Although he's considered an antagonist at the beginning of Teen Wolf, Derek Hale is widely loved by viewers. He may not be the mentor Scott needs, but he still plays a vital role in the series. Derek has such significant internal development that he physically evolves into a full wolf during Teen Wolf Season 4.
Derek provides endless entertainment in terms of humor, but he has characteristics that aren't as desirable as they're portrayed. After taking a closer look at his personality and his treatment of others, there are many aspects of Derek's character that wouldn't fly today.
Derek Manipulating His Pack
Most alphas aren't as compassionate as Scott McCall. Derek believes his pack lives to serve him, rather than the other way around. There's power in numbers, so Derek seeks out Isaac, Erica, and Boyd in order to grow stronger.
All three students have experienced deep emotional distress, and he uses their trauma to take advantage of them. They feel indebted to Derek for giving them the bite and thus follow him out of blind loyalty. He convinces his pack that the bite is a gift, even though it ultimately leads to Boyd's and Erica's deaths.
The Way Derek Treats Stiles
Although fans are fond of their relationship in Teen Wolf, Derek's poor treatment of Stiles hasn't aged well. Stiles may poke the bear with his sarcastic comments, but he shouldn't have to worry about being physically reprimanded.
Derek constantly threatens Stiles and hurts him on more than one occasion. While he never inflicts serious damage, he shouldn't be lashing out at all. In retrospect, Stiles is a fifteen-year-old high school student being bullied by a werewolf in his mid-twenties.
Derek's Anger Issues
Derek's anger issues are initially portrayed as a joke, but it's grown distasteful over time. To be fair, many aspects of Teen Wolf need to be taken with a grain of salt due to the supernatural element within the series. Werewolves have trouble controlling their temper, which is understandable due to their animalistic nature.
However, Derek's rage makes him particularly lethal, and Scott is proof that the anger can be controlled. Derek has massive character development and ends up evolving into a full wolf, but his actions in the first few seasons are inexcusable.
Derek Making Out With Erica
Derek and Erica's make-out scene is just as tasteless today as when the series first aired. Given that Derek is in his mid-twenties and Erica is a minor, there never should have been a sexual component to their relationship.
Derek does push Erica away eventually, but he indulges her for far too long. Despite her young age, Derek initiates a flirtation between them to convince Erica to join his pack. Everything about Derek's method is inappropriate, as it makes him both manipulative and predatory.
Derek's Obsession With Power
Derek's obsession with power could make him a more interesting protagonist than Scott in Teen Wolf, but it doesn't make him a role model. He cares about being in control more than the wellbeing of his own pack, and this alone highlights a significant distinction between Derek and Scott.
However, no one is perfect, and mistakes are necessary for growth to be possible. Derek's character arc is one of self-discovery, and he slowly evolves into someone he's proud of. When he exits the series at the end of the fourth season, Derek has come to value people over power.
Derek Kicking Out Isaac
Derek's heart may have been in the right place, but his methods leave plenty of room for improvement. While he thinks he's protecting Isaac by kicking him out of the loft, Isaac is only in danger because of the life Derek introduces him to.
Rather than being honest about their current predicament, Derek kicks his beta out with a weak explanation. He throws a glass at Isaac's head, which triggers memories of his abusive father and ensures he leaves. Scott and Melissa accept Isaac with open arms, but Derek's rejection leaves Isaac feeling abandoned once again.
Derek's Violent Tendencies
Although violence isn't the answer in everyday life, the characters of Teen Wolf experience a different reality. The McCall Pack is constantly forced to fight off supernatural threats and learn self-defense tactics.
The series is action-packed and full of physical fights between the werewolves, but Derek takes things to an extreme. He resorts to violence even when it isn't necessary and lashes out at those he claims to care about. Stiles might be Derek's usual punching bag, but no one who annoys him is off-limits.
Derek Refusing To Help Scott
Scott manages to become the best leader in Teen Wolf, despite not having a great teacher. He reaches out to Liam and takes him under his wing, which is what Derek should have done for Scott in the pilot episode. Derek isn't responsible for Scott's transition, but he knows the terror that the teenager is experiencing.
His constant annoyance with Scott paints Derek in a poor light, even if he's written to be a dark and brooding character. Scott goes out of his way to help others but has to fight with Derek just to learn the truth about himself.
Derek's Relationship With Kate
Kate is one of the most power-hungry werewolf hunters in Teen Wolf, so it's not surprising that Derek's relationship with her is a catastrophe. Their romance takes place before the pilot of the series, preventing viewers from seeing the toxicity for themselves.
However, Kate uses a spell to turn Derek back into a teenager in Teen Wolf Season 4, and she uses his feelings to take advantage of him. Kate emotionally manipulates Derek and they even kiss despite his current age. Kate is the adult and the one at fault, but this entire plotline is questionable at best.
Derek Turning Teenagers
It's bad enough to manipulate someone into accepting the bite, but Derek goes after teenagers who are emotionally vulnerable. Isaac, Erica, and Boyd shouldn't have been given the option, and their young age becomes even more apparent when Erica mentions that she doesn't have a driver's license.
Turning into a werewolf is no small feat, and none of the teenagers are in the right headspace to fully comprehend what it all means. Derek uses this to his advantage and treats his pack like servants rather than family.