IT: Welcome To Derry: Season 1 Episode 6 – Recap and Review

As Pennywise preps for his grand finale, we begin to unravel how/why a shapeshifting alien decided being a clown would be their go-to presentation.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on Hours Updated on

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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Episode 6 “In The Name Of The Father” Recap and Details

Taking Sides: Leroy, Will, Ronnie, Lilly, Rich, Marge, Charlotte

Leroy and Lilly find themselves at odds with their friends and family. For Leroy, him wanting to isolate Charlotte and Will from what is going on in Derry puts them at odds. Charlotte wants to help Hank, who she believes is facing discrimination of the highest order, but Leroy doesn’t want her involved, and she is at the point where being a housewife is just not enough for her. She wants to be part of the movement and is ready to move down south, with Will, to have more purpose than making sure Leroy is fed.

Neither option works for Will. For whether it is Lilly, with the Indigenous people’s weapon in hand, trying to convince everyone to go back into the sewers, or Ronnie leading the charge of being in opposition, someone has to bring these two factions back together. Will starts with Ronnie, who dealt some major and personal low blows to Lilly.

But, in this split up, you see people pair up and signs that crushes could be forming or already exist. Sticking with Will and Ronnie, after talking things out with her, trying to support her and show he cares, they hug. Then, when they pull apart, it almost seems like they were going to kiss. But then Charlotte pulls up and has them both get into the car to take them to the base so Ronnie could be reunited with her dad.

As for Rich and Marge? While Lilly has been Marge’s friend forever, it seems like Rich is the one who understood how to make her feel comfortable in being different and not necessarily fitting in with the Pattycakes. Note: He met her at her worst, whether it was trying to be popular or now with an eye that is healing from Pennywise’s attack, yet he still accepts her and doesn’t push her to do things that compromise her moral compass. So, with that in mind, she embraces being seen as one of the freaks, and while these two don’t share a moment like Will and Ronnie, Rich is a little more suave, so they could catch up quickly.

Duty Over Mental Health: Leroy, Hallorann

After Pennywise had Hallorann battling his demons, he needed a break. He wants to drink, be by himself, try to rest, but Leroy is all about duty, what General Shaw says, and the two come to an impasse. Mind you, understanding Leroy is thick-headed, Hallorann breaks down his family history of seeing the dead, how his grandma helped him manage the horrific feelings, and also how he dealt with seeing people walk around. The idea was, if Leroy understood how traumatic this power is, how hard it is to manage, especially since Pennywise undid his main tool for managing it, maybe Leroy would back off.

Alas, he doesn’t, and Hallorann realizes the military wholly owns Leroy and is more skin folk than kin folk.

Anything For Daddy: Ingrid, Lilly, Ronnie, Hank, Rich, Marge, Will, Clint

While the rest of the group hangs with their favorite person, Lilly goes to Ingrid and finds out the truth about her. You see, Pennywise, at least the man the alien decided to body snatch, is her father. From what it appears, around 1908, Ingrid and her father were part of a traveling carnival, with him being Pennywise the Dancing Clown and her being his sidekick, Periwinkle. They were inseparable, so upon his disappearance, she didn’t know what to do.

Enter, years down the line, getting a job at Juniper Hill, and a young girl speaking of something that wanted her to go into the basement. Ingrid, despite being a janitorial staff member, decides to escort the child, in the middle of the night, to the basement, and there Ingrid not only saw Pennywise devour a child, leaving nothing but their blood behind, but also an image of her dad. Since then, she has watched and waited for a kid to trigger Pennywise to return in hopes of seeing a glimpse of her father. She has even stalked Lilly and her friends, hoping to catch a glimpse, since they clearly were drumming up Pennywise’s interest.

Ingrid – IT – Welcome To Derry Season 1 Episode 6 – HBO Max

As you can imagine, Lilly is devastated that her only confidant is on the side of her tormentor, but things may not be all that great for everyone else soon, either. Yes, Ronnie is reunited with Hank, and is in bliss, but someone tells the mob of angry townspeople where Hank is, and to make matters worse, they have guns, bellies full of alcohol, and a recently fired Clint on their side. So, as Will is trying to convince Ronnie to rejoin the group, with Rich and Marge by his side, that mob is coming, and damn if they don’t come right as Rich just impressed the heck out of everyone, especially Marge, with his skills on the drums.

Review and Commentary

Highlights

Jump Scares In The Comfort Of Your Own Home [86/100]

While we watch a good amount of horror, we rarely watch horror shows, especially outside of anime. So, needless to say, we weren’t prepared for the basement jump scare. That whole scene, which reminded us of the Tim Curry version of IT, got to us. Which, in some ways, I’m ashamed about, but it also furthers my love for this show since, increasingly, the show is giving us consistent jump scares.

The Love In The Air [83/100]

Whether it is Marge and Rich or Ronnie and Will, seeing this puppy love blossom is so cute and creates a nice relief from what else is going on in the show. I would even say it is far better than the show implementing a comic relief to take the edge off, since these kids forming trauma bonds makes a lot of sense.

Ronnie – IT – Welcome To Derry Season 1 Episode 6 – HBO Max

We especially enjoy Ronnie and Will since, in my mind, it wouldn’t take the worst thing happening to both of them to come together. I think Ronnie would clock Will’s intelligence; he would likely take note that she is one of the few Black girls at his school, and I think, as nervous as both would be, and have shown themselves to be in calm moments, they would end up together. I’d even go as far as to say that their little relationship is a bit of a hook since, how often do you get to see two Black kids have a crush on one another in any type of media with a budget? Never mind on HBO?

Ingrid’s Twisted Nature [82/100]

Ingrid has always been a little off, but between having a likely abusive husband and working at an in-call mental health institution, you would assume she has seen some things, been through some things, and that is why she is so kind and understanding towards Lilly. But her being Pennywise’s daughter, and having either lured or actively watched multiple children be eaten for a glimpse of her dad? That is a whole new level of crazy that was unexpected.

But, I’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t want more details.

Marge Seeing The Light [80/100]

With freaking out the Pattycakes and not throwing Rich to the side the first chance she got, Marge has seen the light. Now, granted, has her journey been as interesting as Lilly’s to pull a 180? No. But, at the very least, she has a few episodes to do or say something interesting.

Rich Being A Cool Kid [81/100]

I love that Rich has stepped out of Will’s shadow. Not only that, he has crafted himself a unique identity that doesn’t just make him Hispanic because he says he is, but he speaks about his culture, his family members, and then, to boot, he isn’t just one note.

Yes, the representation in a horror show is important, but for him to also be a kid who plays drums, is curious, kind, and so much more, it gives him main character energy that almost makes it seem like killing off Matty, Phil, and Theodore was almost symbolic of making room for characters like Rich to shine.

Hallorann Elevating Leroy [85/100]

Leroy, by design, is unremarkable. He is a military man, through and through, generally does what he is told, is very much a tool to be used, not to stand out. This is why we love him being paired with Hallorann. He is remarkable, different, and as much as they are both part of the military, it is clearly for two very different reasons.

Granted, Hallorann’s reason is by no means clear yet, but similar to Ingrid, there is enough time left in the season to fill in the details and make a notable supporting character get their due time in the spotlight.

The Standoff Over Hank Forthcoming [81.5/100]

Considering the warning the Indigenous presented, where a massacre is what ends Pennywise’s cycle, and knowing this is a prequel, so a lot of people are bound to die, it makes this stand off seem like a tease of what’s to come.

Will we watch characters we’ve long been invested in get massacred to the point that it could be surmised Pennywise was seasoning not only the characters, but also the viewer to be traumatized for maximum flavor? Hard to say, but with the end of the season coming soon, we’ll find out if Marge, Rich, Hank, Ronnie, Will and others may meet their fate or get a glimpse of the carnage to come.

Overall

Our Overall Rating [82/100]

IT – Welcome To Derry maintains the quality of its story, deepens your investment in characters, and delivers surprising frights all from the comfort of your own home.

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been reviewing media since 2010. He approaches each production with hope, rooting for every story to succeed, and believes criticism should come from unmet potential, while praise is reserved for work that meets or exceeds expectations.