
Pop Culture Happy Hour IT: Welcome To Derry
Nov 3, 2025
Jordan Morris, a podcaster and graphic novel creator, and Kate Young, a film and culture critic, dive into HBO’s It: Welcome to Derry. They discuss the show’s chilling horror elements and how it balances gross body horror with suspense. The guests critique the handling of child trauma and ethical storytelling, while debating if Pennywise's origins detract from the terror. They also appreciate the diverse representation in the cast and explore the military subplot's implications, highlighting strong performances from young actors.
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Episode notes
Slow-Burn Pennywise Prequel
- The series is a 1962-set prequel exploring Pennywise's reign before the films.
- Bill Skarsgård returns but Pennywise appears slowly, asking patience from viewers.
Gross Set Pieces Over Thematic Depth
- The show favors shocking, graphic set pieces over the novel's thematic haunting across time.
- That choice weakens the novel's core theme of adult revisiting childhood trauma.
More Gross Than Jump-Scary
- The show opts for gross, body-horror imagery rather than jump-scare choreography.
- That makes it feel more viscerally disgusting than classically frightening to some viewers.




