IT: Welcome to Derry

If you like ghost stories and The Evil Dead, you'll enjoy this show, which features supernatural elements and horrific scenes. Some of the scenes are extremely well thought out and filmed. You may find yourself wondering "how they even imagined these scenes". However, alongside the positives, there are some CGI failings. Hopefully, the producer or director will fix these in the near future.

I gave it 8 stars. But I think it should be 7 for the first three episodes. After watching the first two episodes, I watched the IT movies (2017 and 2019) again. And realised that this TV series is very similar to the IT movies. I also hope they can bring some fresh ideas and scenarios to the first season. The 8-star rating is for that hope! :)

I had high hopes for this series and hope it gets better. I'm not sure if it's meant to be scary but the visual effects just aren't doing it for me. It's comical at times when it's not mean to be?

I will hold out that the series gets better but right now I'm struggling to get into it. I want to clarify I haven't watched any of the IT movies, so it's my first intro to this franchise.

Episode 1. So, I just watched the first episode of the new IT series, and yes, I'll keep watching because I've always been a huge IT fan.

Honestly, I get that IT is all about imagination... it's meant to be something you experience through the eyes of children, where fantasy and fear blend together. That part I respect. But the way they used CGI and fake-looking sets... nope. It completely kills the vibe. It's overdone, unrealistic, and honestly kind of ridiculous at times.

As for the child actors, they're not terrible, but it feels like déjà vu. Like we've seen this exact lineup a hundred times before. Everything feels recycled and generic.

At this point, if we're going to rely that much on CGI, we might as well let AI make the whole movie and honestly, I think I'd prefer that over this cartoonish visual style.

Anyway, that's just my take after episode one. I'll keep watching and see how it evolves but let's just say, my expectations are officially on pause for now.

Episode 2 of IT: Honestly, it just confirms what I said in my review of the first one, the CGI completely kills the atmosphere. It feels like they're trying to make up for a flat storyline with visual effects, but it only makes everything look fake and lifeless. There's no tension, no real fear, nothing unsettling about it.

And again, it's all so déjà vu. The kids are OK actors but it's the same formula we've seen a thousand times: the bullied kid, the abusive parent, the depressed mom, the family trauma. It's like they're following the Stephen King cliché checklist, updated for 2025.

As for horror? None. Not a single scene feels scary or even suspenseful. Everything is so polished and predictable that you never actually feel on edge. It's starting to feel more like a sad drama about traumatized kids than a horror series.

Honestly, I'm just waiting for Bill Skarsgård to show up, because right now, even the plot feels painfully slow and uninspired. Nothing grabs you. If they don't start bringing real horror into it soon, this might just end up being another overproduced, CGI-filled flop.

I'm three episodes in, and honestly, if this wasn't an HBO show, people would be tearing it apart. The effects are awful, the pacing is dead slow, and there's nothing remotely scary.

It's like It lost its bite and decided to mope around instead. I'll keep watching, but only because I clearly hate myself.

IT: Welcome to Derry is a solid horror series that really nails atmosphere and suspense, with Pennywise as terrifying as ever and the adult performances bringing real depth. The town feels alive, full of secrets that keep you hooked, and the storytelling mostly balances tension and emotion perfectly. Some of the younger characters' arcs don't hit as strongly, and a few moments drag or show slightly off CGI, but these are minor hiccups in an otherwise gripping show. Overall, it's a strong 8.5-9/10 - highly recommended for horror fans.