‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Episode 3 review: “Now You See It”

The entity has made its presence known on HBO’s It: Welcome to Derry. “Now You See It” is the first episode where the entity/Pennywise the Clown feels more like a physical threat instead of a theory. The big bad villain hiding in the shadows isn’t simply a nightmare tormenting (or brutally killing) the kids. Instead, it’s something that has a face and glowing eyes.

Compared to the first two episodes, “Now You See It” has a slower momentum, focusing on bringing the group closer to what we as It fans have known since the book and movies. While its pacing and special effects were less than desired, the plot development made up for it.

Finding proof.

Who else was glad that Lilly and Ronnie made up? It’s awful that Lilly lied to the police, but they were both put into a terrible position. As we discussed in the last episode review, the police were looking for a scapegoat, and Lilly was still sent to Juniper Hill after all was said and done! There’s nothing better than a redemption plan to unite two people towards a similar cause.

Capturing proof of the entity/Pennywise was an interesting and astute plan – no one in town would’ve believed them without evidence. And it goes to show their resourcefulness that they were able to turn this around quickly in 1962, Derry. Seriously, they’re lucky that Will knew enough how to develop photos! That’s a skill that wouldn’t come around easily in town. Rich, on the other hand, tried his best. He hasn’t yet shown his full skills for The Losers Club, but hey, the group needs its numbers. And a comic relief can come in handy as the scenes get scarier and more intense.

As for allies, I don’t know if we should fully trust Ingrid (played by Revenge’s Madeleine Stowe). This role has been a tad mysterious, and Stowe knows how to play a cold and cunning villain. There was something off about Ingrid’s interaction with Lilly at Juniper Hill, almost like she was cautiously watching her. Lilly should be careful; the adults of It: Welcome to Derry don’t always have the best intentions or a trusting nature.

Raising the dead.

The entity’s/Pennywise’s graveyard attack is the most direct confrontation against The Losers Club so far. Between the floating ghosts and the ground breaking apart, Pennywise tried its hardest to get the kids afraid; frightened to the point that they could be killed. Unfortunately, the special effects and cinematography of the climax took away from the action.

What I mean by this is that the final climax was very obviously filmed on a greenscreen. Will, Rich, Lilly, and Ronnie, riding their bikes in a foggy, bluish night, came across a cheesy scene. And pairing this atmosphere with clips of the kids being filmed straight-on took away all seriousness.

While the scene couldn’t have been filmed practically, a nice blend of realistic elements could’ve helped to ground the scene. Or a different approach to the special effects would’ve made the attacks realistic. Instead, we were left with floating ghosts and effects that felt pulled from the pages of a Goosebumps book.

Thankfully, Will’s short encounter with the entity/Pennywise added an eerie touch. While the group hasn’t definitively seen the creature out in the open, at least its eyes and presence were felt. It’s a small step towards having the “Pennywise the Clown” persona of the entity appear on the show. Let’s just hope that It: Welcome to Derry doesn’t drag this appearance out – the series needs the clown to arrive before the halfway point.

In the belly of the beast.

Elsewhere in Derry, we learned a lot more about Major Hanlon’s mission and why Dick Hallorann was selected for the case. It’s become more apparent that the military knows that the “weapon” isn’t actually a weapon; it’s an entity. And based on the fact that Pennywise is still around during the time of the movies, the military won’t succeed in controlling it.

Dick Hallorann experienced the vision of Pennywise’s crypt, so they know enough about what they’re facing. Could this be a Frankenstein situation where the ambition for power causes everyone’s undoing? And ultimately, what will drive them to leave Derry?

But on the plus side, It: Welcome to Derry seems like it’s gotten into the rhythm of what the military plot will be. The growing pains have adjusted, and we’re seeing what this means for relationships, the town, and the mystery at large. For instance, Major Hanlon’s friendship with Hallorann seems to be getting more complicated.

A brewing tension is forming between them; their entire dinner scene at Hanlon’s house was awkward and uncomfortable. Major Hanlon doesn’t trust Hallorann’s psychic connection. Eventually, we could see a world where he demands Hallorann to act fast, especially if Will and the kids fall into a Pennywise trap.

On the other hand, who else enjoyed General Shaw and Rose’s connection? Their childhood friendship was so cute and seemed like they developed a quick bond – most likely due to the entity’s first attack. But their reunion and flashbacks posed a big question: Has General Shaw forgotten everything about nearly being killed by Pennywise?

He has indistinguishable first-hand experience of seeing the fear entity, but only she stayed in Derry all this time. Most likely, she knows way more than she’s letting on. Either Rose or General Shaw should come clean, or else we’ll be stuck in a ping-pong game of lies before the truth comes roaring out.

Overall.

“Now You See It” is an interesting yet imbalanced episode for It: Welcome to Derry. On the other hand, the episode pushes the characters into a stronger development for their plots, as well as their relationships together. The horror tones were on full force, with great callbacks to the movies and the fears within Derry.

On the other hand, the pacing wound down to a slower path, reiterating much of what we knew. And certain special effect choices didn’t help with amplifying the big moments we did have.

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