New 'Stranger Things' clip teases 'Delightful' Derek's fate in season 5 volume 2
The jaw-dropping revelation of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) mirroring Vecna's (Jamie Campbell Bower) superpowers in 'Stranger Things' Season 5 Volume 1 has given fans sleepless nights, so much so that the wait for part 2 feels like an uphill battle. While fans are eagerly waiting to witness what the future holds for their beloved characters, a part 2 clip recently revealed the fate of Derek Turnbow (Jake Connelly), and its intensity is making the wait for the next set of 'Stranger Things' episodes harder than ever.
A 'Stranger Things' Season 5 Volume 2 clip reveals the fate of Derek and other kidnapped children, who awaken in a seemingly peaceful field that is actually Vecna's mind prison. It is the same place where Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) and Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) are. Vecna, appearing as Mr. Whatsit, tells them he saved them from monsters, then relocates them to the Creel house, where Holly reunites with a friend, and Max watches from afar, warning that they'll be safe as long as they avoid the woods, as per ScreenRant.
mr whatsit demands one simple rule: don't venture out to the woods pic.twitter.com/nsKl0wPsdd
— sƃuᴉɥʇ ɹǝƃuɐɹʇs (@Stranger_Things) December 21, 2025
The clip confirms that Derek and the other children are alive but trapped under Vecna's manipulations. Holly and Max are positioned to help save them. Notably, Vecna plans to "reshape the world" using the children as controllable vessels, though his underestimation of Will and potentially Derek could backfire. Derek, a breakout character from Season 5 Volume 1, has won fans over with his comedic moments and character growth, earning the nickname 'Delightful Derek.' Now, he has the chance to solidify his delightful status by foiling Vecna's plan in the mind prison.
Talking about the new 'Stranger Things' 5 Volume 2 trailer, it shows a bloodied Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) revealing the Upside Down's shocking truths as the heroes race to uncover Hawkins' darkest secrets. Premiering on Thursday, December 25, with three episodes, the trailer teases intense moments, including a fight-to-the-death pact between Dustin and Steve (Joe Keery) and an electrocuted Demogorgon, while Joyce (Winona Ryder) reassures Will that the battle is far from over, as per Tudum.
Will's new powers, revealed at the end of volume 1, are set to play a crucial role in season 5. Co-creator Ross Duffer explained, "We've always known that Will has a connection to Vecna and the Upside Down… What if Will were able to harness this connection and use it against our villains?" He added, "It felt very natural to re-center the story on Will… If anyone was going to be the key to ending Vecna, it needed to be Will."
According to Matarazzo, Will's powers will "change the game" for the Hawkins teens. He adds, "I think that puts us on more of [an even] playing field. I'm sure that's objectively terrifying to Vecna." Finn Wolfhard adds, "We have two Elevens." In the trailer's final moments, Vecna ominously declares that it's time for a "new world," setting the stage for the epic conclusion.
