It: Welcome To Derry – From Pennywise's growing terror to Derry's ancient lore—what to expect from the season

It: Welcome To Derry is a prequel series that debuted on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium) in India and takes viewers back to 1962 in the haunting town of Derry, Maine. The first episode established a dark and unsettling tone, and the previews for the rest of the season's eight episodes show that the horror is about to become worse.

Pennywise's growing terror and incarnations

The trailer teases the growing supernatural and psychological terror. The spirit is obviously active and becoming more daring, even if Bill Skarsgård's Pennywise is mostly seen as a silhouette or in his terrifying incarnations, like the bat-winged, baby-headed monster that attacks the children in the cinema.

The highly anticipated early release of Episode 2 in time for Halloween is one of the most immediate points of anticipation. The Thing in the Dark is the title of an upcoming installment that is intended to capitalise on the shocking finale of the premiere, which included the terrible destruction or scattering of a potential new "Losers' Club" of youngsters. The teaser depicts scenes of panicked fleeing and claustrophobia, particularly in basements and darkened theatres, forcing the survivors to confront the horrifying occurrences head-on. The source material's signature psychosexual anxieties and social anxiety from the 1960s are subtly incorporated into the horror through twisted, nightmare images and intense, one-on-one conflicts.

ALSO READ: IT Welcome To Derry on OTT: When and where to watch episodes 2 - 8 of supernatural horror series

Adult plot and the Hanlon family

The adult plot will remain central, focussing on the Hanlon family—Mike Hanlon's (It) film ancestors—and their descendants. There appears to be a strong emphasis on the Cold War era and the Derry Air Force Base, as Major Will Hanlon (Jovan Adepo) and other important adult characters are portrayed in military uniforms.

The movie's scenes depict soldiers exploring a subterranean location and discovering "something buried in Derry a long time ago." The object is big and seems organic. An essential part of Stephen King's novel, this plotline links the town's long-forgotten past to the mysterious occurrences taking place in the present. A complicated examination of systematic evil and personal bravery, Major Hanlon's personal journey is characterised by racial friction within the military and the fear it wreaked on the population. Attempts to contain the creature, along with the suggestion of keeping "this thing in its cage" during dialogue, portray Hanlon's story as an investigation into a decades-long conspiracy that may be linked to military knowledge of It.

Town evil beyond children's group

The town's wickedness will go beyond the immediate predicament of the focal child group in upcoming episodes.

A Native American character in ceremonial garb and another with a bright, carved knife are strong hints that the show would expand on Derry's long history of connection to the earth, a theme from the It mythology concerning the Chüd rite. Important new backstory about the entity's origins and possible fighting styles should be revealed in this section.

Blending supernatural and real-world horrors

As shown in the violent altercation between an older and younger character and the terrifying last shot of Pennywise silhouetted against a burning, decaying background, the series will likely maintain its style of combining supernatural terror with real-world horrors, such as domestic problems and social unrest. A crucial aspect that would connect the 1962 setting to the later events of the It narrative is the horror felt by the townspeople, which manifests as paranoia and panic.

There will be a dramatic buildup that will redefine Derry's fear before the arrival of the new Losers' Club in the remaining seven episodes, which are slated to premiere weekly until the season finale on December 15, 2025.

FAQs:

Q: When does Episode 2 of It: Welcome To Derry release in India?

A: The second episode, titled "The Thing in the Dark," is scheduled for an early release on Friday, October 31, 2025 (Halloween) on the streaming platform JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium) in India. Subsequent episodes of the eight-episode season will then release weekly, culminating in the finale on December 15, 2025.

Q: Does Bill Skarsgård return as Pennywise in It: Welcome To Derry?

A: Yes, Bill Skarsgård reprises his role as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. However, in the series' early episodes, the entity mostly appears as menacing manifestations and terrifying silhouettes, preserving the character's mystery and emphasizing its shapeshifting nature.

Q: Will It: Welcome To Derry explore the Ritual of Chüd?

A: The appearance of Native American characters in the trailer, one with a carved, glowing knife, strongly hints that the series will delve into the deep, ancient lore of Derry and its ties to the land. This suggests that the series is preparing to introduce the concept of the Ritual of Chüd, a metaphysical battle of wills and belief that the Losers' Club uses to confront Pennywise in the source material.