IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 3: Now you see it Review

The town of Derry returns this week with another episode guaranteed to give horror fans the willies. As expected, the adults of Derry continue turning a blind eye to the strange and disturbing - a running implication in the IT mythos that they know something is wrong but choose to ignore it. We open even further back in the timeline at a circus, complete with all your favourite acts such as… an old man! Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård) once again manipulates reality from the shadows, adopting a subtler, creepier approach rather than the full, chaotic nightmare we've seen before. And, naturally, the kids in the intro get annihilated - cementing Pennywise's position as the worst daycare employee of all time, dethroning Morrow (Alien: Earth) without breaking a sweat.

Lilly (Clara Stack) has now been checked into an asylum for insanity, while Hank (Stephen Rider) has been incarcerated and framed for the massacre of children at the theatre. The police torment Hank with cruel, racially charged treatment, ensuring he knows he will be blamed. We then rejoin the Cold War subplot, where a squad of Black soldiers are suddenly treated like royalty because the government needs them, further highlighting the era's racial injustice and grounding the show's supernatural horror with real-life horror.

Hallorann (Chris Chalk) suffers a momentary possession by Pennywise in a scene of pure psychological torment, nearly ending his own life as he desperately tries to escape the visions. Here, we get our first true glimpse of Skarsgård in clown form as he utters a single line "Who are you?" in the voice. It's chilling, impactful, and hits just as hard as it did in the films. Skarsgård was born for this role, and even in one brief moment he radiates that deeply unsettling energy he brought to IT (2017), still the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He did something right… aside from fuelling my fear of clowns and making me cry in the cinema. Yes, that actually happened, and yes, my friend swore to never speak of it again.

The actual main cast of children finally forms this episode, and they're far more likeable than the first "Suicide Squad" we were introduced to. They're a breath of fresh air as far as child actors go. Rich (Arian S. Cartaya) stands out as the most charming, reminiscent of Finn Wolfhard's Richie from IT (2017) with his childish wonder, immaturity, and wholesome humour. Lilly (Stack) continues to give everything she's got, making her character compelling and easy to root for. Together, the kids decide to perform a ritual to capture the strange entities on camera… which goes about as well as you'd expect.

The torment they endure is unholy - so extreme it crosses the line into darkly laughable. Pennywise is on absolute smoke this season, though seemingly only when dealing with side characters. A brilliantly executed darkroom sequence follows as the kids develop their film, discovering they've actually managed to capture the entity. The final frame reveals a shadowy image of a clown, setting the stage for an episode that will hopefully showcase Pennywise for more than a single fleeting moment. Alien: Earth barely showed its Xenomorph, which became frustrating and left a sour taste by the finale. Here's hoping Welcome to Derry avoids the same mistake and lets Pennywise unleash the chaos we crave.

IT: Welcome to Derry continues to shine with exceptional horror, bold visuals, and a story that's gradually becoming more engaging. With characters we can finally care about and terror that refuses to let up, the series is carving its own bloody path, and we're strapped in for the ride.

Episode 1 review

Episode 2 review

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Blake Reilly