IT: Welcome to Derry | "The Thing in the Dark" Recap & Review | "Now You See It" Preview

*SPOILERS AHEAD

After the chaos and terror of the Welcome to Derry pilot, episode two slows things down—just a bit—but not without good reason. This installment trades the frantic dread of the first episode for a creeping unease, peeling back new layers of mystery about the town and the eerie presence that lurks beneath its surface. And of course, releasing on Halloween.

This episode definitely takes its foot off the gas compared to the shocking pilot, but it replaces jump scares with something far more sinister: curiosity. We finally start to see why the military is stationed in Derry, though we’re still left in the dark about what exactly they’re digging up. Strange machinery, cryptic orders, and heavily guarded excavation sites hint that whatever’s buried under this town may be the source of Derry’s cursed history. Is it connected to Pennywise—or something even older? And what is up with the car they pulled out with all of the dead bodies?

While the soldiers keep the grown-ups distracted, the kids aren’t safe either. Pennywise has made his presence known, targeting Lilly and Ronnie in scenes that are as unsettling as they are heartbreaking. The clown’s mind games start early, blurring the line between illusion and possession. Ronnie’s fear and confusion mirror what we’ve come to expect from Derry’s youngest victims—but it’s Lilly’s growing awareness of the evil around them that adds a chilling emotional weight.

One of the strangest, most talked-about moments from the pilot—the eyeless, winged demon baby—is completely absent this episode, and that silence is deafening. Its disappearance raises even more questions: was it real, a vision, or something conjured by Pennywise himself? The lack of mention makes its return feel inevitable—and possibly catastrophic.

Meanwhile, Ronnie’s father continues to spiral. His guilt, anger, and connection to the town’s dark past suggest he may become a key figure—or perhaps another victim. His erratic behavior hints that he’s seen things he can’t explain, and his storyline feels like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. Will he end up another pawn in Pennywise’s twisted game, or could he hold a clue to stopping it?

By the end of episode two, Derry feels like a powder keg. The military’s excavation, the missing demon baby, and Pennywise’s growing influence all seem destined to collide. The final scene teases that next week’s episode might finally pull back the curtain on what’s buried beneath the town—and why Pennywise always returns when Derry starts to dig too deep.

Verdict: While slower than the pilot, episode two of It: Welcome to Derry builds tension beautifully. It’s less about immediate scares and more about unsettling discoveries—a necessary calm before what promises to be an explosive storm in episode three.