IT: Welcome to Derry Easter Egg Connects to Stephen King Universe

IT: Welcome to Derry Reveals Shocking Twists

So far, IT: Welcome to Derry has delivered terrifying moments across its first three episodes. From the brutal deaths of key young characters to the U.S. government’s sinister plans to weaponize the entity, the series keeps viewers on edge. Yet beyond the horror, the show carries a deep emotional weight.

Lilly (Clara Stack), one of the main characters, faces tragedy long before any supernatural threat appears. Her troubled past leads her back to Juniper Hill psychiatric hospital—a location familiar to longtime Stephen King fans.

Chief Bowers Sends Lilly Back to Juniper Hill

All the kids in IT: Welcome to Derry struggle in different ways. Ronnie witnesses her father’s wrongful arrest, and Will navigates a new life in Derry. But Lilly experiences the most intense suffering. A year earlier, her father was killed in a freak pickle factory accident—a trauma she blames on herself.

Now, Lilly faces the whispers and judgment of her peers. Even when she tries to share the truth about the killings at the theater, Chief Bowers manipulates her past trauma to frame her father’s friend, Hank, instead. This eventually leads Lilly back to Juniper Hill, despite the horrifying appearance of the entity in her life.

Juniper Hill Connects to Stephen King’s Castle Rock

Juniper Hill isn’t new to Stephen King fans. The psychiatric hospital has appeared across multiple King stories, including the Hulu series Castle Rock (2018–2019). In Castle Rock, it appears in Episode 6 of Season 1, where Bill Skarsgård’s character, “The Kid,” is taken there after being rescued from Shawshank Prison.

Juniper Hill Appears in Many Stephen King Stories

Juniper Hill has featured in at least ten King novels and stories. Notable mentions include:

• IT: Henry Bowers is sent there after confronting Pennywise as a teen.

• Needful Things: Nettie Cobb spends time at Juniper Hill following a breakdown.

• Gerald’s Game: Serial killer Raymond Andrew Joubert is institutionalized there.

• Insomnia: Charlie Pickering resides there for six months after attempting arson.

This consistency highlights King’s love for weaving locations and characters throughout his works, creating a rich, interconnected universe.

Related: IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 3 Recap – Pennywise Finally Appears

Lilly’s Return to School and Ongoing Terror

Although Lilly is temporarily released from Juniper Hill, her safety remains in question. Episode 3 shows her and friends confronting the killer entity and discovering the ghosts of their deceased friends. While they manage to gather photographic proof, revealing the truth to adults could risk sending Lilly—and potentially her friends—back to Juniper Hill.

The series balances terror with emotional storytelling, using familiar locations like Juniper Hill to connect IT: Welcome to Derry with Stephen King’s broader universe.