The first episode of IT: Welcome to Derry, a new HBO Max series based on Stephen King's iconic horror novel, premiered on October 26, drawing rave reviews from fans for its intense and unexpected storytelling. Set in the fictional town of Derry, the show explores the town's dark history and the origins of the shape-shifting entity Pennywise. Co-creator Andy Muschietti revealed plans for a backward narrative across three seasons.
Premiere and Plot Overview
IT: Welcome to Derry launched its debut episode on HBO Max on October 26, with subsequent episodes airing every Sunday. The series is inspired by Stephen King's 1986 novel IT, focusing on the eerie events in Derry, including disasters, vanishings, and encounters with a child-stealing creature from the sewers. The first season is set in 1962, 27 years before the events of the 2017 film IT Chapter One, drawing from the book's 'interlude' sections that detail the town's haunted past.
Creative Vision and Structure
Co-creator Andy Muschietti, who directed the IT films, described the series at New York Comic Con as a story told in reverse. It spans three seasons: Season 1 in 1962, Season 2 in 1935, and Season 3 in 1908, culminating in the origins of IT as Pennywise. Muschietti stated, 'a story that is told not forward but a story that is told backward and has a final conclusion - the events in which IT becomes Pennywise.'
Fan Reactions
Viewers have praised the episode for its shocking intensity and subversion of expectations. One fan wrote, 'The ending was horrifyingly gruesome in the best way possible lol.' Another shared, 'I'm still asking myself DID THAT REALLY HAPPEN? ! Lov-ing it. Let's go!' Comments highlighted the creepiness and bold start, with one calling it 'traumatic' and noting, 'This bodes really well for the rest of the season and even the show. Wow.' A King enthusiast added, 'When I looked up the director after the trailer dropped and saw that it was Andy Muschietti, I KNEW we'd be in for a good time... But man, I was not at all expecting the first episode to go that hard.' Many appreciated how it avoided a slow burn, with a viewer saying, 'Love that they subverted expectations and went big first episode.'
The series is available to stream on HBO Max, exciting horror fans for more installments.