It: Welcome to Derry premiere is so brutal it makes Game of Thrones look tame
It: Welcome to Derry arrives on HBO this weekend, taking viewers back to Derry, Maine, in 1962 and following a new group of kids who face an ancient, fear-driven clown. The series opens with a cold January night scene that centers on a 12-year-old boy and establishes a dark tone quickly.
Premiere details
The show It: Welcome to Derry premieres this weekend on HBO. It is a multi-episode series that revisits the town of Derry in 1962. The episode runtime is longer than a typical film, and the series is presented with HBO’s extended-format approach.
Opening scene and setup
The first episode opens on a snowy evening in January, 1962. A 12-year-old boy, played by Miles Ekhardt, is shown after being kicked out of a movie theater and refusing to return to his home. He clings to a pacifier while hitchhiking. When he accepts a ride, events quickly turn violent. The episode uses this early sequence to set the episode’s tone and establish danger aimed at child characters. 
Tone and violence
According to the review, the episode displays intense and graphic violence, particularly involving children. Therefore, the review recommends a graphic content warning for viewers who are sensitive to depictions of violence against minors. The review also notes that the series shifts focus between glimpses of a primary monster and more varied, shapeshifting horrors in line with Stephen King’s novel.
Influences and format
Showrunner Jason Fuchs has compared Pennywise to the shark from Jaws, describing a creature revealed in glimpses that builds toward a larger payoff. In this series, however, the extended runtime allows the creators to explore multiple forms of terror and to spend more time developing atmosphere and dread. The review states the show pushes the scares further than the 2017 and 2019 It films and also beyond the earlier miniseries, and that it sets this darker tone early in the premiere.
Final notes
In short, the debut episode establishes a grim and graphic tone quickly, highlights its period setting in 1962, and centers on children as primary characters facing violent threats. The review finds the series effective for horror fans and suggests discretion for those wary of violent scenes involving kids. Overall, the show’s first episode is positioned as a strong, eerie start to the series.
