I initially thought Welcome to Derry would be the next Stranger Things, but the show quickly proved itself different – and superior – with a single, surprising scene.
When the first images and trailers for IT: Welcome to Derry were released, I initially thought it would share a lot of similarities with Stranger Things. That’s because Stranger Things already borrows heavily from the style and themes found in Stephen King’s work – it reminded me of stories like Carrie, Firestarter, and Stand By Me. This year’s TV adaptation of The Institute also felt similar, especially in how it depicted children with special abilities.
At first, HBO’s IT: Welcome to Derry feels very similar to Stranger Things, even intentionally echoing scenes from the popular show. Just when it seems like it’s going to be another retelling of that same story, the series takes a surprisingly dark and violent turn, completely subverting expectations.
It: Welcome To Derry Avoids Stranger Things Comparisons In The Most Brutal Way
The premise below might sound a little too familiar:
- A child from a small town disappears and is presumed dead.
- His friends are haunted by visions of him before they set out to find him.
- The kids bike through their quiet neighborhood, hoping to find clues that will lead them to their friend.
- An overarching government lab in the town secretly runs experiments.
Both Stranger Things and the opening of IT: Welcome to Derry begin with similar storylines. Like Stranger Things, Welcome to Derry uses a classic, nostalgic style reminiscent of Spielberg’s films. But after we meet the young characters—who feel like counterparts to those in Stranger Things—the show takes a shocking turn at the end of the first episode. They quickly come face-to-face with the terrifying Pennywise, and nearly all of them are killed.
I quickly became invested in the young characters introduced at the start of IT: Welcome to Derry. With Stranger Things ending soon, I thought this new group would become the next generation of beloved heroes like Eleven, Will, and the others. However, the show surprised me by unexpectedly eliminating half of these characters early on, and in a way that was arguably even more compelling than what I had anticipated.
Welcome To Derry’s Early Subversion Sets It Up As A Smart IT Adaptation
HBO via MovieStillsDB
The movie IT: Welcome to Derry could have simply copied the success of Stranger Things, but it made a smarter choice. By avoiding those familiar tropes, it’s actually more compelling. It clearly signals that it won’t be just another Stranger Things clone, and instead aims to be a truly frightening and faithful adaptation of Stephen King’s classic horror novel.
Often, when Stephen King’s stories are adapted into movies or shows, like The Institute, they’re changed to try and attract a wider audience. This usually makes them less frightening and less faithful to the original book. Luckily, IT: Welcome to Derry avoids this problem. While it might initially seem similar to Stranger Things, it cleverly flips expectations and avoids common clichés. Instead of being the next Stranger Things, IT: Welcome to Derry feels like a return to form for Stephen King adaptations.
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2025-10-31 04:28