It: Welcome to Derry 1x06 Full Reaction!
Added 2025-12-01 21:37:47 +0000 UTC
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If the situation wasn’t so tense, yes, it would be cute about the parents thinking they can control their kids in this story. Speaking of which, we haven’t seen Lilly’s mom in some time, have we? The bleedover with the big theme of the book The Shining being part of this is a bit of a surprise. I do like that you stress that you are not at all saying Will deserved to get hit for hitting below the belt as he did. I see that on the youtube upload, there’s a comment there that says that Will, and here I quote, “totally deserved that blow.” for what he said. He did not. You have the good point on the lack of emotional control that comes with his age allowing some leeway. And even without that factoring into it, hitting below the belt as Will did or not, you DON’T hit your kid like that. And it is, maybe “great” is the wrong word, but how you say, Charlotte draws the hard line, even for the time this takes place, Hanlon’s hitting Will is going WAY too far. That and the Hallorann scene, yes, nice that it’s being made clear that we’re not meant to side with Hanlon here. Margie taking very well to her Jack Elam look, good comparison by the way, is a surprising push for a pairing that I don’t think either of us anticipated. And we lived for her sticking it to the plastics. Mild shame that it’s slightly undercut by having to Dispatch the one line. (At least that’s what google said the line’s from. You mentioned playing it, so that tracks.) One strange thing is I heard that Margie was on the updated poster, which tipped off some character growth. That combined with there were some parts I couldn’t fully condemn led to the kinder initial response that I had. But yeah, we’re loving her more than we would have expected. Shame the chances of survival are slim, though there are rumblings of a theory that Margie could live. See how that goes. The desk scene did yield a scream that would make Evelyn Ankers blush. The shard probably would have gotten more of a response, even with the laxer standards about those sorts of things back then it does still feel odd. Just the presence of Madeleine in a seemingly innocuous and somewhat superfluous character set off the first alarm bell as it often does when you have a big name in those types of parts. Like Christina Ricci in Wednesday. Hell, Roger Ebert used to call it out when blatant. The seeming niceness being the bigger red flag, and when we hear the name “Kersh”, that really makes you zero in, saying, “All right, see how that plays out.” Seeing Bill as the original real Pennywise in the hypothetical season three sounds great. Interesting to hear that he was reticent to come back. Can understand the thought process. By the same token, it allows him to dive into the role in a way he hadn’t before. Like Ian McDiarmid, once Lucas explained that he was the right age for younger Palpatine, he signed on. But once he found about the Sidious of it all, then he got really excited. I can see Bill getting if not the same sales pitch, the idea of diving deeper into Pennywise ultimately proved a big incentive for him to return to the part. Both he and Madeleine were deeply disturbing in those scenes. I have ZERO fucking idea how people are walking away from this thinking that the show is NOT being explicit enough about the racism. If there are the people that think that, I doubt even Margot Robbie in the bathtub would help it make sense to them. Bowers being fired could be sold a few different ways. He could be lying about that just to get the mob together. Could be he’s blamed for Hank’s escape and failure to recapture him, though I’m less clear about the thought process for how that’s the fireable offense, at least as it pertains to Hank’s escape. Assuming too, that Pennywise, isn’t just having fun. At worst, it could be like the Boyd Holbrook character where it felt like Disney wanted to be explicit that he wasn’t CIA, yet they seemed ok with Not Angela Davis of the CIA being rather shocked that the literal Nazi turned out to be evil. (Although given the current government...) The weird thing is when catching that in the theaters, the thing with Boyd didn’t occur. Later it did, and I take the point. That Back to the Future line would be a cherry on top with Rich’s drum solo. That and J. K. Simmons having the nod and smile of approval. Anything that brings Madeline to mind is fantastic. Need to refresh the memory of Deep Space Nine. Again, the updating to the eighties for the Losers’ Club does sort of put it up in the air for the rest of the timeline. We both have the dread of watching the brutality to come. Which is the sort of thing that really lets you know a story is working. Still can’t figure out a good reference to a certain Oscar contender that came out back in Spring to sneak in. Best I got at the moment is mentioning about a rocky road to Derry with no idea how to crowbar that in. There is also the question of would references to that be in poor taste? The film was on the mind with certain shots and framing of certain scenes if nothing else. In any event, see how the heart holds out next week.
Thomas Corp
2025-12-02 04:38:40 +0000 UTCOne weird thing is we've already had 1908 flashbacks in full color, which makes the black and white here feel like even more of a contrived affectation. But it looks great, so I'm not complaining. I'll assume that's a Newsroom reference despite only making it halfway through the first season, just because it seems like the kind of thing that would happen on it. At least once Aaron Sorkin got a handle on how cell phones work. I imagine Annie Wilkes would have rage quit by this point, finding something that would make her say "Are you insane? This isn't what they showed us last week!" Though she did almost win the first Dead Meat Royal Rumble, thankfully getting narrowly taken out by M3GAN. One time as a kid I watched Ferngully three times in one day, purely for Tim Curry. I didn't even recognize his voice despite having seen Home Alone 2 and getting very attached to him there, I just knew there was something strangely appealing about him that blew away everything else in the movie.
Ryan
2025-12-02 03:37:16 +0000 UTCAlways adorable when the parents think they have any control over the kids at this point in the story. Children behave, that's what they say when we're together. And with Halloran taking all the attention, I never expected the part of The Shining with a father's darkest violent impulses being awakened to be part of this too. Though not for nothing, not at all saying Will deserved to get hit, but "I would never let my friends get killed" was a huge low blow, and the lack of emotional control that comes with his age is about the only thing keeping him from also feeling unforgiveable. Very nice to see that even at this time when it wasn't nearly as frowned on, Charlotte still draws a hard line here, and between this and Halloran's scene it's now very clear that we're not at all supposed to be in Leroy's corner. I never once considered a possible pairing of Rich and Margie, but his taking so well to her Jack Elam impression instantly got me on board, and the lunch scene cemented it even further. Though now that we've gotten this better look at it, it does have me saying "The fuck you mean temporarily? Bitch, you blind forever." I was all ready to just hate Margie at the start of the season, but in just two episodes they've totally rehabilitated her. Just too bad they're very likely all going to die at the end. I'll admit, I was giggling a bit seeing you start a thought knowing when the jump scare was coming and there wasn't nearly enough time to finish it. Kind of curious how no one seems perturbed at Lily holding what looks like a large knife in school, which I have to imagine was a pretty big deal even back then. Leading into what everyone who recognized the name Kersh suspected was coming, though I'll say again her just being so nice got me suspicious right at the start. I'd been thinking for a while that it would be neat if Bill got to play the actual person who IT based Pennywise on, but I figured it would be coming in Season 3 so this caught me totally off guard. And the word now is that he was very reluctant to do this show since it felt like a step backward when he was really starting to grow beyond just being known as Pennywise, until he found out about this. It's always neat when an actor is able to turn into a totally different character before your eyes, and he's definitely racked up the career to show he can pull this off. And of course Madeleine Stowe pulls off the switch perfectly, making you very glad Lilly could get out of there before Ingrid starts calling her "Netta." I've actually seen complaints about the show not being explicit enough about the racism, but that really feels like reaching for something to complain about. If someone can watch any single random episode and not pick up on it, I honestly doubt even the characters turning to the camera and spelling it out would help. I will say I'm cautious about Bowers being fired, which brings up bad memories of Boyd Holbrook in Dial of Destiny repeatedly making clear apropos of nothing that he's not actually a CIA agent, obviously because Disney wouldn't let them portray the CIA as bad guys. But it's not yet clear that's why it happened, so I'll hold out hope they know what they're doing. Lovely set of scenes in the Black Spot, where Rich's drum set could only be improved if he ended with "I guess you guys aren't ready for that, but your kids are gonna love it." And I'm always up for a song choice that brings up both one of Madeline Kahn's Oscar nominations and one of the best episodes in a lackluster Deep Space Nine season. A big departure from the book here, where the Black Spot was an established place for years before this happened, but with the limited time frame the show has they kind of had no choice. This is definitely going to get brutal, and I'm dreading actually having to watch it. Which is the kind of thing that really lets you know a story is working, so good, I guess.
Ryan
2025-12-02 03:20:50 +0000 UTCYes, another week where we get into IT. Never change, Jess. An episode that got you all in your feels. Yeah, this is going to be a tough wait for the next one. Opening with the Universal Horror style black-and-white flashback with the hint of Schindler’s List with the red. And nice that those of us watching the full get a fun little bonus dance number from you. Tension and trouble in Losers’ Club town. Not helping Lilly is the Pennywise Traumatic Stress. (I’ll see myself out.) Heart breaks when Lilly and Ronnie had their scene of shouting at each other with the blame. Do give Ronnie credit of she does concede that she took it too far, and in the moment of vulnerability with Will admits that she’s just tired of being afraid. Adore the reaction you had to Ronnie being reunited with her dad. Sweet how it’s rather understated that Margie is sort of clocking Lilly’s present pain the best and is giving her space. We, likewise, have similar assessments of Lilly as of this episode. Hell of a scream with the desk jumpscare. I could have told you it was coming. Old Pennywise was rude with the interruption when you were speaking. The big scene at the Hanlon house was tough. Jumped some when Hanlon put hands on his boy as Charlotte described it. We both had some strong encouragement of Charlotte drawing the line in the sand, and Hanlon keeps going on about doing what he has to to keep this country safe. Hanlon is testing the patience. I know he comes around eventually, but he needs to get the lead out with that. Reaches the point where you’re yelling that at him, adding, “Get your house in order, Major!” Also, his talk with Hallorann struck a nerve. I’m with Hallorann on being strongly averse to what Hanlon is saying. And concerning Hanlon, fuck him for just thinking that you can stuff shit back into that box. It does NOT work that way. I wish it was possible. But once that box is unlocked, that is a bell that CANNOT be unrung. And I hear Hallorann when he talks about the voices and how they never stop. The mind it, it will not quiet. That smell of burnt toast never leaves. Respect to Hallorann for calling Hanlon out on the horseshit whist tossing out all the fucks. The fucks were nowhere to be found, like you delightfully said. There is mild question of Hallorann’s story, his survival being guaranteed aside. You do feel for poor Hallorann who is just so done with this and wants to go back to when the most unusual shit he had to deal with was Mac destroying his phone due to the mass email she accidentally sent. Plus, in general, being stuck in the middle of Will and Mac’s old married couple style arguments, though it was nice how he had Will’s back vis-à-vis crying when watching Rudy. Talking about the big reveal with Ingrid, which better explains how the one picture was left intact. Rare feat when Pennywise has the momentary look of befuddlement when Ingrid called him, “Papa”, though he ran with it quick, manipulating her into providing him a veritable Old Country Buffet of children via Juniper Hill. Further explains how he knew where to look Henry up when he was there. Sanity has clearly taken a powder in Ingrid’s house. One small saving grace is that she didn’t say that “There is a higher justice than that of man. I will be judged by Him.”, small favors though that is. Ingrid REALLY struck the nerve when trying to appeal to Lilly by pulling the Dad card. Lilly should have done worse with the shard against Ingrid for pulling the Dad card. Take the fucking thing and STICK IT right in her goddamn eyeball. That’s what she should have done. Which I suppose my response could seem hypocritical given the rather visceral kinship with Abby in The Last of Us. Thing is that was simply revenge, she wasn’t using her dad’s death to justify why she kept ensuring that many poor kids kept their appointment with the Wicker Man, or Pennywise. Then Ingrid sold out Hank, or at least all the available evidence points to her being the one who did that, and the heartrate is jacked. Then there’s the pure wholesomeness of the Margie and Rich scenes. Rich continuing to prove why he’s your favorite of the kids. Between Lilly and Margie for me. (Pennywise being favorite of the mythos, as previously mentioned.) Nice that he helps her with the dressing on her eye. I was honestly expecting her eye would be looking worse, but it looks like it’s healing reasonably well. Didn’t see any images, but I heard something about Margie sporting the eyepatch. The heart swells seeing both their scenes, and your perfect reaction to the scenes, Jess. And we LOVED Margie doing the move with her eye against the plastics. One other thing is that since the lead plastic went and called her “Margaret” in such a condescending tone, then Margie is very well within her legal rights to sock the plastic bitch in the eye on principle. Saw a little bit of red at that, yelling, “HER NAME HAPPENS TO BE MARGIE, GODDAMN IT!!!” Then there is the gathering at the little spot that Hallorann and his guys set up. Lovely place. The atmosphere is very lively. Interesting coincidence how the whole feel of it is reminiscent of a big movie this year. Or maybe I just had the movie on the brain. Like how Will keeps making the efforts to convince Ronnie about the one plan. Hank grilling Will by asking what his favorite movies are. Hank is me here. I appreciate your assessment on the plan. And it’s aided by knowledge of what we know already. They obviously won’t kill Pennywise. They can’t even really hurt it. (Unless the lore is altered some.) But they can outlast him, and maybe the shard can keep most of them from dying. Further Margie and Rich sweetness when they got served the booze, though you tell them, “Children, go slow. That stuff will take the paint off your stomach.” Plenty of times when I was a boy at the American Legion, and nobody served those kind of drinks to my brother or I. Don’t who would have raised the greater fuss, my parents or my grandparents. Same with the lodge when I was still underage, everyone was very responsible about it. I know, different times. Love your reactions to Rich drumming. That is, that is quite our tempo. The final scene is not. And it’s a very interesting thing of having read the book, how certain pieces slide into place throughout the episode. The slow rising tension of that which I KNOW is coming. It’s like Ghorman all over again. Technically Abby too, though I haven’t played the games, so I didn’t know precise specifics and circumstances on that one. All culminating in the final scene that doesn’t do any of our emotions any favors. Had to have a few beers to calm down before bed last night after this. Going to be worse next week. You asked is it all going to hell before the angry mob showed up, and I cannot comment further about the horror to come at this time. What I will say is that this show was VERY mean in ending it when they did. And you say that your heart cannot take what’s to come: No, it cannot. One plus this week: No Shaw in this episode. Good. I am far from the mood to be dealing with his horseshit. Hanlon says that the fucking moron is STILL on his weaponize Pennywise kick. Should Pennywise attack the base by taking the form of filthy brown acid rain pouring down like egg chow mein, would that get a point across? One last thing: I caught your comment on the youtube upload. on the troubles with the Stranger Things reactions. Netflix is very persnickety with you this year, aren’t they? Rude. Hoping it goes smoother for you this week. And suppose it doesn’t, I hope that the fans have the patience with that. Come what may, all the best of luck to you. Might want to have some tequila ready for the next episode. Thank you for the amazing reaction, Jess.
Thomas Corp
2025-12-01 23:49:43 +0000 UTC
