Though set decades before the IT films, the series Welcome to Derry significantly impacts the Stephen King adaptations. Taking place 27 years prior to the first movie—from 1962 to 1989—the show primarily focuses on new characters and storylines. While it introduces fresh faces and narratives, it also includes elements hinted at in the films, such as the fire at The Black Spot. The series successfully builds empathy for these new characters, but inevitably connects to and alters the established movie timeline.
The final episode especially focuses on tying up loose ends and connecting everything that’s happened throughout the series, which makes sense considering it centers around the temporary defeat of Pennywise. While this isn’t unexpected, the ending of IT: Welcome to Derry Season 1 does have some surprising moments that change how you view the IT films. Furthermore, certain parts of the show connect to other stories by Stephen King.
8) The Hanlons Almost Left Derry Long Before Mike Was Even Born
Following their fight with Pennywise, the Hanlon family first plans to leave Derry, which makes sense considering everything that happened. However, they change their minds at the last moment, choosing instead to stay and take care of Rose’s farm. They also join forces with the Children of Maturin, helping to preserve the knowledge of Pennywise and how to defeat him should he ever return.
This development adds another heartbreaking element to the story. Will Hanlon from Welcome to Derry is revealed to be Mike’s father, which makes his struggle against Pennywise even more tragic, especially considering how close he came to escaping. It also highlights the significance of him being the only Losers Club member who stays in Derry as an adult, echoing the difficult decision made by his family generations before.
7) Bob Gray Confirmed & Why IT Became Pennywise The Dancing Clown
For decades, fans of Stephen King’s IT have wondered who Bob Gray really is – one of the names the novel’s evil entity uses. In the book, a character named Mrs. Kersh claims he was her father and a performer. Hints about this were also dropped in the movie IT: Chapter Two, but the mystery wasn’t solved until the release of Welcome to Derry.
The show revealed that Bob Gray was the very first Pennywise the Dancing Clown. It explains that the creature originally appeared in 1908, taking that clown form because it had seen how well Pennywise appealed to children. This solves a long-standing mystery from the book and movie, and makes certain scenes, like the one with Georgie, make more sense – Georgie was initially attracted to Pennywise because he was a clown, proving the creature’s plan was still effective decades later.
6) Pennywise’s Time Powers Reframe His Story
The finale of Welcome to Derry sends Pennywise back into his 27-year sleep, but first, it offers a new understanding of the creature. The show confirms Pennywise isn’t bound by time like humans are, as it’s always been known he comes from another dimension. However, it goes further, suggesting he can actually see the future, as he hints at knowing how he will be defeated. While this builds on existing lore rather than introducing something completely new, it’s still surprising to hear him say things like, “Tomorrow. Yesterday. It’s all the same for little Pennywise.”
This definitely makes you wonder about the creature. If it knows how it will die in 1962, does that mean its fights with the Losers Club in 1989 and 2016 were predetermined? And if time isn’t linear for Pennywise – if the past, present, and future are all the same – and it’s even questioning if its death is actually a rebirth, could it potentially come back? If a second season of Welcome to Derry happens, what lengths will Pennywise go to in order to stop its future from unfolding?
5) Welcome to Derry Better Explains The Indigenous Tribe Key To Defeating IT
In IT Chapter Two, Mike learns about how to defeat Pennywise from the Shokopiwah tribe, specifically through a ritual called the Ritual of Chûd. However, the films didn’t really explore who these people were, which felt like a missed opportunity. Welcome to Derry fixes this by telling the tribe’s story and making it central to the history of It. They were the first to encounter the entity, figure out its weakness, and manage to trap it within the boundaries of what would become Derry.
Rose and Taniel, members of the Children of Maturin, are well-developed characters, especially Rose, who has a detailed backstory involving encounters with Pennywise. They play a crucial role in remembering and preparing for It’s recurring appearances, sharing knowledge across generations to anticipate each new wave of terror.
4) Dick Hallorann’s Story Changes How You See The Shining & Doctor Sleep
The town of Derry, featured in Welcome to Derry, isn’t just connected to the story of IT; it also links to The Shining and Doctor Sleep through the character of Dick Hallorann. While he appears briefly in the book IT, the TV series greatly expands his story, showing him as a crucial figure in the battle against Pennywise – or, from the military’s perspective, in attempts to control Pennywise. The series also delves deeper into Hallorann’s mental abilities, first introduced in Doctor Sleep, revealing what happens when those abilities begin to fail and unleash disturbing visions.
Throughout the series, we see Dick grappling with a troubled past, exploited by the military, and fighting internal battles triggered by Pennywise. This adds significant depth and tragedy to his character, revealing that his experiences in The Shining weren’t his first encounters with the supernatural. Knowing his history makes us more invested in him, and it also changes how we view The Shining because we understand who he is and what he’s been through. The series directly connects to this, showing him leaving Derry to become a chef in London – a career path deliberately chosen as a result of his experiences with Pennywise, ultimately leading him to the Overlook Hotel.
3) Shawshank Prison Seems Even More Horrifying Now
Shawshank State Prison doesn’t feature heavily in IT: Welcome to Derry, as Hank Grogan is meant to be transferred there but never is. However, its mention is still significant. The prison has always been a grim and corrupt place, but seeing it used as a threat feels particularly unsettling. The sheer panic and fear when Hank is told about the fate of “kiddy killers” at Shawshank clearly demonstrates how frightening its reputation is.
2) Marge Truman Is Richie Tozier’s Mother
As a huge fan of the IT universe, I was really surprised by how much more depth they gave to Richie Tozier’s mom, Maggie, in Welcome to Derry. In the book and movies, she’s always been a pretty minor character. But the finale of the series completely flipped that! Pennywise suddenly reveals she’s Richie’s mother – he actually calls her ‘Tozier’ – and then shows a missing poster for Richie, claiming he and the other Losers are the ones destined to defeat him. It was a genuinely shocking moment and added a whole new layer to Richie’s story.
The reveal is effective and adds emotional weight to the story. Richie’s name is a tribute to Rich Santos, Marge’s first love who died a hero at The Black Spot. This makes Richie a constant reminder of that tragic loss, as well as Rich’s bravery when fighting Pennywise – a trait Richie himself possesses. Importantly, it shows that both Marge and her son were targeted by the evil entity, but ultimately, a victory was achieved.
1) Beverly Marsh & Mrs. Kersh’s First Meeting
As a huge fan, I was really intrigued by the post-credits scene of ‘Welcome to Derry’! It jumps forward to 1988, just before the first ‘IT’ movie begins. We see Ingrid Kersh at Juniper Hill, and it’s heartbreaking – another patient, Elfrida Marsh, has died by suicide. It’s especially impactful because Beverly Marsh, played by Sophia Lillis, is right there – it’s so cool to see her back! Joan Gregson returns as Kersh, and she tries to comfort young Beverly, saying something really chilling: “You know what they say about Derry: No one who dies here ever really dies.” It definitely sets a creepy tone and makes you wonder what’s going on in that town!
This changes how we understand the scene with Kersh and Beverly in IT: Chapter Two. It shows that Pennywise didn’t just randomly choose an old woman to appear as; it was a carefully planned tactic. Because Beverly’s mother’s death was the worst day of her life, Pennywise intentionally reminded her of that trauma by taking Kersh’s form, making the scene even more terrifying.
IT: Welcome to Derry Season 1 is now streaming on HBO Max.
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2025-12-18 00:44