Stephen King adaptations have been dominating television and film for decades, but over the last few years, we’ve seen so many of his works brought to the screen- Doctor Sleep, The Monkey, The Long Walk, The Life of Chuck, and the list goes on. Out of his adaptations over the last decade, undoubtedly the most successful has been Andy Muschietti’s It and It: Chapter Two.
Six years after the sequel, our favorite dancing clown is making another visit to the screen with It: Welcome to Derry. This eight-episode prequel series dives into Pennywise’s reign of terror on Derry 27 years before we meet The Loser’s Club.
We kick things off with an opening that shows us exactly what we’re in for– this is HBO, not a theatrical release. They’re able to up the intensity, and they do just that throughout these first five episodes. Following the disappearance of a boy in Derry, Leroy and Charlotte Hanlon move to the town with their son, Will. We are taking it right into the 1960s, with JFK as president, at the height of the Cold War, and in the midst of the Civil Rights movement. In this quaint, small town, the Hanlons try their best to feel welcomed. As we saw in the films, even though Derry (especially under a candy colored 60s lens) looks wholesome, cracks appear that reveal what we already know to be something much darker.
To make sure I don’t reveal anything that could spoil your journey through the series, I have to be pretty vague with my review, but I will be doing weekly episode recaps once they drop. There are a lot of moving pieces– between the kids’ storyline, military operations, and more. I wish I could get into it all right now, but alas, I’ll dive into it when the time comes. It is a bit of a wait until we finally see Pennywise, but I think it was a good call to let the plotlines breathe. Even though we’re already acquainted with Pennywise and anticipating him, this allows for time for all of the characters, child and adult, to unravel the mystery themselves. Although it’s more drawn out, with a lot more runtime compared to the films, a lot is happening, so it never feels like it drags. There are more connections and mysteries for us to uncover, making it feel fresh. It’s not more of the same, and I really like that they took this story to such a level.
Tonally, it fits in perfectly with the previous installments. The highlight of the films was how deeply we connected with each character, and we get that same feeling here. In the films, we don’t have many moments with adult characters, but we see how Pennywise’s evil seeps into them. Welcome to Derry opens up the town even more, as we follow characters of all ages and backgrounds, gaining insight into their lives within the city. Having the Hanlons as the central characters, fresh to Derry, gives us more pieces of understanding the whole picture leading up to the films.
Of course, we’re following Mike’s father, grandmother, and grandfather. The layers to their experience because of who they are add so much depth. Given that they’re a Black family in a predominantly white town, they were already alert for different reasons. Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, and Blake Cameron James were phenomenal casting choices. Their performances are top-notch, and they radiate such a strong family bond, something we have yet to see in the world of the It stories.
Since I ended at episode five, I’m really curious to see how the rest of the series plays out. There is a lot to address, but where I left off, the storylines began to converge more than I expected. If you enjoy It, It: Chapter Two, or the novel, I think you’ll find a lot to sink your teeth into with this series. Even though we’re headed in a different direction, the vibe of the previous installments is felt. With fresh reveals, interesting new characters, and a new perspective on Derry, the series seems promising so far.
Rating: 7.5/10