The season finale of HBO's IT: Welcome to Derry sees the young Losers Club banish Pennywise to the sewers after a tense confrontation on Derry's frozen border. Executive producers Andy and Barbara Muschietti reveal connections to the original IT movies, including a key character's link to Richie Tozier and a cameo by Sophia Lillis as Beverly Marsh. The episode ends with a 'Chapter One' title card, hinting at a planned three-season arc.
Finale Plot Summary
In the eighth and final episode of IT: Welcome to Derry, the young Losers Club—Lilly (Clara Stack), Marge (Matilda Lawler), Ronnie (Amanda Christine), and Will (Blake Cameron James)—team up with the ghost of Rich (Arian S. Cartaya) to prevent Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård) from escaping Derry, Maine. During an intense sequence on the frozen river at the town's edge, they plunge a mystical dagger into an ancient tree, linking it to other pillars that confine the entity. Though victorious, Pennywise retreats to the sewers for his 27-year cycle, taunting Marge with revelations about time: he experiences it nonlinearly, suggesting his future defeat by the adult Losers Club could be his origin, and he might travel back to erase their ancestors.
Connections to IT Movies
The finale bridges the prequel series to the 2017 and 2019 IT films. Marge is revealed as the future mother of Richie Tozier (Finn Wolfhard), a twist that was Andy Muschietti's initial concept for the show, pitched even before Stephen King. This bloodline tie adds depth, with Marge's personality echoing Richie's humor. A coda features Sophia Lillis reprising Beverly Marsh in a scene at Juniper Hill, connecting to It Chapter Two's Mrs. Kersh (Joan Gregson, who passed shortly after filming). The episode's 'Chapter One' title card mirrors the first film's ending, building excitement for more seasons.
Future Plans and Production Insights
Andy and Barbara Muschietti envision a three-season structure, drawing from the book's interludes: the 1908 Easter egg hunt explosion, 1935 Bradley Gang massacre, and 1962 Black Spot fire (adjusted for the show's timeline). HBO has not renewed yet, but the producers express optimism despite the show's high production costs. Filming the foggy river scene proved challenging; it was shot on a stage with hand-painted ice floors to simulate the environment, adapting due to the writers' strike pushing production into winter. These elements subvert prequel expectations by implying Pennywise could rewrite history, keeping stakes high despite known film outcomes.