'It: Welcome To Derry' Review, 'Pennywise' Returns To Spread Chilling Horror In Town, Derry, Maine

It: Welcome to Derry, the American supernatural horror TV series, is currently all over the internet. For the unversed, the series is based on the popular 1986 novel, It, by Stephen King, and has been released today, October 26, 2025, on HBO. This supernatural horror series served as the prequel to the hit films, It and It Chapter Two. Swedish actor, Bill Skarsgård is returning as 'Pennywise' with It: Welcome to Derry. Now that the TV series has been released on HBO, let’s find out whether it's worth watching.

What to expect in the American supernatural horror series, It: Welcome to Derry?

It: Welcome to Derry is the newly released HBO series, a prequel to the hit franchise, It, set in the same creepy town of Derry, Maine. If the audience thought the evil effect of 'Pennywise' had ended with the 2019 hit film, It: Chapter Two, then they are wrong, as he is returning with the new TV series. 'Pennywise' is the clown who once terrorised the children. The story of It: Welcome to Derry takes place in 1962, almost 27 years before the horrifying events of It. The series explores how the town, Derry’s evil history began and also features the dark origins of 'Pennywise'.

The show focuses on a major event from Stephen King’s famous novel, the burning of the Black Spot, a nightclub created by the Black soldiers and locals. This club came under attack and was destroyed by a white supremacist group called the Maine Legion of White Decency. In Stephen King’s story, it’s hinted that 'Pennywise', the evil force haunting the town of Derry, played a key role in influencing the violence. Through this horrifying event and others, the American supernatural horror TV series has revealed how Derry’s tragedies are linked to 'Pennywise's' power.

It: Welcome to Derry brings back the real social horrors of 1960s America

The Muschietti siblings, Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti, bring back the real social horrors of 1960s America, including racism, police brutality, and white supremacy. The makers have included these real-life horrors to deepen the scare attached to the town of Derry. The real-life fears perfectly fit with the story of It: Welcome to Derry.

The young ensemble delivers standout performances alongside the main villain, Bill Skarsgård, in It: Welcome to Derry

Bill Skarsgård as 'Pennywise', the chilling monster, has successfully maintained the nightmare spread in the creepy town of Derry and becomes the heart of the series. However, it is the young ensemble that gave an equally strong fight with the main antagonist. Among the adult cast, Chris Chalk as 'Dick Hallorann' and Jovan Adepo as 'Leroy Hanlon' also delivered standout performances in the TV series.

What are critics saying about It: Welcome to Derry?

According to critics, the new HBO horror series, It: Welcome to Derry, has successfully expanded Stephen King’s universe. The show’s strength lies in its respect for the author’s lore, strong performances, especially Bill Skarsgård’s chilling return as 'Pennywise'. Even though it has some similarities to the popular Netflix horror series, Stranger Things, critics feel it is fresh, intense, and filled with horror.

Final Verdict: Is It: Welcome to Derry worth watching?

It: Welcome to Derry is a must-watch for fans of Stephen King, cinephiles who love horror films, and anyone who is drawn to gripping period dramas. The American horror TV series has successfully expanded the It universe by blending supernatural horror with the real social fears of 1960s America. With its faithful storytelling and intense, layered characters, the show is both fresh and horrifying, making it worth watching this weekend.

Have you watched the series, It: Welcome to Derry, or are you planning to watch? Let us know.

Also Read: 'It: Welcome To Derry', The Prequel To 'It' Films Reveals Mystery Of Red Balloons And Killer Clown

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