Plot: Centers on the early activities of Pennywise in 1960s Derry, Maine, following a group of misfit kids (the future “Losers’ Club” precursors) and two Air Force pilots, exploring how the entity manifests through trauma and local secrets, leading to disappearances like young Matty Clements, a town-wide attack at Derry High, and a government conspiracy (Operation Precept) to weaponize It, culminating in the kids seemingly defeating Pennywise for now, but revealing its influence persists and setting up future encounters.
Season 1 of Welcome to Derry was great.
Pros: The town derry felt like a character to itself. It did deliver on being both terrifying, intensity, and horrifying over the course of 8 episodes. We get to know more about Pennywise and he became to be. I was impressing how visually impressive on how well it looks. How it also shows how every character can be worried / terrifying of Pennywise’s present & How they affect there & the finale succeeded all expectation.
Cons: These solders keep making stupid decisions & the link of few episodes went a little long in some cases.
Created by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, Jason Fuchs
Developed by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, Jason Fuchs
Showrunners: Jason Fuchs, Brad Caleb Kane
Based on: It by Stephen King
Starring: Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Matilda Lawler, Amanda Christine, Clara Stack, Blake Cameron James, Arian Cartaya, Miles Ekhardt, Mikkal Karim-Fidler, Jack Molloy Legault, Matilda Legault, Chris Chalk, Peter Outerbridge, Madeleine Stowe & Bill Skarsgård.
Music by Benjamin Wallfisch
Opening theme: “A Smile and a Ribbon” by Patience and Prudence
Executive producers: Jason Fuchs, Brad Caleb Kane, Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, Shelley Meals, Roy Lee, Dan Lin, Bill Skarsgård
Producers: Lyn Lucibello-Brancatella, Anna Beben
Cinematography: Daniel Vilar, Rasmus Heise, Luc Montpellier, Paul Sarossy, Catherine Lutes
Editors: Esther Sokolow, Matthew V. Colonna, Grant Wooldridge, Glenn Garland
Production companies: Rideback, Vertigo Entertainment, FiveTen Productions, K Plus Ultra, Double Dream, Warner Bros. Television, HBO
Network: HBO
Casts & Characters:
Main
- Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon, an activist, Leroy’s wife and Will’s mother
- Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon, a US Air Force Major, Charlotte’s husband and Will’s father. An older Leroy was portrayed by Steven Williams in It (2017).
- James Remar as Francis Shaw, Leroy’s superior officer who is a US Air Force Lieutenant General and is searching for a “weapon” in hopes of ending the Cold War
- Diesel La Torraca as young Shaw in 1908
- Stephen Rider as Hank Grogan, Ronnie’s father and the projectionist at the local cinema
- Matilda Lawler as Marge Truman, Lilly’s friend who is afraid of no longer being with the popular ones. An older Marge was portrayed by Janet Porter in It Chapter Two (2019).
- Amanda Christine as Veronica “Ronnie” Grogan, Hank’s daughter who befriends Lilly
- Clara Stack as Lillian “Lilly” Bainbridge, a girl dealing with the death of her father, an absent mother, and guilt
- Blake Cameron James as Will Hanlon, Leroy and Charlotte’s son, future father of Mike Hanlon, and science enthusiast who finds it difficult to adapt to Derry[4]
- Arian Cartaya as Rich Santos, a Cuban American who befriends Will and has a crush on Marge
- Miles Ekhardt as Matty Clements, a boy who disappears when Pennywise awakens
- Mikkal Karim-Fidler as Teddy Uris, Phil’s best friend who comes from a Jewish family
- Jack Molloy Legault as Phil Malkin, Teddy’s best friend and a conspiracy theorist
- Matilda Legault as Susie Malkin, Phil’s younger sister
- Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann, an Airman 1st Class with telepathic and clairvoyant skills who helps the Air Force search for a “weapon”. An older Hallorann was portrayed by Scatman Crothers in The Shining (1980) and Carl Lumbly in Doctor Sleep (2019).
- Peter Outerbridge as Clint Bowers, Derry’s corrupt police chief
- Madeleine Stowe as Ingrid Kersh / Periwinkle, the head housekeeper at Juniper Hill Asylum and Bob Gray’s daughter who befriends Lilly
- Tyner Rushing as young Ingrid in 1935
- Emma-Leigh Cullum as child Ingrid in 1908
- Joan Gregson as an elderly Ingrid in 1988, reprising her role from It Chapter Two. This was her final role, following her death in June 2025.
- Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise, an evil shapeshifting creature that sows chaos in Derry
- Skarsgård also portrays Bob Gray, the original human Pennywise from 1908
Recurring
- Rudy Mancuso as Captain Pauly Russo, Leroy Hanlon’s partner and best friend in the army
- Alixandra Fuchs as Teresa “Terri” Bainbridge, Lilly’s mother
- Thomas Mitchell as Colonel Fuller, a military colonel involved in General Shaw’s mission
- Maya McNair as Patricia “Patty” Stanton, the leader of the Pattycakes, a group of mean girls, who play cruel pranks to be the center of attention
- Hannah Storey as Rhonda Chambers, a Pattycake and friend of Patty and Elaine
- Maya Misaljevic as Elaine Morrison, a Pattycake and friend of Patty and Rhonda
- Kimberly Guerrero as Rose, a Native American woman who owns a pawn shop and has a history with Shaw
- Violet Sutherland as young Rose in 1908
- Joshua Odjick as Taniel, Rose’s nephew
- Tres Garcia as young Taniel
- Chad Rook as Sergeant Masters, a racist military sergeant who has tension with Leroy
- Shane Marriott as Reggie Davis, a friend of Hallorann at the military base
- Dorian Grey as Loverboy Jax, a friend of Hallorann at the military base
- Richard Walters as Airman Jacobs, a friend of Hallorann at the military base
- Liam Seamus Murphy as Morris Bainbridge, Lilly’s father, who died in a pickle factory accident
- Andrew Morgado provides the voice of Morris
- Lazzelle Gelias as Rose Hallorann, the deceased grandmother of Hallorann
- Wayne Charles Baker as John, a Native American chief in Derry
- Morningstar Angeline as Sesqui, a past Native American warrior
- Kiawentiio as Necani, Sesqui’s daughter
- Larry Day as Stan Kersh, the local butcher and Ingrid’s husband
- Lindsay Merrithew as Tibbs, Derry’s councilman
- Peter Deiwick as Al Malkin, Phil and Susie’s father
Guest
- Finley Burke as Dan Uris, Teddy’s brother and future father of Stan Uris. An older Dan was portrayed by Ari Cohen in It.
- Audrey Wellington as Arlene, a teenage girl who is in the car that picks up Matty
- Lochlan Ray Miller as Ray, a child who is in the car that picks up Matty
- Robert Clarke as Dunleavy, Derry’s High School principal
- BJ Harrison as Louella Grogan, Ronnie’s grandmother and Hank’s mother
- Ryan J. O’Callaghan as Mr. Keene, a young pharmacist. An older Keene was portrayed by Joe Bostick in It and It Chapter Two.
- Andrew Moodie as Andy Hallorann, the deceased grandfather of Hallorann
- Moni Ogunsuyi as Noreen, Loverboy Jax’s date
- Madeleine Cox as Mabel, a Juniper Hill patient who encounters Pennywise in 1935
- Andoni Gracia as Mr. Santos, Rich’s father
- Sophia Lillis as Beverly Marsh, a teenage girl and future member of the Losers’ Club, reprising her role from It and It Chapter Two.
I highly recommend watching this new season on Sky catch up.
Rating: 10 out of 10 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident TV reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe