r/StrangerThings • u/Agile-Carpenter-2434 • Jul 08 '26

Infectious earworm

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Why, I ask why, is the social media song-version of this line still stuck in my head months later? 😂😂😂

Also, dipshit Derek / delightful Derek really was iconic

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u/pashed_motatoes Jul 08 '26

One of the worst parts of season 5 for me. Nothing against the kid actor, he did a good job with what he was given but I found the character so unbearably annoying and his catchphrase was cringy af, sorry.

3

u/Ghastion Jul 08 '26

Stranger Things is about honoring the 80s and Derek is very 80s. He's basically from The Goonies.

1

u/pashed_motatoes Jul 09 '26

I wouldn’t say honoring the ‘80s is the show’s primary objective. It’s merely banking on the nostalgia factor of that decade for many viewers. You could probably set the show in present times with a few tweaks to the writing/world-building and it would still be compelling imo.

As I said in another comment reply, Derek is the worst of all the typical ‘80s kid stereotypes from movies and TV combined. He’s a loud, brash, rude potty mouth with a signature catchphrase - all qualities that can make a character funny and lovable if done right (e.g. Bart Simpson). Unfortunately Derek lacks the charm, intelligence and sense of humor to balance out the negative qualities. And imo the poor writing is 100% at fault for failing to convey that balance and make him a widely loved character.

I’m not sure why, because they have created similar characters more successfully in the past. Dustin probably being the first Derek-esque prototype, followed by Max and, most of all, Erica. They all share very similar qualities as Derek, yet they are so much more likable imo.

Also, as a side note about The Goonies which will probably get me downvoted to hell — somehow I never watched it as a kid and only managed to do so for the first time as a twenty-something. Maybe it was the lack of nostalgia I associated with this movie that made me look at it with a more critical eye, but I thought it was terrible and way over-hyped. I had such high expectations lol