Es: Welcome to Derry

Unlike rubbish like Rings of Power, Wheel of Time, et al, IT: Welcome to Derry succeeds because the writers have obviously read and loved the source. Why wouldn't you?

On top of that, whomever these writers are gets 80s horror novels, and like those pull no punches. If by the end of the first episode you haven't got the point - this is horror as it was meant to be.

If you're not horrified it probably means you lack empathy for every poor souls throughtout.

Skarsgard's return gives him much more space and unlike the films where he felt outshined by Tim Curry, here he really gets to shine and he's brilliantly malevolent.

After the awful 90s where none of the kids can act and ruined so many tv shows here they're on brilliant form.

Only thing letting it down is some of the CGI.

This show started, I won't say meh, but it could've gone either way. It was never terrible nor bad. And episode buy episode it built and build alk the way till the finale, and turned pretty good. And now, maybe it will be 9/10 after S2. I don't know. All I can say that, I wasn't interested for S2, and now I am...

As it says, IT was my childhood favorite; watching this in 2025 brought back a little emotion. Watching Pennywise processed from different perspectives is very interesting to see. The series was more gripping as you came close to the end. IT makes you sit in front of the screen and won't let you up until you finish it. The series has detail after detail; if you want to catch all of it, then you need to go back to old movies and the novel every 10 minutes as you're watching. IT was a great experience.

It improves significantly from the fifth episode onwards and becomes truly outstanding with the presence of Bill Skarsgård, who steals the show every time he appears. Although the script has certain shortcomings and the narrative is somewhat scattered, especially in the first three episodes, overall the final result is satisfactory both in terms of the emotional growth the characters experience throughout the series and in terms of the use of resources commonly associated with horror films.

This new chapter of IT takes a noticeably different approach, and for the most part, it is a "Welcome" one. The use of CGI will likely be a point of debate, but here it feels far more controlled and purposeful than in the previous films. Rather than relying on visual effects purely for shock value, the CGI works to support the atmosphere and scale of the horror. In that sense, it represents a clear technical upgrade from IT Chapter 1 and 2.

Compared to the earlier IT films, this entry feels more controlled in its storytelling. While pacing issues have not disappeared entirely, they are handled with more consistency, allowing tension to develop instead of constantly resetting itself. The film shows more patience in letting ideas and atmosphere settle, and it makes a clearer effort to explore where Pennywise comes from and why it exists. That added context gives the horror more weight without losing its mystery.

The most notable improvement lies in the type of horror being explored. Instead of relying primarily on jump scares, the film leans into body horror and psychological unease. Jump scares are still present and occasionally predictable, but they are no longer the main driver of fear. The emphasis on discomfort and lingering dread creates a more effective and mature horror experience. Centering the story on Pennywise proves to be a strong creative choice. It allows the narrative to feel tighter and more cohesive, and the smaller plot threads integrate naturally without feeling forced. The film feels confident in its direction, building atmosphere rather than rushing toward the next scare. The cinematography and lighting are handled with care, using angles and shadow to strengthen the tension and mood throughout.

Overall, this entry feels like a more assured step forward for the franchise. It is not flawless, particularly in its pacing, but it demonstrates a clearer understanding of its identity and tone.

I am the eater of worlds!