The new series, IT: Welcome to Derry, has been carefully revealing the terrifying origins of the evil at the heart of Stephen King’s story. Initially, the show explored the creature’s alien beginnings and how it first came to Earth. More recently, it’s focused on how the entity became Pennywise the Dancing Clown, played by Bill Skarsgård. The series is also clearly establishing what the creature can do, showing how it’s limited by the town of Derry and how it uses its ability to change shape to trap people. However, the latest episode takes the story in a new direction, changing how we understand the monster’s most powerful ability.
Warning: Spoilers below for IT: Welcome to Derry, Episode 7
The show Welcome to Derry revealed that the terrifying clown is actually based on a man named Bob Gray. Gray was a circus performer who was killed by the creature in 1908, leaving his daughter, Ingrid, without a parent. Now, in 1962, Ingrid (played by Madeleine Stowe) is deeply traumatized by her father’s death. This leads her to dress as a clown and obsessively watch children, hoping to somehow connect with him. Her fixation reaches a tragic point in Episode 7 when she informs the police about Hank Grogan’s location at the Black Spot.
The raid leads to a racially motivated firebombing that completely destroys the club and tragically kills everyone inside, creating the perfect conditions for the monster to appear. During the blaze, Ingrid comes face-to-face with the creature disguised as her father, and painfully realizes he’s no longer the man she knew. The monster reacts to this realization by opening its mouth and releasing the terrifying Deadlights, instantly paralyzing Ingrid and lifting her into the air. However, what happens next is unexpected – despite the severity of the attack, Ingrid is later seen being taken away in an ambulance, injured but still conscious.
How Do the Deadlights Work in IT: Welcome to Derry?
In the movie versions of IT, the Deadlights are the creature’s core essence – a powerful, cosmic energy shown as three glowing orbs deep within its throat. Seeing these lights is usually fatal. Those who look into them immediately fall into a catatonic state, trapped in a terrifying nightmare while their bodies are destroyed. It’s Pennywise’s most devastating attack, a way to steal souls with no escape. The films also reveal that those who see the lights become part of the endless stream of lost souls, a trance that can only be broken by a powerful emotional bond.
Ingrid surviving her encounter in Welcome to Derry doesn’t quite fit with what we’ve seen before. Based on how the Deadlights usually work, she should be severely traumatized and disconnected from reality. The fact that she remained aware suggests either this version of the power works differently, or it affects adults in a unique way. Another possibility is that the creature, which thrives on fear, deliberately spared Ingrid, perhaps to use her for something sinister later in the season.
New episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry premiere on HBO every Sunday.
Is Pennywise less powerful in this version of the story, or did he intentionally let Ingrid escape? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!
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2025-12-08 17:18