The season one finale of HBO’s It: Welcome to Derry tied up its first major story with a hidden reference for classic movie fans. In the episode “Winter Fire,” which released on December 14, 2025, Pennywise uses a familiar trick that echoes a villain from a 1960s family musical. The show connects its shape-shifting clown to the larger history of villains who target children.
The Finale’s Chilling Scene
The final episode begins with a dark fog covering the town of Derry. Pennywise soon targets the local school, killing the principal and using a playful song to lure the children. His method is specific: he sings to them and draws them out of the building and into a waiting cart. This moment is a direct visual reference to a famous scene from the 1968 musical film “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”
In that movie, the villain known as the Child Catcher, played by Sir Robert Helpmann, uses sweets and false promises to trap children. Once they are close, he forces them into his cage-like wagon and takes them away. Pennywise in Welcome to Derry uses a nearly identical tactic, blending a seemingly fun performance with a cruel intent to capture.
The comparison between Pennywise and the Child Catcher becomes more evident through dialogue and tone. The Child Catcher is known for frightening children with exaggerated threats, and Pennywise uses a similar approach.
Why This Reference Matters
The connection goes beyond a simple visual callback. Placing Pennywise alongside the Child Catcher links him to a tradition of villains who represent more than just a monster. Both characters operate in plain sight, hiding their evil behind a performative and almost cartoonish exterior to specifically target the young and vulnerable.
The reference also ties into the show’s deeper themes. It: Welcome to Derry has repeatedly shown that Pennywise feeds on human hatred, including racism and antisemitism. The Child Catcher character has also been analyzed by critics over the years. Some interpretations see him as embodying harmful stereotypes or acting as an allegory for authoritarian regimes that prey on specific groups. By making this link, the show suggests Pennywise is a symbol of real-world systemic evils and historical atrocities, not just a supernatural predator.
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Other Stephen King Universe Connections
Welcome to Derry is filled with details for fans of Stephen King’s work. These connections help build the show as a central part of King’s on-screen universe.
The Hanlon Family Legacy: The series introduces Major Leroy Hanlon, played by Jovan Adepo. He is the grandfather of Mike Hanlon, a core member of the Losers’ Club from the original It stories. This establishes the Hanlon family’s long and tragic connection to Derry.
Stanley Kersh’s Butcher Shop: In an early episode, a character visits a butcher named Stan Kersh. This is the husband of the terrifying Mrs. Kersh, who attacks Beverly Marsh in the 2019 film It: Chapter Two. This Easter egg confirms Mrs. Kersh was in Derry during the prequel’s events.
Turtles as a Cosmic Clue: The premiere episode features multiple turtle references. These are nods to Maturin, a benevolent cosmic turtle from King’s novels who is an ancient enemy of Pennywise. Items like a “Bert the Turtle” civil defense poster and a lucky turtle charm hint at this larger mythology.
Parents of Future Losers: The show is set 27 years before the first It film, so the parents of the future Losers’ Club are children themselves. Graffiti in a school bathroom includes the name “Alvin Marsh,” who is the abusive father of Beverly Marsh.
Building Derry’s Landmarks: A newspaper headline in the show announces the town council’s approval to build the Paul Bunyan statue. This is the same statue that comes to life to terrorize Richie Tozier in It: Chapter Two.
The first season of It: Welcome to Derry is available to stream on HBO Max.
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