‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Episode 1 Deaths Shock Fans With a Brutal “Ned Stark” Twist
The new Stephen King adaptation has had a brutal ending scene in its first episode, but It: Welcome to Derry's fans aren't complaining.
Whether we’re talking about the 1990 miniseries or the 2017 movie starring Bill Skarsgård, Stephen King’s “It” adaptations were never an easy watch for its audiences, but the most recent one might have just gone even further.
Conceived as a prequel show to Andy Muschietti’s It and It Chapter Two, It: Welcome to Derry expands the novel’s universe by delving into Pennywise the Clown’s past and the events occurring long before those in the films.
The show’s first episode is still hard to stomach even for the most devoted Stephen King fans, especially considering that a single scene killed off many more characters than anyone expected.
How Many Kids Died in That ‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Episode 1 Scene?
Following the premise that sets up the story about the disappearance of a boy named Matty, the plot moves forward to the group of five kids embarking on their own search for their friend and schoolmate.
By the time the episode reaches its most horrifying scene in the movie theatre, Lilly, Teddy, Susie, Ronnie and Phil decide to investigate the place after Ronnie’s confession that he heard children’s voices coming from sewers somewhere near the theatre.
Already inside, the group sees Matty, though it isn’t quite the reunion anyone there expected — instead of getting back home safe Matty seemingly shifts to the evil side and blames his friends, eventually releasing a demonic baby that kills three out of five kids.
As a result, Teddy, Phil and Susie are dead, while Lilly and Ronnie manage to escape.
“It” Fans Can’t Stop Talking About ‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Decision to “Ned Stark Half of the Cast”
Even though those who read Stephen King’s novel or at least are familiar with its plot know for sure that gory things won’t take long to happen, it’s safe to say many weren’t quite ready to see so many (allegedly) leading characters leave in the first episode.
However, King’s fans in a Reddit thread were more than happy about it anyway.
“I will miss Phil and his conspiracy theorist level of manic but I loved that the Mushietti's weren't afraid to Ned Stark half of the cast”, Redditor stratticus14 wrote, drawing a parallel with Game of Thrones’ Ned Stark whose death in the first season is still shocking almost 15 years later.
“I applaud them for subverting expectations. It would seem that nobody is safe from here on out, and I'm living for it”, Sekhmet_D agreed.
“I was a little disappointed UP UNTIL that ending, jesus christ, i did not expect that!” inadapte revealed.
It: Welcome to Derry is coming back on HBO Max with episode 2 on October 31.
