Actor Bill Kottkamp Kills It as Unlikable 'Pen15' Side Character Derrick

Hulu's comedy collection 'Pen15' introduces a new character in Season 2, Part 2. Portrayed by Bill Kottkamp, Steve's best pal, Derrick, is teenage poison.

Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for Season 2, Part 2 of Pen15.

Friends, Mai and Na have boyfriends. Sort of. Our favourite socially-awkward 7th graders, Pen15's Maya Ishii-Peters (Maya Erskine) and Anna Kone (Anna Konkle), have reached that point of youth. You know, that pivotal level where you meet absolutely the love of your existence in middle college, most effective to devastatingly get a divorce two weeks later. Ugh, pubescence is ache.

Article continues underneath advertisement

After becoming a member of the set team for the middle faculty play, Anna meets mysterious highschool freshman Steve (Chau Long), who "supervises" the staff. This occurs within the first part of Season 2. The 2nd part of Season 2 — which premiered on Dec. 3, 2021 — sees Anna and Steve's dating progress, resulting in their eventual courtship. Along with Maya, Steve's arguably gross best possible buddy, Derrick, starts tagging along to the couple's "dates," causing Maya and Derrick to also transform an item.

While Anna and Steve in fact have (or had) feelings for every other, Derrick is of the same opinion to be naive Maya's boyfriend for all of the flawed causes. With his greasy curls, wiry mustache, and apathetic persona, we've all known a Derrick, perhaps too a lot of them. And although we deeply despise Derrick, actor Bill Kottkamp nails the whole thing in regards to the sleazy character. Let's further talk about Derrick's intentions with Maya as well as Bill Kottkamp's performing career.

Article continues beneath commercial

How does Derrick grow to be Maya's boyfriend?

Subsequent to meeting at Anna's Grammy's wake, Maya asks Derrick to be her boyfriend all the way through a hangout consultation with all 4 lovebirds. He responds, pronouncing, "Your glasses are weird. Okay." He was regarding Maya's yellow-tinted glasses, which she wears to combat her newly recognized Irlen Syndrome.

Article continues under advertisement

Also diagnosed with ADD, Maya gives a few of her new pills to Derrick, who takes them to get top (if we're being actual, he likely most effective takes them to seem "cool"). Maya's ADD drugs is considered one of Derrick's primary motivations for "dating" her, the opposite being to make use of her for sexual favors. We'll get to that.

Sweet Maya hasn't even had her first kiss yet, so Derrick's requests and overall aura are greater than a bit jarring compared. And while Derrick and Steve are best buddies, they don't seem to be precisely reduce from the same fabric. Derrick is much more repulsive, as his selfish desires outweigh any current chivalry and empathy. Misogynistic, racist comments like "You should grow your hair longer, Lucy Liu," only additional strengthen the teenage poison of Derrick.

Article continues below advertisement

We do not get a large number of background on Derrick, but we know that his mom is never house. This a minimum of gives us just a little of insight into his house lifestyles.

While the quad of teenagers hangs out at Derrick's house, he asks Maya if she desires to move to his room. Her authentic smile is heartbreaking, as Maya thinks she is about to get the romantic, memorable first kiss of her dreams.

Article continues under commercial

Instead, Derrick manipulates Maya into appearing oral intercourse on him. It's a scene that is as uncomfortable as it is devastating, leaving us feeling like we should not be staring at.

Things handiest get worse when he later breaks Maya's heart over the telephone. After tough she turn on a selected radio station — which emits Santana's "Smooth" that includes Rob Thomas — he says, "Every time you hear this song, think about how I'm breaking up with you, 'cause that's what I'm doing right now." Derrick ruined this kind of excellent track!

Article continues under advertisement

Where else have we noticed Bill Kottkamp?

While Derrick's storyline is simultaneously enraging and sentimental, now we have were given to provide actor and manufacturer Bill Kottkamp props, as it takes skill to be that darn unlikeable.

Bill has performed a handful of small roles in big productions like Annabelle Comes Home and Fist Fight. While it's taking a look like Bill's performing career is solely getting began (they're credited as "Pizza Guy" in Annabelle Comes Home), their position in Hulu's Pen15 has us rooting for them.

All Pen15 episodes are these days streaming on Hulu.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pbXSramam6Ses7p6wqikaKhfmbKzvsicomaolaN%2BdnnBoqOlZZukwbW3wKan