A Halloween Surprise: IT: Welcome to Derry Makes a Strong First Impression
October 31, Halloween, was the perfect time for me to dive into one of the shows I had been eagerly anticipating all year. IT: Welcome to Derry had just released its first two episodes, and I couldn’t wait to see what it had in store. Normally, I follow a personal rule: I never discuss a show until the finale, no matter how impressive the opening is. Even with one of my all-time favorite shows, The Penguin, I kept quiet until the final episode. However, this show’s debut was so strong that I felt compelled to share my thoughts.
By the first 10 minutes, it was clear that this was a quintessential Stephen King IT universe. IT: Welcome to Derry is a horror series that serves as a prequel to the recent films IT and IT Chapter Two, all based on Stephen King’s novels. The core creative team from the movies—Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs—developed the series, and crucially, Bill Skarsgård returns as Pennywise.
The story begins in 1962, when a couple and their son move to Derry, Maine, just as a young boy disappears, signaling the return of the town’s horrors.
Unexpected Cinematic Quality
When you sit down to watch a new TV show, especially early in the season, you usually expect some budgetary constraints. You assume the production won’t be on the same level as a feature film. You don’t expect a true cinematic experience, nor do you anticipate them going all out immediately in terms of production value. Usually, they save the biggest scares and best moments for the final episodes, spreading the horror out until the end.
I was surprised by how much this series broke that rule. They don’t slowly ease you in; they throw you into the horror long before the world-building. The show hijacks your attention in those first two episodes, a formula we’ve seen in other episodes but not on this level. This is one of the few shows I’ve seen recently where the production value, cinematography, sound design, props, and sets feel cinematic. The attention to detail is remarkable.
The costume design, cars, and sets are so meticulously done that the 1962 setting doesn’t just look like that time period—it actually transports you there. The performances also feel like they are from that era, with a distinct Steven Spielberg touch in the way they handle the young characters. It brings to mind the character dynamics of Stranger Things.
However, because this is IT, a concept anchored in horror, they don’t forget that element, even with all the setups. I was perplexed by how much they embraced the sheer terror of the movies in the first 15 minutes. This show follows two very successful films that defined modern horror, and the first two episodes are equally uncomfortable to watch on occasion. A simple scene in a movie theater genuinely sends shivers down my spine and had me on the edge of my seat.
When I compare this to Stranger Things, you have to understand that this is the same kind of dynamic and character set-up, but with the horror turned up to eleven. The things portrayed here, in terms of visceral terror, are equivalent to what you saw in IT Chapter Two, but this time slightly more character-driven.
Expanding the Stephen King Universe
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not pure horror all the way. There’s a lot of story setup and exposition happening. While it might feel like they drag slightly in places, the wealth of background detail hints at something much bigger being built. If you’re a true Stephen King fan, you’ll pick up small lore details in the background that confirm this series is looking to expand the Stephen King Universe.
It feels like they are doing something interesting with his world, with small elements popping in and out that are clearly setting the stage for more complex mythology. Do I think it’s absolutely perfect? No, but it definitely got my adrenaline pumping with some scenes done in a way I’ve never seen before. I’m on board. I will continue to watch this series, and it was a really pleasant surprise that it’s far more supernatural and intensely frightening than I expected.
The only minor spots were sections that felt a little slow, but overall, it’s a powerful start.