IT: Welcome to Derry - Episode 6: In the Name of the Father Review

We are dropped back in time to 1935 in Juniper Asylum, the footage washed in black and white while Pennywise's red balloon and the eyes of the clown god himself are the only things in colour. It's a chilling, atmospheric cold open. The clown steps forward and we snap to the opening credits, as cool and stylish as ever. It's an ominous stage-setter that casts a long, sinister shadow over everything that follows.

Will (Blake Cameron James) and Leroy (Jovan Adepo) clash over the events of last episode, culminating in Leroy smacking young Will, who runs off. The town is in full panic mode, and the kids are at each other's throats. Pennywise is worming his way under everyone's skin like a Scarab from The Mummy franchise - goodbye darkness, I'm sleeping with the lights on and never going to Egypt or Derry. The paranoia infecting Derry adds a layer of doubt to everything on screen, and the relentless hallucinations every five minutes heighten the series' chaotic, unsettling sense of the unknown.

The Cold War plot picks up as Hallorann (Chris Chalk), still reeling from witnessing his friends die, opens up to Leroy (Adepo) about his ability. Both actors deliver top-tier work here, but the storyline still feels stale. Hallorann's fear is justified, but the trope of the traumatised psychic is familiar territory, and it's been executed better elsewhere. The emotional beats land, yet the overall arc remains the least compelling thread of the series.

Rich (Arian S. Cartaya) continues to be the standout among the kids—funny, charming, and effortlessly likeable, which of course makes him feel destined for an early grave. Aside from Leroy's friend, we haven't had a truly impactful death yet. Lily (Clara Stack) gives her all and is mostly sympathetic, but Rich eclipses nearly everyone in terms of pure charisma. Still, something tells me Lily is the one who'll make it to the final showdown.

Lily visits her relative and discovers a photograph of the original Pennywise, which leads to a brilliantly creepy reveal: it was her mother who stalked them dressed as a clown. This ties directly into the cold open, and what follows is one of the most unhinged and terrifying moments of Pennywise we've ever seen. Skarsgård absolutely detonates the scene - genuinely made me jump and lean away from the screen. It invoked the fear-of-God feeling I haven't experienced since the church scene in 28 Days Later. I've praised the horror in this series repeatedly and it continues to prove itself elite.

Welcome to Derry also excels in its depiction of real-world horrors -particularly the racism of the era. It reminds us that while the clown is unspeakably evil, the town itself feeds him through its hate and hostility. Much like Sinners (2025), its approach to cultural appropriation and assimilation is handled with care and told visually with both beauty and brutality. A joyous night within the African American community is violently interrupted by armed townsfolk in masks… and we cut to black.

Although a mixed bag overall, this episode reaches some extreme highs and delivers genuinely thrilling horror moments. I need more Skarsgård, and I need him now.

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Blake Reilly