HBO 'IT: Welcome to Derry', Episode 5 Features Pennywise's Full Appearance... Strengthening the Connection to 'The Shining'

The HBO series 'IT: Welcome to Derry' Season 1 Episode 5 'Neibolt Street' aired on November 23 (local time), marking the full appearance of the horror icon Pennywise, played by Bill Skarsgård. This episode rewards fans of Stephen King's 'IT' franchise for their long wait and signals a turning point for the series.

Confrontation in the Sewage System in 1962

This episode depicts a tense confrontation in the sewage system involving the adults, children, and Pennywise of Derry Town in 1962. After focusing on character and plot development in previous episodes, the series shifts to full-blown horror and action in this episode, ramping up the pace of the series.

Notably, the episode reveals the identity of Mrs. Kersh, played by Madeline Stowe, towards the end. Fans who have seen the movie 'IT: Chapter Two' will remember that the old woman Beverly (played by Jessica Chastain) encounters when she returns to the apartment where she lived as a child is named Mrs. Kersh, and this character was revealed to be another form of Pennywise in the film.

Connection to 'Doctor Sleep': Introduction of the Lock Box Concept

This episode also strengthens the connection to Stephen King's other works, 'The Shining' and 'Doctor Sleep'. The character Dick Hallorann, played by Chris Chalk, introduces the concept of a lock box, which is a mental device used by Danny Torrance in 'Doctor Sleep' to trap the ghosts of the Overlook Hotel.

At the end of the episode, Hallorann emerges from the sewage, dazed and wandering through the woods, where he sees the ghost of Captain Polly Russo (played by Rudy Mancuso), who accidentally died from a gunshot by Leroy Hanlon (played by Jovan Adepo). This suggests that Hallorann's mental lock box has been opened.

The series is released every Sunday on HBO and HBO Max, concluding with the season finale on December 14. This prequel series, which explores the origins of Pennywise and the dark history of Derry Town, plays a significant role in expanding the Stephen King universe.