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

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

Two episodes in, IT: Welcome to Derry has already proven it’s darker and bolder than fans expected. After shocking viewers in the pilot with multiple child deaths, Episode 2 unveiled the U.S. military’s eerie hunt for a fear-inducing entity buried beneath Derry. Now, Episode 3, titled “Now You See It,” finally gives us the first chilling encounter with Pennywise himself.

A Childhood Fear Comes Alive in Derry

The episode opens with a flashback to the 1930s. A young Francis Shaw (the future General Shaw) visits a carnival’s freak show and experiences a terrifying vision in a hall of mirrors. A one-eyed man turns into a monstrous creature, but young Rose saves him with a slingshot — a key object that will resurface decades later.

Dark Secrets at Juniper Hill and Derry Police

Back in the present, Lilly struggles at Juniper Hill, haunted by guilt and ghostly laughter. Meanwhile, Chief Bowers interrogates Hank, Ronnie’s father, about the mysterious murders. The tension builds as new evidence suggests Hank might not be as innocent as he claims.

Dick Hallorann Encounters Pennywise

At the military dig site, psychic Dick Hallorann joins Shaw and Hanlon to locate the strange underground energy. When he touches an old cigar box containing the slingshot, he’s transported to a nightmarish vision — a flooded sewer, a circus wagon, and glowing eyes in the dark.

Then comes the voice.

“Who are you?”
It’s Pennywise — and Hallorann’s horrifying vision nearly drives him to jump from the helicopter. Back on the ground, he warns Shaw: “Something saw me. And it’s coming.”

The New Losers Club Takes Shape

Determined to prove the truth, Lilly, Ronnie, Will, and Rich form their own little band of investigators. Using Rich’s spiritual knowledge and Will’s camera, they attempt a séance in a graveyard — but it quickly turns into a nightmare.

Ghostly figures of their dead friends appear, chasing them through the cemetery. In the chaos, Will captures a photo of something unexplainable — glowing eyes in the distance. When they develop the film later, one word chills them all.

“It’s a clown.”

Old Friends, New Warnings

General Shaw reconnects with Rose, now a respected elder in Derry. She warns him not to disturb what lies underground. Shaw lies about the dig, claiming it’s just for water pipes — but Rose knows better. Derry remembers its monsters, even when people forget.

Final Thoughts: Pennywise Is Back

Episode 3 cements IT: Welcome to Derry as one of the most haunting prequels in television. With Pennywise’s shadow finally emerging, the terror in Derry is only beginning — and fans are left both thrilled and terrified for what comes next.