Derry’s New Losers Shine, But Their Time Is Short
As It: Welcome to Derry nears its finale, viewers are left attached to the new Losers, only to learn that future seasons will leap decades into the past, leaving these characters behind.
With just one episode remaining of It: Welcome to Derry, it’s hard not to feel a sense of loss for the latest group of Losers. Not because their fate is sealed—though facing a cosmic clown is hardly a safe bet—but because, if the series is renewed, these characters are unlikely to return. Even before the show’s debut, Andy Muschietti, the director, outlined his vision for subsequent series. Each would travel further back in time: the next set in 1935, and another in 1908. Drawing inspiration from the interludes in Stephen King’s original novel, each season would focus on a tragic event from Derry’s history: the Black Spot fire of 1962, the Bradley Gang Massacre, and the Kitchener Ironworks disaster.
Initially, this approach seemed rather exciting. That was before meeting Will Hanlon, Lilly Bainbridge, Ronnie Grogan, Marge Truman, and Rich Santos. The length of King’s book is often the subject of jokes (and I’ve been known to suggest it could lose a few hundred pages), but its appeal lies in the time spent simply being with Bill, Beverly, Ben, Richie, Stan, and Mike. They’re frequently in danger—whether escaping Henry Bowers or convincing themselves they haven’t seen a werewolf in a letterman jacket—but there are countless moments of them just being children, building dams in the Barrens or racing around on Bill’s bike, Silver. This is a vital part of the story’s decades-long sweep, and it’s a shame that the new Losers, despite the advantages of television’s long-form storytelling, won’t be afforded the same treatment.
Growing Attached to Derry’s Youngest Heroes
Over the past seven weeks, these fictional newcomers have become rather endearing. Their conversations about stardust, awkward flirtations, and debates over whether they’re lifeboats or anchors have made them feel real. Lilly and Ronnie, in particular, have endured quite a lot, having witnessed It’s brutal attack at the Capitol cinema in the opening episode. Not only did they see the violence firsthand, but they’ve also had to cope with the aftermath: Lilly’s return to Juniper Hill Asylum and Ronnie’s father being blamed for the deaths. Marge nearly lost her sight after being tormented by visions, and Rich, the gentle Cuban-American, died heroically during the Black Spot fire. Watching their struggles, it’s difficult not to feel empathy. The show is clearly crafted to make the audience care, fully aware that our time with these characters would be brief.
Unlike the film adaptations, this series features a large ensemble, so impactful scenes were necessary to quickly establish bonds with the young cast. Credit is due to co-showrunners Jason Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane, who wrote most of the episodes, for scripting dialogue that swiftly reveals the children’s personalities and relationships.
The Anthology Format: A Double-Edged Sword
As much as I’d prefer otherwise, there is a certain merit to the anthology format. As a long-time admirer of The Walking Dead, I appreciate horror series that aren’t afraid to dispatch main characters unexpectedly; it’s only realistic that not everyone survives when danger is ever-present. Perhaps knowing these characters won’t return after the finale will encourage the creators to take bolder risks as the series draws to a close.
Rich’s death—at the hands of Chief Bowers and his racist associates, rather than Pennywise—has already shown that anything can happen in the final episode. In the films and the book, Bill and his friends all survive their first encounter with It. The series may yet surprise us by taking a different path. While I’d rather not see it, the possibility certainly raises the stakes.
Looking Ahead: Familiar Faces and Uncertain Futures
Some characters may reappear in a potential second series, which offers a small consolation. Rose, played by Kimberly Norris-Guerrero, seems a likely candidate, given her long history on Derry’s outskirts and her Shokopiwah heritage, which has faced It since the 1500s. Should a third series be commissioned, General Shaw is expected to feature, as hinted in the 1908 prologue of episode three. However, it’s unlikely James Remar will reprise the role, given the time jump. Unless the creators introduce some rather outlandish time travel, it appears there’s only one more hour to spend with Lilly, Will, Ronnie, and Marge. A little more time with them would have been welcome.
It: Welcome to Derry is currently available to stream, with new episodes airing weekly. For those interested in more, there are plenty of other much-talked-about television series and Stephen King adaptations to explore this year.