The 2017 It felt like lightning in a bottle; a worthy adaptation of one of Stephen King’s most beloved books that nailed its tone and casting. It: Chapter Two started to push the limits a bit, showing that the film’s juggling of tones doesn’t always work in its favor. To continue with IT: Welcome to Derry gave even more doubts, as there is not only an entirely new cast, but production was halted because of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, which split filming in half. While delays in filming aren’t necessarily bad, they raise concerns when the show’s leads are young children in their pubescent phase. This and many other reasons caused worrisome feelings, but they all went away within minutes of the first episode.

IT: Welcome to Derry takes place in 1962, 27 years before the events of IT. The show follows a family who recently moved to Derry, right as a young boy disappears. It tells intertwining storylines involving the family, the military, and a group of middle-school children, each of whom experiences the horrors of Pennywise while discovering how he came to be. As Pennywise embodies what each character fears most, the town must find a way to prevent him from terrorizing innocent bystanders and taking over the city.

Bringing the same team from the two IT movies to do IT: Welcome to Derry worked wonders for the show. Not only did the dark yet grand visuals make for a seamless transition between film and television, but Andy and Barbara Muschietti also brought the dark tone of the preceding films. Far less comedic than the films, the show’s playful side comes through in Pennywise, who finds humor in terrorizing the citizens of Derry. The heavy focus on terror worked wonders for the show as it delved into much darker themes involving history and race. While the humorous moments worked well within the films, IT: Welcome to Derry thrives without them.

Although the series was described as a prequel, some elements suggest it is more than that. As the show reveals more of Pennywise’s powers, it hints at being a sequel to the IT films, allowing for a brand-new interpretation of the show and films that boosts its rewatchability. Stories like The Godfather: Part II act as prequels and sequels by splitting the storylines in two, but IT: Welcome to Derry remains linear for most of its runtime, making its execution of the prequel/sequel elements extremely impressive.

Although there are parallels between the previous projects on adolescence, the show is very much attempting to tell its own story. Set in the 60s, the show bravely delves into the tense race relations of that time. While the way it dissects race and power isn’t groundbreaking by any means, seeing a major franchise tackle dark themes like IT: Welcome to Derry makes the experience feel far more original than it otherwise would’ve. The show not only touches upon the tension between black and white people, but Native Americans as well. Despite his ghostly nature, Pennywise serves as the physical embodiment of whiteness throughout history, using fear and power to gain control and seize land that never belonged to them. Taking many forms throughout the show, he represents how evil can be, both something that moves in the shadows and something that is blatantly in your face. Seeing the parallels between Pennywise and the real world made for a far more terrifying experience than anticipated.

The intellectual scares leave a massive impact, but the visual scares are just as effective. Using its large budget to good use, the show crafts some truly unforgettable images that mix practical effects with CGI. While the use of CGI can be a bit abrasive at times, the effects themselves are sharp and blend with the practical work to a worthy degree. From an eyeball popping out of a child’s head to a dead man’s head appearing in a pickle jar, Muschietti and crew deliver a slew of excellent horror sequences that simultaneously feel like roller coaster horror as well as ones that will stay with you long after you view it.

With a horror series that focuses on a group of children, often the tension feels light, as filmmakers rarely dare to depict children getting harmed. IT: Welcome to Derry makes it apparent in its first episode that not even the smallest child is safe, with a genuinely shocking final 10 minutes that subvert the audience’s expectations entirely. Starting the show with as high a level of tension as it did set the danger each character is in, and it didn’t let up for the entire eight-episode run.

The cast is void of a weak link, with Chris Chalk wonderfully bringing Dick Hallorann to life with a haunting performance that pokes fun at his character’s role in The Shining. While each character has their own moments to shine, Bill Skarsgård is easily delivering the strongest work in the show, with his role as Pennywise cementing his status as an icon. Skarsgård plays the deranged so well, mixing elements of Freddy Krueger with clown attributes that make for an always unpredictable and overall unforgettable performance. From the slightest smile to a psychotic scream, Skarsgård once again nails the role of Pennywise in what will likely become one of the most iconic performances in horror history.

As noted previously, the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes caused production delays, and the show made it clear when the delays occurred. In the latter half of the season, it is clear that the children aged, especially regarding their height. Instead of acknowledging the vivid physical differences in the children’s looks, the show disregards them entirely, making for an at times distracting experience. Although it wasn’t distracting in every episode, it did take some time to get used to.

IT: Welcome to Derry is a surprisingly fresh and frightening new entry that manages to balance being a prequel and sequel to a compelling degree. Littered with great performances and excellent scares, this somehow reignited a franchise that most thought would never continue. If the Muschiettis continue this type of storytelling with the next two seasons of the show, we might have a new horror classic on our hands.

All episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry are now streaming on HBO Max

Rating: 8/10