🎈 It: Welcome to Derry – Full Review (2025)
It: Welcome to Derry is a dark and unsettling horror-thriller series that expands the universe of the iconic It franchise. The first season has officially concluded with eight episodes, delivering a story that feels complete while clearly leaving room for future exploration. Although this season acts as a conclusion to its central arc, the narrative strongly suggests that Season 2 is inevitable, even if no official release date has been announced yet.
This series attempts something risky: building a fresh story within a world that already has a massive fanbase and a well-known mythology. Fortunately, it succeeds more often than not.
⚠️ Content Warning & Viewer Advisory
Before diving in, it is important to understand that It: Welcome to Derry is not family-friendly in any sense.
There is one brief adult nude scene
The series includes frequent graphic and disturbing moments
Several scenes feature intense brutality, including a deeply horrifying moment in Episode 7 where a human skull is eaten
These moments are not added merely for shock value; they are part of the show’s grim tone. However, many viewers may find certain scenes extremely uncomfortable. From the very first episode, the series establishes a dark, grotesque atmosphere, making it unsuitable for sensitive audiences.
📖 Story Overview (Spoiler-Free)
You do not need to watch It: Chapter One or It: Chapter Two to understand this series. While familiarity with the films adds context, It: Welcome to Derry works as a standalone story.
The plot revolves around the town of Derry, a place where something deeply unnatural lurks beneath the surface. People begin to disappear, strange incidents occur, and an unseen force slowly reveals itself. Rather than rushing into answers, the series allows the mystery to unfold gradually, encouraging viewers to question what is real and what is not.
The story keeps its secrets well-guarded, making discovery a key part of the viewing experience.
🌍 World Building & Atmosphere
One of the strongest achievements of the series is its world building.
Derry feels like a living, breathing town
Each episode reveals new layers of its dark history
The environment itself becomes a character
As the series progresses, the audience’s understanding of Derry changes completely. Early assumptions no longer hold true once the truth begins to surface. This slow revelation is handled with care, making the town feel cursed rather than merely haunted.
Whenever the dangerous clown appears—or even when his presence is only implied—the tension becomes immediately noticeable. The show excels at creating dread without always showing its monster.
😱 Horror vs Psychological Thriller
Despite being marketed as horror, It: Welcome to Derry leans heavily into the psychological thriller genre.
Few traditional jump scares
Strong focus on tension and unease
Fear created through atmosphere rather than loud shocks
Instead of constant scares, the series aims to unsettle the viewer mentally. This approach makes the horror linger longer and feel more disturbing, even when nothing explicitly frightening is happening on screen.
🎬 Cinematography & Visual Execution
The production quality of the series is consistently impressive.
Standout visuals include:
The disturbing skull-eating scene in Episode 7
The ominous dark clouds engulfing the town in Episode 8
High-intensity sequences set inside a military base
The cinematography captures both large-scale chaos and intimate horror moments effectively. Only the final funeral sequence feels slightly underwhelming visually. Aside from that, the show maintains a strong and polished visual identity throughout.
🎭 Performances & Direction
The cast delivers solid and believable performances, helping ground the supernatural elements in reality. Emotional scenes feel authentic, and the characters respond to horror in ways that feel human rather than exaggerated.
Pacing, however, can be uneven at times:
Some episodes feel slow in the middle
A few scenes could have been trimmed
That said, no pacing issue ever derails the story completely.
⏱️ Weekly Release vs Binge Watching
One noticeable drawback is the weekly release format. The suspense and mystery of the show work far better when watched continuously.
Binge-watching enhances:
Emotional connection
Story impact
Overall immersion
Viewers who watch the series all at once are likely to enjoy it more than those who waited week after week.
📺 Language & Accessibility
The series is available in Hindi
New viewers can start watching without prior franchise knowledge
Easy entry point for first-time audiences
🔮 Season 2 Outlook
A second season feels almost guaranteed. The story clearly leaves threads open for continuation, and the universe still has plenty of unexplored potential. While no timeline has been announced, expectations are high.
⭐ Final Verdict
It: Welcome to Derry is a bold and atmospheric addition to the It universe. It prioritizes mystery, tension, and psychological horror over cheap scares. While not perfect, it delivers a gripping experience for viewers who enjoy dark and brutal storytelling.
⭐ Rating: 8/10