The first episode of It: Welcome to Derry premiered on HBO earlier this evening, and it wastes no time plunging viewers into some of the most terrifying imagery the It franchise has ever seen. But does Pennywise make an appearance? Here’s what happens.
The story begins with a young boy named Matty being chased out of a Derry movie theater by an overly persistent usher. It’s clear from the start that Matty’s home life isn’t easy, and in desperation, he hitches a ride with a family heading out of town.
However, what starts as a simple escape soon turns into a nightmare. The road trip grows increasingly disturbing, and before long, the car mysteriously ends up back in Derry. It becomes chillingly obvious that the family — mother, father, son, and daughter — are all under Pennywise’s influence.
In one of the episode’s most grotesque moments, the mother gives birth to a two-headed demon baby with fangs and wings. The creature wreaks havoc inside the car, though the fate of the family is left horrifyingly unclear.
As the town reels, we learn that Matty has gone missing. A group of local kids — Lilly, Phil, Terry, Veronica, and Marge — decide to investigate. They begin hearing a haunting song echoing through the pipes, the same tune that played in the movie Matty watched the night he disappeared.
When Matty suddenly appears on the theater screen before them, chaos erupts. The monstrous baby, now much larger, bursts into reality and begins a gruesome rampage. It mauls Terry, tears Phil in half, and brutally attacks Marge, the youngest of the group.
Lilly and Veronica race to the lobby, terrified and covered in blood. When Lilly looks down, she realizes she’s holding Marge’s severed hand. The two scream — and the screen cuts to black, confirming their nightmare was real.
So, does Pennywise the Clown appear? Not in his familiar form. At this stage in the series, “It” manifests as a nightmarish baby — a new and deeply disturbing incarnation meant to torment these children in ways they’ve never faced before.
As for where It: Welcome to Derry goes next, it’s too early to tell. The mystery deepens in the second episode, and an unexpected military subplot begins to tie into the larger story in surprising ways. Pennywise’s arrival? Fans will have to wait a bit longer for that.
Set within Stephen King’s It universe, It: Welcome to Derry expands upon the world first brought to life by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in It and It Chapter Two. The series stars Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, Rudy Mancuso, and Bill Skarsgård.
Produced by Warner Bros. Television, the show was developed for television by Andy and Barbara Muschietti (It, The Flash) alongside Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman). Andy Muschietti directs four of the nine episodes.
It: Welcome to Derry is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes dropping weekly and the season finale scheduled for December 14.
