IT: WELCOME TO DERRY: SEASON ONE
Starring: Jovan Adepo, Taylour Paige, Stephen Rider, Matilda Lawler, Amanda Christine, Clara Stack, Blake Cameron James, Arian S. Cartaya, Chris Chalk, Thomas Mitchell, Peter Outerbridge, Kimberly Guerrero, Joshua Odjick, Madeleine Stowe, James Remar, and Bill Skarsgård
Creators: Jason Fuchs, Andy Muschietti, and Barbara Muschietti
ROBERT
I’m not a purveyor of Stephen King lore, but the IT films were simultaneously accessible and high-concept horror done successfully. When Welcome to Derry came to my attention, it seemed like director Andy Muschietti was wading back to his main life raft before the dregs of The Flash. How much could still be unpacked about Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård)? As it turns out, quite a bit, as the showrunners weave in a few King properties to tell a compelling story to build on the mythology. Skarsgård is as unhinged and maniacal as ever in his comfort role, and while schlocky, the show is thoughtful and refreshingly emotional.
QUENTIN
When it comes to horror television, genre fans are often left wanting because networks tend to keep scares tame to appease broader audiences and advertisers. Thankfully, HBO’s Welcome to Derry isn’t concerned with that. From a pure horror perspective, it’s terrifying and unsettling in all the ways Chapter One is, full of atmospheric dread and gruesome delights. The Stephen King Easter Eggs are a nice touch, too. However, as a beginning-to-end narrative, the story has enough scattered lulls that one’s attention might wander. It also somewhat reduces Pennywise’s (Bill Skarsgård) fear factor by overexplaining his origins. Still, evoking a sharper-edged Stranger Things, Derry is worth visiting.
PAIGE
Welcome to Derry is a bonkers addition to the IT franchise. Admittedly, its plot is scattered, and some of the CGI is downright horrendous; however, when creator Andy Muschietti and team lean into the suspenseful score, practical effects, and real life terrors, the nightmares come to life. You'll really feel like you’re stuck in Derry too. The series also does a compelling job of building the mythology surrounding Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård). While the mythos may take away some of the mystery that makes him so daunting, that expansion manages to deepen the intrigue about the entity. Another thing the series has going for it is that it does a killer job of weaving in lore from other Stephen King properties.
