IT: Welcome to Derry:
The Complete First Season review by Bobby Blakey
There are few horror characters that are as iconic as Tim Curry’s IT from the 1990 TV miniseries portrayed brilliantly by Tim Curry. In 2017 director Andy Muschietti brought a new version of the story to life along with the continuation 2019 IT: Chapter Two with both garnering critical acclaim and success. When they announced they were expanding the story of Pennywise to a TV series it was both exciting and worrying about whether it was necessary or going to work at all.
IT: Welcome to Derry follows the world of Stephen King’s “IT” universe and expands the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in the feature films “IT” and “IT Chapter Two.” This terrifying prequel series goes back to 1962 to trace the origins of the murderous, shape-shifting entity known as Pennywise the Clown. The series stars Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Clara Stack, Amanda Christine, and Mikkal Karim-Fidler, with Bill Skarsgård reprising his role as Pennywise with Muschietti returning to produce.
The idea of delving deeper into any slasher or killer often ends up ruining the mystique and lore. Part of what makes Pennywise creepy is that while we learned the legend knew very little. To my surprise this series handles things well to delve into the world of Pennywise, but more so the town and its history. This not only gets you further invested in the story but allows them to bring in familiar tropes of the original films while bringing plenty of new elements to the forefront to be something all its own.
The deeper dive into the world of Stephen King was genius featuring many easter eggs and connections to other books. These will no doubt hit well with fans of his books but are also done in a way that if you don’t know it doesn’t affect the narrative of the story. They exist and you get them or you don’t but it all still pushes the story in the right direction for this one instead of just fan service.
It sometimes gets lost in the number of stories it’s trying to tell for me with the pacing limping along in some episodes, but not enough that it ruined the
experience when all said and done. The cast are great and the time period elevates the ideals to really capture something different in this familiar world. I enjoyed the cast but let’s be honest this film hinges on Pennywise himself and thankfully the return of Skarsgård to the role hits it home. It takes a bit for Pennywise to show up in the show, which I think was a good choice to make it more impactful, but when he does it is fantastic. Getting to see Skarsgård playing Bob Gray, the original human Pennywise in 1908 is one of the best episodes and a great origin that doesn’t take away from the version we love.
I really dug this series and hope they greenlight the promised next season that looks to go further back in time from what I have heard. Even if it never happens this season brings enough to elevate the films and other King works in a way I never expected to work.
In addition to all 8 episodes of the season, this release offers bonus content including 3 extended behind the episode featurettes and an all new never-before-seen featurette. Return to the haunted town of Derry when IT: Welcome to Derry: The Complete First Season hits 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on May 5th from HBO and Warner Bros Discovery Home Entertainment.
