IT: Welcome To Derry Series
Warning: Spoiler Alert
Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti expanded their IT universe with IT: Welcome To Derry Series. This prequel takes us deeper into Penny-wise origins while intensifying the horror and trauma that define the story.
Andy and Barbara Muschietti (The Flash, Mama) took a major risk by expanding their IT universe with, IT: Welcome To Derry Series, a prequel To the IT movies. TV series typically sacrifice cinematic quality, and prequels that explain backstories often become messy. However, defies these expectations. The show maintains all the cinematic elements, tone, and style that defined the IT films.
IT: Welcome to Derry justifies its existence as a prequel because Stephen King’s universe already features crossover characters and events. King established these connections through the interludes in the IT novel.
The Muschiettis gave one character, Dick Hallorann (played by Chris Chalk), significant depth and prominence. By crossing over IT with The Shining, they shaped the series’ direction and expanded Dick’s role beyond what King did in the novel. Chris Chalk, known for his work in Gotham, 12 Years a Slave, and A Most Violent Year, delivers such an incredible performance that he makes Dick a standout character in the IT series. His compelling portrayal could even warrant a Dick Hallorann spin-off.
Beyond the crossovers, the series explores multiple layers and levels of fear, covering each one brilliantly. In particular, it dives deeper into the specific fears that children experienced in 1962 compared to those in 1989. The writing stands out by including the military as a subplot, showing how the fear of nuclear attack weighed heavily on people during that era. This fear infiltrated everyday life, manifesting in concerns about radiation affecting childbirths—a theme the Muschiettis powerfully depict in episode one.
That episode sets up the entire season. The opening immediately captures your interest when Matty appears with a pacifier, watching a horror movie alone at the cinema. “This is the TV version of little Georgie,” you think. You accept his demise and begin connecting with his friends as the main characters throughout the episode. Then, the series delivers a horrifying reality check: no one is safe in Derry, especially kids.
This approach maintains the series’ strong pace, with every episode keeping you intrigued through terrifying horror sequences. And small clues that engage the audience in piecing together Penny-wise’s mystery. Meanwhile, the young actors excel in their roles, each delivering raw, unfiltered emotion through strong performances that immerse the audience in their trauma and fears throughout every scene.
Making the audience wait for Penny-wise amplifies the element of fear. Even though IT appears from episodes one through five in different forms based on the kids’ fears. This anticipation, tension, and anxiety of actually seeing the evil clown build a much more terrifying atmosphere . When Penny-wise finally reveals himself, he dominates every scene. The realistic costume creates an ominous atmosphere that allows Bill Skarsgård (Nosferatu, The Crow) to bring Penny-wise to life with chilling authenticity.
The result is a psychological dread that sets IT: Welcome to Derry apart from other horror series. Bill Skarsgård commands every scene, bringing the character to life through facial expressions enhanced by unsettling physicality and vocal work that push Penny-wise’s terror to new heights. He shifts his features into disturbing, inhuman expressions while moving effortlessly between childlike playfulness and predatory menace. What makes his performance truly frightening is how he tailors each encounter to his victim’s deepest fears, creating a personalized horror that feels inescapable.
The show’s only real flaw is the CGI. While the effects worked well enough in the first episode, the quality dipped as the series progressed, occasionally taking the sting out of the more horrifying sequences. Thankfully, the actors really carried those moments; their performances, paired with some incredible set design, kept the scenes effective despite the technical hiccups. If the show returns for future seasons, though, the CGI definitely needs an upgrade to match the high quality of the rest of the production.
A standout element is the inclusion of indigenous history; it adds a rich, unique perspective that we rarely see in mainstream horror, giving the story much-needed depth. Focusing the season on the Hanlon family maintains a vital link to the original movies and grounds the show’s core theme of family. We finally get to see their full history: how they arrived in Derry and, more importantly, why they chose to stay despite the trauma and chaos surrounding the town.
Overall, IT: Welcome To Derry is a remarkably well-structured series. It manages to expand the IT universe without messing with the established lore. Everything Andy and Barbara Muschietti brought to this prequel clicks, easily making it one of the best shows of 2025.
