It: Welcome to Derry is a supernatural horror television series based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel It. The show serves as a prequel to the films It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019) and was directed by Andy Muschietti along with others who were involved in the original films.
Overall, I thought the series was great. At first, however, I was genuinely confused. During the first three or four episodes, I kept thinking, “I’m intrigued, but I’m so lost.” This made me question what the show was really about, which reflects its slow pacing in the beginning. While the story eventually builds up well, the decision to release only one episode per week also made the plot harder to follow at first.
Despite this, I really enjoyed the storyline and the way the characters express their emotions, which helps the audience connect with them and understand their development. I appreciated seeing both new faces and familiar ones—specifically Bill Skarsgård, whose performance as Pennywise was once again incredible. I especially loved how the series explored Pennywise’s background without trying to compete with or outdo the previous films, It or It Chapter Two. His acting was phenomenal; it has been a while since he was last that character, and for him to jump back as the same Pennywise was a relief to see.
The production quality was excellent. The music and sound effects during the jump-scare scenes were very effective, and the lighting made each scene feel distinct. One moment that stood out to me was in Episode 2, around the 55-minute mark, when Lilly (Clara Stack) is buying groceries in the supermarket, and her nightmare begins to feel like reality. I think that scene isn’t talked about enough. The camera angles, close-up shots, and the way the camera moves from left to right not only capture her emotions but also pull the audience into the tension of the moment. It was amazing.
There was one point where I felt the CGI was a bit overdone. The graveyard scene in Episode 3 looked too artificial and slightly took me out of the experience.
Although the show is not pure terror, it remains a dark, mysterious adventure that truly draws you into the world of Derry. Much of this success comes from how naturally the actors—especially the child actors—fit into their roles. Their performances felt authentic and convincing. I thought the ending of the series was how it should have been, and a good build-up to the films, as it is a prequel.
I would highly recommend this series. It even reached number one on HBO Max’s Top 10 most-watched shows. If you enjoyed the first two films or are simply looking for a dark and mysterious small-town story, It: Welcome to Derry is definitely worth watching.
