It: Welcome to Derry Season 1 Episode 3 Overview
Episode 3 of It: Welcome to Derry, titled Now You See It, premiered on November 9, 2025, continuing HBO Max’s weekly release schedule. The episode deepens the connection between Stephen King’s multiverse and the It franchise, bridging the 1962 storyline to the 2017 and 2019 films.
Key Stephen King References and Plot Developments
- The episode includes at least nine confirmed references to Stephen King’s broader literary universe.
- It ties the events of 1962 directly to the Losers Club's experiences in 1989, the timeline of It: Chapter One (2017).
- Follows King’s established 27-year cycle, where Pennywise awakens, feeds, and then returns to dormancy, as noted by Radio Times.
- The narrative is set exactly 27 years before the original encounter in 1989, showing how past traumas shaped the supernatural atmosphere of Derry.
- Introduces General Shaw’s Operation Precept, a military effort to weaponize Pennywise during the Cold War, revealing government knowledge of the entity prior to the Losers Club’s discovery.
"The show operates on Stephen King’s established 27-year cycle, where Pennywise awakens, feeds, and returns to dormancy." – Radio Times
Release Information
The eight-episode first season will conclude on December 14, 2025, following a consistent weekly release format on HBO Max.
Author’s Summary
This episode skillfully deepens Stephen King’s multiverse connections by linking critical events within It: Welcome to Derry to the films and King's wider mythology.