Welcome to Derry

By Alsion Fortune

Anyone who has engaged with me in conversation about It (both the 1986 novel by Stephen King and the two film adaptations directed by Andy Muschetti, released in 2017 and 2019) has likely heard me bemoan what the general public tends to focus on in this world. I love It because I love the depiction of friendship between the main characters: however, “I don’t care about the clown!” I say when confronted with Pennywise merchandise. “This is not about the stupid clown!!”

So you can imagine I was not overly excited when Andy and his sister Barbara announced they would be working on an It prequel series (entitled Welcome to Derry) that would track Pennywise through his previous cycles of destruction. I care deeply about the Losers Club and their bond, not the capering scares of It. “So you’re not gonna watch the show?” my friends asked me. “Well, of course I’m going to watch it,” I responded. I am so desperate for crumbs that I’d consume just about anything set in that world. 

Although It: Welcome to Derry fell into some of the pitfalls I feared it might, I was pleasantly surprised by how engaged I was in the series. I found a new generation of children to care about and root for in the show, and I enjoyed the connections drawn between them and the pre-existing story. The show does a marvelous job creating characters that feel in tone with the previous iteration of the Losers Club while still being distinct individuals. My particular favorites were Marge and Rich; the young actors did a phenomenal job developing the relationship between the two of them, backed by strong dramatic presences and impeccable comic timing. Both of them managed to bring me to tears at different points in the series.

However, the show did do what I feared it might, and unnecessarily developed Pennywise’s lore in a way I feel weakens the work. A large part of the finale involves the characters stopping Pennywise from escaping Derry, with the implication that Pennywise would be interested in wreaking havoc on the whole world if possible. However, one of the things I find compelling about the original text is that Pennywise isn’t trapped in Derry: It makes a home there because it’s an easy and fertile hunting ground. Creating a narrative that It would have some grandiose design on world dominion is out of step with the original work.

The show also features a ludicrous subplot about the US military and their attempt to capture Pennywise. Even the reveal that the General in charge of the mission intends to utilize It against the US public to create a culture of fear rather than deploying it on the Soviet Union doesn’t make any more sense than what we’re initially led to believe. Although I enjoyed how the Cold War hovered in the background of the show, I feel like there were more sensible ways to make it part of the plot. 

The production design is consistently gorgeous, with strong costuming and set work. All of the actors are doing phenomenal work: in particular, Chris Chalk, who plays Dick Halloran, is absolutely nailing every scene he’s in, and I very much enjoyed how this depiction of the characters de-constructs some of the magical black man tropes that are unfortunately found in King’s works. There are many joys for constant King readers, and plenty of scares for more casual fans (the winged demon baby from the first episode will haunt my nightmares for a good long while). But in the show’s attempt to develop the narrative, some of the internal logic begins to fray, both within this season and in connection with the films. Characters’ choices often feel like they happen to hit certain plot beats; we work back from dramatic moments rather than building towards them. 

The show is at its best when it’s playing to the strength of the original films: excellent young actors banding together to fight off their deepest fears. I was as sad to see these young characters go as I was when I finished the book. Although there are elements that simply do not make sense and feel out of touch with the themes of the novel, there is much I will forgive in a King adaptation made by those who clearly love the world.  I’m eagerly waiting to hear if the show has been picked up for a second series: I will absolutely be tuning in if so.