fast. Later, Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) sees him while spying through the eyes of Vecna. When the group learns that Vecna is targeting Derek, they come up with a frankly insane plan to kidnap Derek to both save his life and track a demogorgon back to Vecna’s hidden Upside Down base. Everything naturally goes awry and soon Derek is enlisted to go undercover as “Delightful Derek” in a last ditch effort to save the day.

So will “Dipshit” Derek Turnbow, the elementary school bully-turned-unlikely hero be the next new Stranger Things character to perish at Vecna’s hand? Or will the surprisingly “Delightful” Derek manage to escape the fate of so many breakout Stranger Things stars before him?

Who Plays Derek Turnbow in Stranger Things 5? Meet Jake Connelly:

13-year-old actor Jake Connelly plays Derek Turnbow in Stranger Things Season 5. Stranger Things marks something of Connelly’s debut, as his only previous IMDB credit is for a single short film called Between the Silence.

You can follow Jake on Instagram @jakeconnellyofficial.

Does Derek Turnbow Die in Stranger Things Season 5?

Almost as soon as Derek Turnbow’s character poster hit the internet, fans began speculating that the new character was doomed to be this year’s Stranger Things sacrifice. After all, new additions to the Stranger Things cast don’t tend to make it out alive, unless they are already blood-relations of our main cast or played by Maya Hawke.

We don’t yet know the ultimate fate of “Delightful” Derek Turbow because we haven’t seen Stranger Things Season 5 Part 2 or the series finale yet. However, we can confirm that Derek narrowly survives Stranger Things Season 5 Part 1.

**MASSIVE STRANGER THINGS SEASON 5 PART 1 SPOILERS AHEAD**

He’s repeatedly saved by our intrepid heroes, with specific shoutouts going to Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder), Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), and Will. In Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 4 “Sorcerer,” Joyce defends Derek from the Demogorgon, Mike physically shields the younger boy, and Will finally activates his long-simmering psychic connection to the hive mind to save the day.

Nevertheless, there are still four more episodes left in Stranger Things‘s fifth and final season. Derek’s fate is not yet sealed, nor is it securd.

Stranger Things Season 5 Part 2 comes out on December 25 at 8 PM ET/5 PM ET.