IT: Welcome To Derry’s Premiere Is Full Of Stephen King Easter Eggs, And My Favorite Involves Bathroom Graffiti

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Be warned: This article reveals major plot details from the first episode of IT: Welcome to Derry. If you haven’t seen it yet, you might want to stop reading now to avoid spoilers!

As a Stephen King devotee, I found IT: Welcome to Derry to be a really engaging watch. It’s not your typical prequel focusing on a character we already know. Instead, it smartly expands the established lore from IT: Chapter One and Chapter Two, essentially filling in the backstory and taking us further back in time. This approach isn’t just clever structurally, it allows for some fantastic nods to the existing story and really solidifies the overall canon. It’s a treat for fans!

If you enjoy Stephen King’s work, you likely noticed many references in the IT: Welcome to Derry pilot (now streaming on HBO Max). But if you missed any, we’ve compiled a list of all the connections and Easter eggs we spotted – from major callbacks to subtle details!

Catching A Movie At The Capitol Theater

Although the Capitol Theater appears in the background of some shots in IT: Chapter One, a key scene from Stephen King’s book – where the Losers Club fights Henry Bowers and his gang after being seen at a movie – isn’t included. However, IT: Welcome to Derry significantly features the Capitol Theater, using it to frame the beginning and end of the pilot. We last see Matty (Miles Ekhardt) there, and it ultimately becomes the location of a very violent event.

Some Notable Downtown Derry Locations

Downtown Derry doesn’t see much change in its businesses, which means fans of Stephen King‘s books and the IT movies will easily recognize many locations. Keep an eye out for places like Jade Orient (the Chinese restaurant in IT: Chapter Two), Keene’s Pharmacy, and Nan’s Luncheonette – they’re all still there!

The Hanlons Arrive In Derry

This isn’t about a hidden detail, but rather an important piece of Derry’s history. In the IT: Welcome To Derry pilot, Leroy Hanlon moves to town and establishes roots, making it the family home for generations. He’s the grandfather of Mike Hanlon (played by Chosen Jacobs and Isaiah Mustafa in the IT movies), and we’ll soon be introduced to Leroy’s wife, Charlotte, and their son, Will.

A Derry Descendant In First Airman Donahue?

As we watch IT: Welcome To Derry, you’ll probably recognize some of the last names mentioned, even those just briefly. For instance, a character named Donahue is introduced, and it makes you wonder if he’s connected to Kitty Donahue – the wife of gangster George Bradley, who was killed during Pennywise’s attacks back in 1935. We might not get the answer to that question until the show’s second season.

Bert The Turtle And The Turtle Charm

Before we dive too deep, it’s worth knowing that Bert the Turtle isn’t just a fun reference – he actually was a character in a 1950s civil defense film about nuclear attack. But honestly, it works brilliantly for IT: Welcome to Derry. The importance of turtles is really highlighted when Lilly gets a little charm from trading Cracker Jack prizes with Matty. Turtles have always been a big deal in the world of IT and Stephen King in general, because Pennywise’s ancient enemy is this massive, cosmic turtle named Maturin – one of the beings who created the universe! It makes you wonder if we’ll ever actually see Maturin in the new series, though – that’s still up in the air.

The Introduction Of Dick Hallorann

Although Dick Hallorann isn’t a major character in the first episode of IT: Welcome To Derry, he’s briefly shown giving Leroy Hanlon a ride around the base, making his appearance noteworthy. Actor Chris Chalk portrays Hallorann, who fans of The Shining will recognize as the future head chef of the Overlook Hotel. His presence in the show isn’t a coincidence; Stephen King includes Hallorann in the flashback sequence from IT that serves as the basis for the first season.

Teddy Is Related To Stanley Uris

Does curly hair, a Jewish background, and unfortunate locker room graffiti ring a bell? If so, you might recognize that this character is related to Teddy Uris – the same Teddy Uris played by Wyatt Oleff and Andy Bean in the IT movies. The exact family connection isn’t fully explained, but it’s likely he’s a great-uncle that Stanley Uris never knew.

Creature From The Black Lagoon And More In Teddy’s Bedroom

A look around Teddy’s room in the IT: Welcome to Derry pilot immediately reveals him as a science fiction and horror fan, which perfectly suits the story’s atmosphere. From a Creature From The Black Lagoon poster and UFO imagery to a Space Cadet comic, Teddy’s interests clearly reflect the classic influences that inspired Stephen King when he wrote IT.

Finger In The Drain

The terrifying clown Pennywise lives in the sewers of Derry, Maine, bringing plenty of scares. One particularly creepy scene – where a girl named Lilly is frightened by a finger emerging from her bathtub – might actually be a nod to another Stephen King story. Called “The Moving Finger,” this short story from the collection Nightmare & Dreamscapes tells of a man tormented by a long finger crawling out of his sink.

Alvin Marsh Love Graffiti In The Bathroom

As a big fan of IT: Chapter One, I always thought Alvin Marsh was a truly awful character – Beverly Marsh’s abusive father, played so convincingly. But I recently noticed something interesting while rewatching! There’s a quick scene with young Beverly and Marge in the bathroom, and if you look closely at the graffiti on the wall, you can actually see someone wrote a little message to Alvin, like a little crush had on him way back when. It’s a small detail, but it’s wild to think about given who he becomes!

The Terror Of Juniper Hill

Derry, Maine, has many dangerous locations, and Juniper Hill – the town’s mental hospital – is one of the most notorious. In the first episode of IT: Welcome To Derry, we find out Lilly was a patient there after her father’s sudden and tragic death. Fans of the IT story will also recall that Henry Bowers was institutionalized at Juniper Hill in IT: Chapter Two, portrayed by Teach Grant.

Research In The Derry Library

As a big fan of the IT universe, seeing the Derry Library on screen always gives me chills. It’s such a memorable location in both Chapter One and Chapter Two, especially for Ben and Mike. When I started watching the Welcome to Derry pilot, I was thrilled to see them utilize the library again – it felt right at home seeing Lilly, Teddy, and Phil investigating Matty’s disappearance within those walls. It really adds to the atmosphere!

The Bowers Family Gets Namechecked

Regarding the research done at the Derry Library, remember how I mentioned common last names? If you listen closely while the kids are looking at the microfiche in the beginning, you might hear the name Clint Bowers. He’s probably related to both Henry Bowers and Oscar Bowers (Stuart Hughes in IT Chapter One).

News That The Paul Bunyan Statue Is Being Erected

If you’ve seen IT: Chapter Two, you probably remember the terrifying scene where Pennywise animates the giant Paul Bunyan statue in Derry, Maine, to scare Richie (Bill Hader). However, a newspaper shown in the IT: Welcome to Derry pilot reveals the statue wasn’t built yet in 1962 – construction had just begun. This suggests we’ll see the statue being built throughout the first season of the show.

This episode was packed with Easter eggs and references, but there’s much more to come! The next episode of IT: Welcome To Derry airs next Sunday, November 2nd on HBO, and I’ll be back here on TopMob to break down all the connections to the wider Stephen King world.

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2025-10-27 05:10