WELCOME TO DERRY
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A moody, small-town horror prequel to Stephen King’s ‘IT’ that shows us where all that clown horror began.
He Said / She Said
“I’m into it, even if the gore level is ‘should I be watching this with the lights on?’ territory. The show doesn’t shy away from putting kids in danger (and showing it), which is… bold. I spent the first couple episodes wondering who the actual main characters were, but by episode three the puzzle pieces snapped into place. Now I’m hooked and curious how this all stitches into the movie lore. Bring on the balloons.”
“Great atmosphere, real bite, and once the story focuses up, it really works. Intense, but in the right way.”
Critical reception (so far)
Early response has been mixed in the way most ambitious horror tends to be. Critics praise the atmosphere, cinematography, and performances, and King-universe fans love seeing Derry get this much narrative space. The main friction points are pacing and the intentionally murky first episode.
If you enjoy prestige horror and don’t mind a slow burn, reception leans positive. If you need a clear protagonist by the end of Episode 1, you may land closer to “respect it, don’t love it.”
What it’s about
Welcome to Derry expands the world of It by zooming in on the town long before the Losers Club era. Strange events begin to stack up, tensions rise between families and social classes, and something hungry lurks just out of frame.
The show follows several kids and adults as the town’s history, trauma, and supernatural rot bubble to the surface. Rather than rehashing the original story, it builds out the ecosystem around the horror and asks: what kind of place breeds this much fear?
Overall vibe
Claustrophobic hometown dread with prestige-horror production values. This is not “spooky fun with a side of jump scares”; it’s heavier, moodier, and surprisingly gory, especially when kids are involved. Episode 1 is intentionally disorienting and a little confusing when it comes to “who is this actually about?”, but Episodes 2 and 3 pull the camera closer, letting a clearer core cast emerge.
Expect a slow burn that trades cheap shocks for simmering unease. It wants you on edge, invested in the kids, and slightly mad at the town itself.
Episode-by-episode (1–3)
A cinematic, unsettling introduction to Derry where the town feels like the main character. We meet several families and kids, glimpse the social fractures under the surface, and get a taste of just how far the horror is willing to go, including some unexpectedly graphic moments involving children.
Will tries to fit in to his new home and makes some new friends, while Ronnie is scared about what will happen to her father in a town convinced of his guilt.
The military is determined to find the entity that will give them the power they want, while the kids try to get a picture of what’s been terrorizing them.
Content warnings
This is firmly on the intense end of TV horror. Expect:
- Violence and gore, including scenes involving children
- Disturbing clown imagery and horror set-pieces
- Bullying, harassment, and emotional abuse
- Psychological tension, dread, and panic
- Occasional flashing lights and loud stingers
If kid-focused horror is a hard no for you, this might be too much.
Who will love it / who should skip it
Will love it if:
- You enjoy character-driven, atmospheric horror
- You like Stephen King stories rooted in dread
- You want prequels that expand the world rather than repeat it
- You don’t mind a slow burn with big payoffs
Should probably skip it:
- You need a clear protagonist by the end of Episode 1
- Kid-centered horror makes you uncomfortable
- You prefer campier, lighter scares
- Gore is a no-go for you