IT Welcome To Derry Episode 3 Flashback Explores Childhood Bonds

Shaw and Rose’s Childhood Trauma and Lasting Emotional Bond

Childhood Bond That Shapes Lifetimes

In Episode 3 of IT: Welcome To Derry, a powerful flashback delves into the childhood bond between General Francis Shaw and Rose. Their connection, forged after a near-death encounter with one of Pennywise’s terrifying forms in 1908, transcends cultural boundaries and leaves a lasting mark on both their lives. Actors James Remar and Kimberly Guerrero describe this moment as the emotional heart of the episode.

A Friendship Forged in Fear

Opening Scene of Episode 3 Welcome to Derry#WelcomeToDerry #ITWelcomeToDerry pic.twitter.com/nQYXDAMVeq

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Derry’s secret weapon. #ITWelcomeToDerry pic.twitter.com/ig00YnZqax

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The episode reveals that Shaw and Rose were childhood friends who survived It’s terror together. Rose saves young Francis from a horrifying manifestation of Pennywise in the woods, creating a bond that is both romantic and deeply rooted in secrecy and protection. While Shaw grows up forgetting Rose and the events surrounding It, Rose remains devoted to her duty, choosing her responsibilities over romantic love.

Step right up.

Stream Episode 3 of #ITWelcomeToDerry tonight at 9pm on HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/4WE6T5el6S

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Love, Loss, and Heartbreak

Guerrero explains that Rose’s journey is shaped by first love and heartbreak. Shaw’s departure left a lasting “chasm” in her heart, which she transforms into communal and familial love. This mirrors Stephen King’s recurring theme: the lasting weight of childhood trauma and love that echoes through a lifetime.

Crossing Lines, Shaping Lives

Remar highlights the significance of their childhood crossing of racial lines and life-and-death experiences. “What happened to us as little kids propelled us into this situation 50 years later,” he says. The phrase “crack in his heart form” perfectly captures how early emotional wounds guide the trajectory of adult life, adding depth to the characters’ story.

Flashback Shows How Childhood Shapes the Future

I loved how they showed the flashback and then the seamless transition to the characters in the present; this series is wonderful #ITWelcomeToDerry • #WelcomeToDerry pic.twitter.com/xpVPzyo6Pl

— Paolo°???? (@paolovignolo1) November 10, 2025

The episode uses this flashback to show how love, loss, trauma, and responsibility from childhood affect the characters as adults. Stephen King fans will recognize this theme of early experiences leaving a lasting impact on people’s lives.