Posted on: November 3rd, 2025

To kick off their spooky season line-up, HBO debuted its highly anticipated prequel series IT: Welcome to Derry on October 26th.

Although it was a highly anticipated venture, we’re sad to report that the initial response to the show has been mixed at best.

The series has been almost universally praised for its acting and visual style, with actors Chris Chalk and Taylour Paige being singled out for excellence.

However, critics also universally agreed that Welcome to Derry’s biggest stumbling block was its writing.

The general consensus seems to be that the series is intent on over-explaining every mystery it sets up, rather than letting events play out over the course of coming episodes.

Despite the praise given to the acting present, it was also agreed that character development seemed “lacking” during the first episode. Critics found fault with the fact Welcome to Derry opted to concentrate on nightmarish sequences rather than getting to know the cast.

However, viewers have been united in their praise for the first episode, many observing that it perfectly captured the small-town atmosphere present in the previous feature films.

So, whilst not a critical darling, IT: Welcome to Derry has the viewing public on its side. Whilst ratings and streaming numbers are still pending, HBO and Max are expecting a “solid” debut.

Currently, the online consensus of viewers is that critics seem to have been quite hasty with their comments. After all, this is only the first episode, and there’s still seven more instalments to come.

Do you think the critical reaction to Welcome to Derry has been prematurely harsh? Will you continue to tune in?