IT: Welcome to Derry | "The Great Swirling Apparatus of Our Planet's Function" Recap & Review | "Neibolt Street" Preview

*SPOILERS AHEAD

The episode opens with a reminder that Derry never lets the living and the dead play by the same rules. The zombie-like ghosts of the kids who died in the theater appear once more, lingering with that awful, hollow stare, yet the moment Bowers looks their way, they vanish. It’s like the town itself decides who gets to see the truth, and Bowers simply isn’t chosen.

The strange housekeeper from Juniper Hill continues to be one of the show’s most unsettling loose threads. She moves through scenes with this eerie calm that feels almost supernatural, as if she’s observing more than she’s serving. Episode 4 definitely pushes viewers to question who she is, what she knows, and whether she’s tied to the deeper mythology of Derry.

A quick classroom moment gives us another turtle reference, this time hidden in an old “duck and cover” film reel. It’s subtle, but fans of King’s universe can’t miss the hint. The show clearly isn’t shying away from linking Derry to the broader cosmic forces that shaped Pennywise’s origins.

Will’s storyline hits harder as his father, once again, leaves him alone—this time by the river. Will hallucinates the charred version of his dad and gets pulled underwater in a moment that blurs reality and fear. It’s here we spot the first red balloon of the episode drifting into frame, signaling that Pennywise is officially tightening the net around the boy.

Dick Hallorann’s senses spike as he wanders the woods and feels the shine intensify. He sees his mother appear and warn him to “keep his lid on tight,” a phrase loaded with the kind of psychic danger that King fans will recognize immediately. This moment makes it clear Dick is becoming a key player in uncovering what truly lurks in Derry.

Marge’s arc turns tragic when Pennywise reaches her at the worst possible moment—right as she’s about to confess her role in the popular girls’ plan to hurt Lilly. Her eyes burst from their sockets in a horrific, surreal moment, and she eventually saws them off inside the shop classroom. Lilly is discovered holding a tool, making her look horrifyingly guilty despite having no clue what just happened.

Later that night, Will can’t sleep and looks outside through his telescope. He spots the dark silhouette of a clown standing in the yard, and as Leroy goes outside to check, another red balloon appears perched in a tree. The implication is clear: Pennywise isn’t circling anymore—he’s approaching.

Hanlan finally corners General Shaw about what’s really happening, and that leads to the episode’s biggest reveal. Shaw insists Taniel knows the location of “It,” so Dick Hallorann enters Taniel’s mind. Inside the vision, Dick sees a younger version of himself and his Aunt Rose, and Taniel recounts the legend of the monster in the western wood. It crash-landed long ago, freed from a fallen star, avoided by Native Americans, and feared by settlers who were hunted when they ventured into the dead wood. Taniel explains the existence of thirteen pillars meant to keep the creature trapped and ultimately points to the old well house—the same one the Losers’ Club encounters decades later.

In terms of setup for the next episode, this chapter pushes every storyline to the brink. Lilly being framed is sure to explode socially and legally, Dick now has real direction in the hunt for It, and Pennywise is appearing closer and more frequently, signaling an escalation. Hanlan’s distrust of Shaw opens the door for the military’s secrets to come crashing down, and the Juniper Hill housekeeper’s odd presence feels like it’s heading toward a major reveal. Episode 5 is set to dive deeper into the pillars, the well house, and Pennywise’s growing hold over the kids of Derry.