The Darboux theorem states that a derivative function must satisfy the intermediate value property, even if it is not continuous. This contrasts with general continuous functions, which do not necessarily have derivatives, making the property inapplicable. The discussion highlights that while a derivative can exhibit kinks, it cannot have gaps, allowing it to take all intermediate values. An example provided is the function x^2sin(1/x), which has a discontinuous derivative at x=0 but still adheres to the intermediate value property. The theorem underscores that differentiability implies certain continuity-like behaviors, even when the derivative itself is not continuous.