'IT: Welcome To Derry' Episode Five Spoiler-Free Review
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Last time on Welcome to Derry! If we had a nickel for every horror project this year that involved a cast of Native American characters warning people of impending doom, we’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice, right? The universal rule that cops are utterly useless in horror universes remains undefeated. There is no otherworldly or police force that can match Charlotte Hanlon's sheer will. Fishing may not be the best way to bond with your children. And 9 out of 10 doctors don’t recommend DIY eye removal. Just sayin’!
After a slight bump in the road in episode 3, Welcome to Derry found its footing again last week. On top of that, I am very much pleased to say that this week’s episode (titled 29 Neibolt Street) is the show’s best episode since The Pilot. This week’s episode is brought to us by director Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr., a television director with a growing list of credits, including Black Box, the Emmy-winning Shōgun, and the final season of Star Trek: Discovery. The episode is written by co-showrunner Brad Caleb Kane, who has credits on shows such as Fringe, Lodge 49, and Tokyo Vice. Together, they craft an episode that not only delivers on the horror, but is also the episode where the four main storylines finally start to intersect; The proto-Losers Club searching for what killed their friends, the military getting closer to finding Pennywise, Charlotte Hanlon’s quest to clear Hank Grogan’s name, and the Native American citizens of Derry preparing for the worst.
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Image Source: Esquire Australia
The episode instantly brings us up to speed with our central characters, with Leroy Hanlon, Lilly Bainbridge, Dick Hallorann, Francis Shaw, and Marge Truman starting off the proceedings. Missions are given, friendships are mended, and mouths are foaming, quite literally. Last week’s episode dived into the backstory of how Native Americans trapped Pennywise in Derry by creating a weapon forged from the star from which he landed on Earth. A scene featuring Rose and other characters describes The Augury, a bloody event that will occur before another 27 years of peace. Considering the show's timeline, set 27 years before the events of IT Chapter One, the description of the Augury sets the stage for the next three episodes to be insanely violent and full of loss. While it can be said that Welcome to Derry’s portrayal of Native Americans relies on outdated stereotypes, it’s at least nice to know that an essential part of Pennywise’s origins from the book and Andy Muschietti’s duology of films. Kimberly Norris Guerrero and James Remar share an emotionally charged scene as they did last week, with Guerrero specifically given a lot to do in the episode. Joshua Odijick also returns as Taniel, who quickly becomes part of the show’s military subplot, thereby connecting the military and Native American storylines, which in turn connect it to the Losers Club narrative. We also get more time with Dick Hallorann, which is always a plus. Chris Chalk remains the series’s most skilled and compelling performer, providing Hallorann with emotional depth and world weariness that make him a fascinating character to follow.
Given more to do this week is Ruby Macuso as Captain Pauly Russo, Leroy Hanlon’s right-hand man, who we haven’t seen in a significant capacity since The Pilot. The multi-hyphenate YouTuber, filmmaker, and actor delivers a surprisingly heartfelt performance this week, giving Jovan Apedo more opportunity to play around with scene partners who can match him. It’s almost a cliché to talk about how good the kids are in this show, with Clara Stack continuing to be a Scream Queen in waiting. This week’s episode FINALLY assembles the show’s Losers Club (for real this time), and the chemistry is palpable. An amusing scene in the sewers, as the kids accidentally get high on anxiety pills, provides the series with levity reminiscent of the best scenes in Muschietti’s films, particularly those with Finn Wolfhard. Another scene in which Lilly realizes Marge and Rich are holding hands is far and away the funniest scene the show has given us.
Image Source: IGN
It’s not a spoiler to say that Pennywise is in this series. Considering he’s either seen or heard in every trailer and commercial, the fact that all the merchandise for this show solely features him, and he’s on multiple posters, it was only a matter of time before he came back. While some fans and critics have bemoaned Pennywise’s adsenses, Andy Muschietti and the showrunners have defended their decision to keep Pennywise at bay, primarily by comparing him to the shark from Jaws. Even though we haven’t seen everyone’s favorite killer clown in the flesh all season, his presence and antics are sewn into every nook and cranny of the series. The fact that his introduction is as scary, entertaining, and applause-worthy as it is is a miracle. Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr.’s direction, the immersive production design, and Benjamin Wallsfisch’s musical score all come together to make Pennywise’s long-awaited return to live-action a worthwhile endeavor. And of course, Bill Skarsgård hasn’t lost a step as the character. Even in his brief appearance, Skarsgård is still as gravitating and delightfully psychotic as he was in Muschietti’s movies. Also, a massive plus is that even after playing another horror icon in Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu, Skarsgård can still do the Pennywise voice after all this time.
Welcome to Derry continues to thrill, intrigue, and entertain, giving us all the scares, mystery, and Stephen King easter eggs we can hope for. The biggest downside is the inevitable conclusion to the season, which is only three weeks away. Given that the Muschietti siblings have stated the plan is to set seasons 2 and 3 in 1935 and 1908, respectively, our time with Lilly Bainbridge, Leroy Hanlon, Dick Hallorann, and the rest of our heroes is sadly limited. But despite the bittersweet inevitability that the show will go on hiatus for a bit after episode 8 airs, at the very least, we know the show keeps picking up speed. If there was ever an argument as to why this show was a worthwhile adventure to go on, this week makes a damn good one.
Rating: 9.5/10
IT: Welcome to Derry, Season 1, Episode 5: 29 Neibolt Street is now streaming on HBO Max. New episodes air Sunday nights on HBO.
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