The highly anticipated HBO prequel series It: Welcome to Derry kicked off with a devastating premiere that delivered a ‘Red Wedding’ moment, brutally subverting audience expectations by eliminating most of its supposed ‘new Losers’ Club and setting an unforgettably terrifying, unpredictable tone for the season.
The debut episode of HBO’s It: Welcome to Derry delivered a jaw-dropping conclusion that left audiences stunned, with executive producer Barbara Muschietti boldly declaring it “our Red Wedding,” as reported by Entertainment Weekly. This comparison to the infamous Game of Thrones shocker immediately signaled to fans that this prequel series is not playing by familiar rules, promising an unpredictable and brutally terrifying journey into the horrors of Derry, Maine.
Co-creator and co-showrunner Jason Fuchs emphasized that “the entire story of the season is set in motion by what happens at the end of episode 1.” This deliberate and devastating event aims to disorient viewers from the outset, communicating that “nothing is safe in this world” and challenging preconceived notions about the narrative structure of an It story.
The Bloodbath Unveiled: A New Losers’ Club Subverted
The premiere began with the chilling disappearance of young Matty (Miles Ekhardt), who encountered the terrifying “It” entity in the form of a distorted, white Christian family unit. His ultimate fate was grimly suggested by a flying demon baby and his pacifier shooting out a car window. Four years later, the stage was set for what appeared to be the formation of a new “Losers’ Club.”
A group of Matty’s classmates—Lilly (Clara Stack), Ronnie (Amanda Christine), Phil (Jack Molloy Legault), Teddy (Mikkal Karim-Fidler), and Susie (Matilda Legault)—banded together to investigate his vanishing. These five child actors were prominently featured in the show’s marketing, leading audiences to believe they would carry the season’s core narrative. However, their mission led them to the Capitol Theater, where “It,” manifesting as a grotesque flying devil baby, erupted from a screening of The Music Man.
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The initial ensemble of young actors, including Jack Molloy Legault (Phil), Matilda Legault (Susie), Clara Stack (Lilly), and Mikkal Karim-Fidler (Teddy), who viewers were led to believe would form the new Losers’ Club.
In a horrifying sequence, the creature devoured Phil, Teddy, and Susie, leaving only Lilly and Ronnie as survivors. This gruesome act dramatically shattered the illusion of a new “Losers’ Club,” a trope familiar to fans of Stephen King’s It novel and the subsequent film adaptations, which traditionally establish a core group of child protagonists early on.
A Creative Gamble: The ‘Kick in the Balls’ Ending
The decision for such a brutal ending was a strategic one, born from a secret mini writer’s room composed of the Muschietti siblings, Jason Fuchs, and co-showrunner Brad Caleb Kane. Fuchs revealed that his original pilot script had more survivors, but it was Kane who pushed for the complete slaughter. “I think you should kill them all,” Kane suggested, leading to Fuchs’ initial horror, which he quickly recognized as the right reaction to elicit from the audience.
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Jack Molloy and Matilda Legault as Phil and Susie, two of the young victims of ‘It’ in the shocking premiere.
During the pitch to HBO executives, Andy Muschietti, who directed the premiere, theatrically revealed the twist. As Fuchs described the children being devoured, Andy dramatically pulled down a paper covering headshots, revealing a whole new group of child actors underneath. This powerful visual cemented the decision, with Fuchs hoping to “replicate their reaction in the room with audiences at home.” Barbara Muschietti noted that HBO’s immediate approval was “a huge relief,” as they had anticipated a battle to push the horror boundaries, but found the network embraced it.
Subverting Expectations: Setting New Rules for Derry
This “kick in the balls,” as Andy Muschietti described it to TV Guide, was a deliberate strategy to raise the stakes beyond the previous It films. By tricking the audience into believing a new group of heroes was forming only to swiftly eliminate them, Welcome to Derry establishes a sense of genuine peril.
The creators wanted to answer the question: “How do you then still surprise the audience? How do you really pull the rug out from under the audience and go, ‘All bets are off, the rules don’t apply, anything is possible’?” This move not only generates shock value but also immerses the audience into the characters’ perspective, as they too are discovering the terrifying rules of Derry for the first time without the benefit of prior knowledge.
The Monster’s Evolution: The Mutant Baby and 1962 Fears
The horrifying form of “It” in the premiere, the flying demon baby, was an idea from Andy Muschietti. He explained that the setting of 1962, a decade grappling with the Cuban Missile Crisis, post-World War II anxieties, and the Cold War, significantly influenced this manifestation. “It was very important to pay attention to the fears of the era,” he stated.
The widespread panic of nuclear attacks, radiation effects, and mutations in childbirth directly inspired this creature. Andy clarified that it’s not simply a demon baby, but a “mutant baby that [is] malformed by radiation,” directly linking “It”‘s form to the prevailing societal fears of its time. This deep contextualization adds a layer of psychological horror, tapping into historical anxieties rather than just jump scares.
Filming the Horror: Cast Reactions and Practical Effects
The young cast members themselves were surprised by the script. Amanda Christine (Ronnie) recalled, “That was a big shocker, especially when we got the scripts… ‘Whoa! This is how we’re ending things? Okay, let’s get into it!'” She described the experience of her character witnessing “It” for the first time as “iconic.”
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Clara Stack as Lilly, one of the two survivors of the premiere’s horrifying climax.
To aid the actors, the crew utilized a giant monster baby head on set, while Andy Muschietti provided distorted baby noises. For Clara Stack (Lilly), filming the intense action sequence was “so much fun.” She relished learning the intricate blocking, ducking into chairs, climbing out, running with Ronnie, and getting drenched in blood amidst screams and tears.
What’s Next for Derry: Aftershocks and Creative Freedom
The reverberations of the Capitol Theater massacre will extend throughout the entire season. Jason Fuchs confirmed that “the entire story of the season is set in motion by what happens at the end of episode 1,” with episode 2 directly exploring the “aftershocks” of the tragedy.
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Amanda Christine as Ronnie, who narrowly escaped the monster’s rampage.
The 1962 setting, a largely unexplored period in King’s original novel, grants the creators immense freedom. Fuchs highlighted that “not all these characters are canon from the book,” allowing for “pretty unexpected, exciting things” that will continue to surprise even the most dedicated fans of the It universe. This shocking premiere has not only set a terrifying precedent but has also firmly established It: Welcome to Derry as a bold and unpredictable addition to the beloved horror franchise.
