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This debut of Welcome to Derry this weekend takes audiences once again to the early 1960s, where a fresh band of youngsters faces an age-old, fear-consuming jester. Given that the first It narrative revolved heavily around teens in danger, it's unsurprising that this show follows a similar trajectory. But, Welcome to Derry ramps up the horror even more than the recent movies, establishing its harsh tone faster than viewers might expect.

An Icy Beginning in a Doomed Town

The series starts on a wintry January evening in the cursed town of Derry, Maine, taking place in 1962. After being ejected of a movie theater for sneaking in and refusing to go back home to his abusive guardians, a 12-year-old youth (the young actor) holds onto his soother for comfort while hitchhiking out of the city. When he is eventually offered a lift, the chilled boy agrees. It doesn't take long, however, for him to realize the enormity of his mistake.

We'll pause here to prevent spoiling any details from the episode. It is enough to say that Welcome to Derry wastes no time in showing just how explicit and frightening the program is set to be, especially regarding the violence experienced by children in the locale.

Throughout, the show's first episode demonstrates its makers aren't afraid to "go there," to the extent that it probably ought to come with a content advisory for those uncomfortable to violence against children; it's really that disturbing.

An Different Approach to Terror

Showrunner Jason Fuchs has previously likened Pennywise to the shark from Jaws, a monster revealed in brief looks that builds toward a major climax. In Welcome to Derry, however, the emphasis shifts toward additional transforming horrors evocative of King's initial novel. Thanks to the extended duration and high-quality of an premium production, the show is patient delving into these fears instead of hurrying to spotlight the clown, leading to a creepier, more intense horror than the 2017 and 2019 films.

Is This For You?

Any audience member with the slightest familiarity of It ought to know what they're getting into when it comes to brutality toward children, but Welcome to Derry turns the intensity to the maximum when compared to the TV series and even the movies. Considering this, it deserves a public service announcement if those versions are where one sets their limit. Nevertheless, It: Welcome to Derry is an superb series with a first installment that's a perfect viewing for the Halloween time of year.

• Explicit violence involving minors
• Extended episode length for more profound fear exploration
• More shapeshifting horrors from the source novel
• Establishes a more grim tone than earlier versions