Disclaimer: I have not read Stephen King’s IT, so this review focuses less on the homages that creator Andy Muschietti pays to King’s universe and more on whether it’s actually good TV.
IT: WELCOME TO DERRY is a hit-and-miss prequel to the most recent IT films. The show excels at creating atmosphere, delivering bloody horror, and putting children in genuine peril. Unfortunately, it falters due to on-the-nose writing and one-dimensional characters who express only basic emotions, lacking real human depth. The writers frequently violate the classic “show, don’t tell” rule, relying on clunky monologues that would work better in a novel than on TV.
Despite these flaws, the show’s strong production values and direction make it easy for audiences to get hooked as Muschietti expands King’s universe in a way that hints at a future MCU-style franchise.
Some random Good/Bad parts of the show:
- Good: When the kids face Pennywise. / Bad: Any time the kids face romance.
- Good: The military stuff in the back-half “shines.” / Bad: Anything military related in the first half.
- Good: Seeing THE DARK TOWER’S dagger. / Bad: Seeing it play out like THE LORD OF THE RINGS Golum whenever it’s touched.
Final Thought: IT: WELCOME TO DERRY had the potential to be this fall’s “it” show, but ultimately settles for being a run-of-the-mill King-infused horror. It’s elevated by Bill Skarsgård’s performance and impressive production values.
The entire first season is available on HBO MAX.
