"IT: Welcome to Derry": What Comes Next?!

One of this year’s biggest shows, "IT: Welcome to Derry", has concluded, and overall, reviews have been somewhat mixed but positive, as it "averaged 10.7M U.S. and 18.3M global viewers to-date."

The show succeeds in many areas, most clearly in acting, atmosphere, and their commitment to creating a classic small-town horror.  From its eerie production design to its dark tone, "IT: Welcome to Derry" is killing it in many different ways. The young cast is brilliant and grounded, and Pennywise is a truly terrifying presence. So far, this show really excels when it treats the town itself as the horror, with Season 2 probably leaning more fully into that.

That said, some viewers have been critical of the show’s pacing and clarity, particularly when it comes to writing and character arcs.  At times, the plot feels intentionally foggy, but even through the plot-related and actual fog, the show is still chugging right along.

So well, in fact, that the plan is still in motion to continue on with more seasons, as the show creators want to move backwards in time. The first season takes place in 1962 in a town based on Bangor, Maine, where IT author Stephen King lived for many years. In Season 1, we got a look into a very alive, very real time, where small towns still struggled with elements of racism, economic decline, and violence.

It’s a town that can feel familiar, and there are still a few questions on our minds surrounding the town's inhabitants and their roles. We definitely see the children's stories, and we can follow Pennywise’s journey so far, but when it comes to some of the smaller roles and other people in the town, fans have questions.

So, the current plan outlines a timeline that moves from roughly 1962 (Season 1) to 1935 (Season 2) then eventually to the early-1900s (Season 3).

We think there are great opportunities in Season 2 to explore some of the older, more underdeveloped characters, such as the parents, as well as another central character: the town itself. Does the town of Derry actually have a larger part to play in Pennywise’s rise? We think next season will of course highlight more backstory for Pennywise, but it will also follow how the town has developed, and, naturally, Season 2 will explore those who live in the town. Did earlier generations respond or fail to respond to what was happening? Were they trying to fight this problem all along?

If Season 1 shows us flaws, and shows us an underdeveloped town and its people, numb to their already darkened environment, perhaps Season 2 will show us how they got there in the first place. Was it always a town where people walked in fear? How did everyone react to this news of a gruesome, homicidal clown living underneath them? What does horror look like in 1935 Derry? In 1908? Did nobody actually mind this horror because it lowered the rent prices?

And the military, as an entire character, will most likely be explored more in this next season. We see General Shaw in this season desperately searching for an interaction with Pennywise, and when he finally meets him, it doesn’t go too well. Was General Shaw trying to make a weapon out of Pennywise? Is the military character a complete villain or a force for good?

All we can say for sure is that we will have a lot more time to explore and learn, and given that the show gathered 5.7 million viewers in 3 days and became the 3rd biggest series premiere on HBO in history, we and many others are very excited for all that will come!

Season 1 of "IT: Welcome to Derry" is now streaming on HBO Max.