IR TV Review: IT - WELCOME TO DERRY -EPISODE 2 (“The Thing In The Dark”) [HBO]
Keeping the pressure going for Episode 2 of "IT: Welcome to Derry" entitled "The Thing In The Dark" is an interesting quandary considering the bluster of the way the pilot episode ended. But what is interesting here is that while great, that idea didn't really have the context of the fear it was trying to portray or the build (though still visceral). This episode does that wonderfully while bringing the reasoning. Again feature helmer Andy Muschietti helms this second episode. Now there needs to be a context of human structure to build certain scenes which means parts of the episode will play slower than others. Obviously Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon, a major being brought into what might be a secret program is an interesting play and key to the story. But it is the two fear sequences with two of the survivors from Episode 1 that anchors this episode. They are very different but both very terrifying and R-rated which shows the disconnect and maybe the understanding between features in a theater and streaming.
Muschietti knew it had to hit a certain way in the theater but this almost seems more true to form. There is a reference point in the book to a character that shows up here beyond Hanlon and it is integrated in a special program which speaks to what Derry might truly be. This comes back to The Black Lodge concept but from what I can tell, beyond a brief mention, this storyline is newly created. It feels right but one wonders if it was run past author King at all, especially since it regards one of his legacy characters (even though the son of Hanlon figures into the story in later decades). But the two fear scenes in this episode (without us seeing anything but yellow eyes on one) is fantastic. The progression continues as the basis of the Air Force story becomes a little clearer but also the undercurrent of racism which is obviously key to the story and the eventual and consistent mythology of Derry. A-
By Tim Wassberg
