This article contains major information spoilers for “It: Welcome to Derry.”
Terrifying manifestations of Pennywise appeared throughout “It: Welcome to Derry.” The entity, which the Shokopiwah call the Galloo, transformed into a demonic flying baby and a toothed belly to frighten children, but the clown himself does not appear in the first four episodes. These 1962 hauntings seem more aggressive than anything we’ve seen in Andy Muschietti’s “It” movies, as Pennywise violently stalked and tore children apart in this particular feeding cycle.
So far, the adults have predictably dismissed any evidence presented by the children, but Major Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo) finally learns the truth about Derry after Will (Blake Cameron James) is nearly drowned by the creature. With a plan to explore the sewers beneath Neibolt Street (which was revealed to be the Galloo prison in episode 4), Hanlon and a few men venture deep inside to capture it in the final episode.
Meanwhile, the children return to their hiding place and discover that the unexpected has happened. Matty (Miles Ekhardt), whose disappearance is the catalyst for the events of the series, appears to have escaped the sewers. The emaciated and traumatized child claims that the creature keeps some of its victims alive to feed on their fear, and that Phil (Jack Molloy Legault) is still alive despite his immobilization. He refuses to go home to his abusive father and rejects his friends’ suggestions to go to the police. Lilly (Clara Stack) persuades Matty to take the group into the sewers so they can rescue Phil, and although Matty seems vehemently opposed to the plan, he agrees.
The ensuing sewer sequence is both visceral and terrifying, as Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård) points out Finally appears in the flesh. Let’s go further.
Skarsgård’s Pennywise is still effective as a force of pure cosmic evil
Pennywise pulls off a classic trick to lure children into the sewers: he pretends to be one of them to appeal to their trust. In “It”, Pennywise pretends to be Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott) to fool Bill (Jaeden Martell) and his friends, but this ploy ultimately doesn’t work at the Losers Club. In contrast, Lilly and co. aren’t well versed in Pennywise’s tricks, so they are blindsided once “Matty” starts singing and transforming into a dancing clown. They scream and scatter, completely unprepared to face this primordial threat. This is understandable, because Hanlon and the others don’t have much luck either; Pennywise uses their deepest fears against them to tear the military team apart.
Skarsgård has always been brilliant as Pennywise, and his appearance immediately injects a visceral thrill into an already terrifying episode. Once the real Matty’s decaying body floats away, Pennywise relishes in the group’s collective fear, as they are not brave enough to stand their ground and fight. Lilly gets stuck in the process, and this moment is particularly frightening, with Pennywise opening his mouth wide to chew on her flesh. The star cluster weapon saves the day, but this brief sighting from Pennywise is enough to make it clear that things will only get worse from here on out.
Even when he’s not on screen, Pennywise is capable of triggering horrific events. He tricks Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk) into opening a brain Pandora’s Box and inadvertently causes the death of Hanlon’s partner, Russo (Rudy Mancuso). Even if Hanlon and the kids make it out of the sewers, we have to prepare ourselves for more of Skarsgård’s Pennywise, who has finally decided to parade around Derry like an evil clown dancing in broad daylight.
