IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 2 Recap – Pennywise’s Shadow Grows in “The Thing in the Dark”

IT: Welcome to Derry episode 2, titled “The Thing in the Dark,” continues HBO’s chilling prequel to Stephen King’s classic with an eerie mix of small-town fear, racial tension, and supernatural terror. The show delves deeper into Derry’s darkness, reminding viewers that Pennywise is not the only evil lurking beneath the surface.

Released on October 31, 2025, the episode expands on the events following the gruesome theater incident from episode 1. As Derry reels from the tragedy, police pressure leads to a wrongful arrest, teenagers face inner demons, and the U.S. military begins a secret mission that may tie directly to Pennywise’s origins.

Derry’s Darkness Unfolds Around Pennywise

Chief Clint Bowers (Peter Outerbridge) becomes the face of corrupted authority, forced to arrest Hank, the Black theater projectionist, simply to appease the town’s need for a culprit. Meanwhile, Lilly (Clara Stack) and Ronnie (Amanda Christie) — survivors of the previous episode’s horror — grapple with trauma, mistrust, and their own haunted visions.

Their nightmares reveal the show’s psychological depth: Ronnie’s guilt over her mother’s death and Lilly’s grief from her father’s bizarre death at a pickle factory are twisted into Pennywise’s tormenting illusions. The imagery — from glowing eyes in the dark to eerie laughter echoing through the halls — confirms that Derry’s evil feeds on pain, fear, and isolation.

Both Stack and Christie shine, turning childhood terror into a study of 1960s social cruelty and emotional neglect. Their suffering mirrors Stephen King’s central theme — that the real monsters are often human — while the supernatural only amplifies what’s already broken.

The Military’s Mysterious Hunt Beneath Derry

Episode 2 also takes a bold turn with Jovan Adepo’s Leroy and Chris Chalk’s Dick Halloran, the latter connecting the IT universe to The Shining. Halloran’s “Shining” powers attract the attention of the U.S. military, represented by General Shaw (James Remar), who claims they’re searching for a weapon buried beneath Derry — one that “generates debilitating fear.”

This subplot blends Cold War paranoia with supernatural horror, suggesting the government may have discovered traces of Pennywise long before the events of King’s original novel. Leroy’s brutal “test,” disguised as a military assault, hints at human attempts to control or weaponize the very evil that Derry has always tried to bury.

The episode ends with the discovery of a buried car and the remains of a familiar family, not a weapon — an unsettling reminder that Derry’s ghosts are both literal and metaphorical. The horror is no longer just about clowns in the sewer; it’s about the cost of denial, the weight of history, and the blindness of those in power.

Character Growth and Chilling Atmosphere

Blake Cameron James as Will emerges as a standout, bringing innocence and hope to an otherwise bleak narrative. His optimism contrasts sharply with Derry’s rot, embodying what King often describes as the fragile light of childhood amid overwhelming darkness. Will’s friendship with Ronnie and Rich (Arian S. Cartaya) injects fleeting warmth into the episode’s cold heart — but as every IT fan knows, such light rarely lasts in Derry.

The cinematography captures 1960s Americana as both nostalgic and horrifying — a “Norman Rockwell from Hell” aesthetic, as noted by critics. Every frame feels drenched in unease, suggesting that Pennywise is everywhere and nowhere at once, silently waiting for the cracks in Derry’s soul to widen.

IT: Welcome to Derry continues to prove itself as a worthy addition to Stephen King’s multiverse, rich in symbolism and social critique. With Pennywise’s influence slowly seeping through every storyline, “The Thing in the Dark” solidifies HBO’s adaptation as one of the fall’s most terrifying and ambitious series.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What happens in IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 2?

The episode follows the aftermath of the theater massacre, a wrongful arrest, and new supernatural events that hint at Pennywise’s growing influence.

Q2: Who is Dick Halloran in Welcome to Derry?

Played by Chris Chalk, Dick Halloran connects this show to Stephen King’s “The Shining.” He’s recruited by the military for his psychic “Shining” abilities.

Q3: What is the “weapon” the government is looking for?

The military believes something buried under Derry emits fear. Fans speculate it’s linked to Pennywise or his ancient origins beneath the town.

Q4: Is Pennywise in Episode 2?

While Pennywise doesn’t appear fully, his presence is felt through visions, glowing eyes, and the emotional decay of Derry’s residents.

Q5: When does IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 3 release?

Episode 3 is expected to air next Sunday on HBO and Max, continuing the story of Derry’s dark past.