When HBO Max dropped the first episode of It: Welcome to Derry, horror fans across the United States knew one thing for sure — Pennywise is back, and he’s hungrier than ever. But what they didn’t expect was the emotional, brutal and socially charged world that the Muschietti siblings have created. The show doesn’t simply revisit Derry; it rewrites its DNA.
A Deeper Look Into Derry’s Evil Roots
Set in 1962, twenty-five years before the events of It: Chapter One, the story dives into an earlier generation living under the same creeping curse that has haunted this quiet Maine town for centuries. The Muschiettis, who directed and produced the hit films, aren’t just re-telling the clown’s story — they’re reconstructing it.
The creators reveal that the show is planned as a three-season arc, each centered on one of Pennywise’s reawakening cycles — 1962, 1935, and 1908. This timeline allows the series to stretch far beyond the events we’ve already seen, connecting the supernatural horror with Derry’s complex human history.
And that’s the biggest surprise: Welcome to Derry doesn’t rely on jump scares alone. It’s as much about what humans do to each other as it is about a shape-shifting demon in clown makeup.
The Episode That Pulls No Punches
The premiere opens with a shocking sequence — one that immediately sets the tone for the rest of the show. A seemingly normal birth turns into a nightmarish massacre when a newborn baby becomes a creature of pure evil. It’s disturbing, graphic, and cinematic in a way television horror rarely dares to be.
From there, the episode introduces Major Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo), a decorated Black officer who moves his family to Derry. His presence alone exposes the ugly underbelly of the 1960s — open racism, suspicion, and resentment — all of which mirror the corruption that fuels Pennywise’s power. Derry, as the show makes clear, isn’t just cursed by a monster; it’s poisoned by its own people.
The Hanlon family’s arrival coincides with a string of mysterious disappearances and eerie visions haunting the town’s children. As they begin to piece together the strange events, they realize that Derry’s evil isn’t buried in the sewers — it’s everywhere.
And just when the audience begins to root for these kids, the story pulls the rug out: half of them are killed off in a brutal finale that no one saw coming. In one stroke, the show announces its rule — no one is safe in Derry.
Horror With a Human Heart
One of the strongest aspects of Welcome to Derry is how it balances supernatural terror with very real social commentary. The racial tension surrounding Major Hanlon and his family adds layers of discomfort that go beyond the usual ghost-story formula. The horror here isn’t confined to the monster in the dark; it’s in the everyday cruelty, the whispered slurs, the looks of hatred.
Andy Muschietti, who directed the pilot, has said that the story of Pennywise has always been about “the evil that humans create.” In this version, that theme isn’t background noise — it’s the central narrative pulse. Every scream and shadow ties back to what people are capable of doing when fear controls them.
The Look and Feel of True Terror
Visually, the show is stunning. Derry feels like a real town — too perfect on the surface, yet hollow underneath. The muted 1960s color palette, the fog-soaked streets, and the claustrophobic interiors all build a mood of unease that never lets up.
The special effects are equally impressive. From the grotesque birth scene to Pennywise’s fleeting appearances, the blend of practical and digital effects feels organic and grounded. Nothing looks cartoonish or overdone. Even when you expect the scare, the way it hits still leaves a mark.
A Different Kind of Prequel
Most prequels struggle to justify their existence, but Welcome to Derry feels like a genuine expansion of Stephen King’s universe. Instead of repeating the familiar beats from the movies, it explores the mythology behind the mythology — the origins of the cosmic evil that became Pennywise, and the mysterious turtle that represents balance in King’s multiverse. Sharp-eyed viewers will notice subtle nods to that lore — a toy turtle, a symbol carved into wood, a quiet hum that echoes when the creature is near.
This level of detail shows how deeply the creators respect the source material while still building something new for a modern audience.
Unpredictable, Ruthless, and Full of Promise
The most refreshing part of the premiere is its unpredictability. By breaking horror conventions and eliminating main characters early, the show creates genuine fear — not of what’s hiding in the dark, but of who might not survive the next scene.
Barbara Muschietti explained in an interview that they wanted the audience to feel “off-balance,” to know that Derry is a place where the usual storytelling rules don’t apply. That strategy works. Every moment carries a sense of dread because viewers can’t rely on plot armor or comfort zones.
Yet amid all the gore and chaos, there’s emotional weight. The surviving kids form fragile bonds, their innocence slowly eroding as they face horrors adults refuse to see. It’s a timeless King theme — the loss of childhood purity in the face of evil — given new resonance in an era still wrestling with its own divisions.
Where It Might Go Next
With seven episodes left in this first season, the future of Welcome to Derry looks both thrilling and uncertain. If the writers can maintain the balance between social depth and supernatural terror, the series could easily become HBO’s next big horror flagship.
The planned jump into earlier time periods in future seasons — 1935 and 1908 — opens doors to explore how Pennywise’s curse connects with Derry’s violent origins, colonial sins, and the mysterious cosmic forces hinted at throughout King’s work.
For now, what we have is a chilling, beautifully crafted opening chapter that honors the It legacy while daring to move beyond it.
Final Take
It: Welcome to Derry isn’t just another horror show. It’s a reminder that fear evolves — and that the monsters we create, both literal and social, never truly die. With its cinematic scale, layered storytelling, and bold risks, the series proves that there’s still plenty left to explore beneath Derry’s haunted streets.
In short: this premiere doesn’t just welcome you to Derry — it traps you there.