‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Episode 7 review: “The Black Spot”

Horror reaches its boiling point on HBO’s It: Welcome to Derry. After weeks of building tension, the sparks erupt … and we are here for it! “The Black Spot” is an explosive and bloody episode that rips us apart emotionally from start to finish.

The mob arriving at the bar is one thing, but a domino effect triggers chaos that keeps us at the edge of our seats. Pennywise, Periwinkle, and the evil of Derry are in full form on “The Black Spot.”

Ingrid, I am your father.

Last episode shone because of the connected backstory that explained Pennywise the Clown’s origin. Coming on the heels of that momentum, “The Black Spot” is the blood-covered bow that ties everything together. This reveal is the moment that answered the big mystery: how the entity became Pennywise.

It’s a death we guessed would happen, but to have it on screen, Bob Gray’s demise is sadder than we all expected. He truly loved his daughter and wanted the best for their life – a chance to be stars again. It’s almost understandable why Ingrid has been so determined to find him again.

Still, Ingrid is fully a villain. No sympathy her way – she caused everything! We should’ve guessed that she was the one who tipped off the mob to Hank Grogan’s location. She’s one of the only people who know the secret, and after the flashback of Pennywise killing the kid, she knows exactly how to draw the entity in. Her evil schemes killed countless others.

The only bright spot here is that her plans caused her terrible husband to be murdered; his death is so deliciously satisfying and warranted. While the group can’t enact their revenge on everyone, at least Pennywise rightfully got one of the attackers.

In Ingrid’s case, it’s surprising that Pennywise didn’t kill her. Maybe it’s due to the lingering memories from Bob Gray, or maybe it’s from her feeding the entity? Pennywise looks like it wanted to devour Ingrid during their hug, so it’s safe to say she could’ve died. And even through their creepy reunion, you can feel the uneasiness that Pennywise wanted to kill her. We’ll have to see how badly his deadlights affect her; there’s no way she’ll still be the same.

Fanning the flames.

Speaking of the fire, the entirety of the attack during “The Black Spot” is pure chaos. From the second the doors closed, the tension erupts. The long continuous single take adds plenty of uneasiness and fear; a rising temperature for how intense the mayhem became. It: Welcome to Derry does a great job keeping us on the edge of our seats; any time we think we can relax, something bad happens next. A gunshot, a flame burst, or even Pennywise arriving to feed keeps pushing the tension further and further. “The Black Spot” nails the climactic chaos.

Most of the main characters escape, but the true heartbreak comes from Rich’s death. Did anyone see his murder coming? We previously theorized a heartbreaking end for him and Marge, but it’s another thing to have it come true. Their chemistry together was always so sweet and tender; it’s a shame they couldn’t find a way out of the flames. Adrian S. Cartaya, who plays Rich, does a good job of capturing the emotional beats of his character’s death. You can feel the love he had for Marge and the subtle sadness as he accepts his death in the fire.

The same can be said about Matilda Lawler, who plays Marge. She exudes the devastating heartbreak, bringing plenty of emotions over the loss of Rich. The scene where she discovers his lifeless body in the charred bar is the emotional breaking point. Just when we thought we could pick up the pieces after the fire attack, we witness Marge crumple in tears, clinging to Rich’s body. Kudos to It: Welcome to Derry for landing the emotional heartbeat of the episode; the show and cast do an amazing job.

The true evil lurks within.

The military storyline on It: Welcome to Derry has been all over the place. Partly this is due to questions floating in the air and the uncertainty of their plans for the entity. Now, General Shaw’s mission makes a lot of sense: he’s a huge (and stupid) villain!

Seriously, do they think they can actually control the entity? You know, the big monster that’s been murdering everyone for centuries. No one – not the military, the Indigenous community, or the townsfolk – has been able to stop or control Pennywise. Sure, they contained it, but they haven’t stopped it from killing innocent children and adults. And the last time they entered its tunnels, nearly everyone was murdered.

We shouldn’t be surprised by the reveal on “The Black Spot”; it suits the journey of General Shaw’s continued secrets. It’s about power, control, and fear – it’s always been about that. Especially the fear. He wants to control everything, regardless of saying it’s for the betterment of everyone.

It: Welcome to Derry merely pulls the veil back on the character we should’ve seen in plain sight. Also, we shouldn’t be surprised if he dies a horrible death from his karma and thoughtless ambition; the horror story writes itself here.

Caught in the deadlights.

Due to the military destroying a pillar, Pennywise is now free from its slumber and has trapped Will in its deadlights. Based on the It movies, we know that Will survives and becomes a father to Mike Hanlon. So, what does the cliffhanger mean for his parents and The Losers Club? Will Pennywise take him back into the tunnels? Is everyone going to go save him?

It’s a strong and shocking twist, one that throws me for a loop. We haven’t seen Pennywise outside of its slumber period, so anything can happen now that it’s free. And with Lilly holding onto the meteorite dagger, the group has a weapon available to fight back. This looks to be the big fight we’ve all been eagerly waiting for.

Overall.

“The Black Spot” is an emotionally powerful episode that packs a punch. The fire at the bar delivered a roller coaster of thrills and chaos. Rich’s death broke us and left nothing but tears. And the reveal of General Shaw’s and Ingrid’s schemes, while frustrating, cements them into the camp of love-to-hate villains. “The Black Spot” turns up the heat for an explosive penultimate chapter.

It: Welcome to Derry airs new episodes on Sundays at 9 p.m. EST on HBO.