The nearly feature-length conclusion of *IT: Welcome to Derry* envelops Derry in ominous mist, as the military seeks to unleash Pennywise upon America while the children, Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk), and Major Hanlon (Jovan Adepo) strive to recontain IT.
There are time jumps, nods to time travel, and connections to Stephen King’s works and the *IT* films that you might have overlooked. We’ve outlined all the key inquiries below.
What is Pennywise’s fate?
At the conclusion of episode 7, Pennywise’s killing spree was halted with the blaze at the Black Spot, and the entity was prepared to retreat to the sewers for another 27 years of slumber — until the military intervened. General Shaw (James Remar) and the crew opted to release the clown, dismantling one of the structures that holds the creature captive.
In episode 8’s finale, Pennywise tries to cross a river that encloses Derry, which would liberate it from the remaining pillars serving as its confinement. Luckily, it doesn’t get that far. Utilizing their piece of the meteor that IT crashed down in, the children restore the cage just before the creature can attack them. It is pulled away, likely to fall back into hibernation until the 1988 cycle begins.
The finale of *IT: Welcome to Derry* opens up the potential for time travel.
Before the children capture Pennywise, the clown drags Marge (Matilda Lawler) away and discloses to her that she’ll have a son: Richie Tozier, a pivotal character from the book and films.
“The seed of your filthy loins and his disgusting friends bring me my end! Or is it my beginning?” Pennywise snarls. “I tend to mix things up. Tomorrow? Yesterday? It’s all the same for little Pennywise.”
Later, back at the security of the standpipe, Marge shares what Pennywise revealed with Lilly (Clara Stack).
“He mentioned that, for him, the past, present, and future are indistinguishable. And that his demise was really his inception,” Marge states. “I realize it sounds insane, but what if he tries to go back and eliminate someone from the time before we existed, like our parents?”
Lilly’s reply? “I suppose it’ll be someone else’s battle.”
This dialogue seems to hint at future installments of *IT: Welcome to Derry*. It’s known that co-creator Andy Muschietti is aiming for three seasons, with Season 2 and Season 3 exploring the earlier killing cycles of Pennywise. Marge and Lilly’s discussion is the ideal setup for this.
What lies ahead for Major Hanlon and Dick Hallorann?
The concluding moments with Hanlon and Hallorann reference both Stephen King’s broader universe and the *IT* films. Hallorann, recognized as a significant character in *The Shining*, informs Hanlon that he’ll be working as a chef in a friend’s hotel in London — the beginning of a journey that will ultimately lead him to The Overlook Hotel.
“How much trouble can a hotel cause?” he quips. Readers of the book will know precisely how much chaos awaits.
Meanwhile, Hanlon chooses to remain in Derry with his family and starts working on a farm. As readers are aware, his grandson will be Mike Hanlon, yet another vital member of the Losers’ Club.
What’s the deal with the flash forward in the closing scene?
The final scene includes a leap forward to 1988, introducing us to another member of the Losers’ Club, Beverly Marsh (Sophia Lillis, reprising her role from the films), as she witnesses her mother’s suicide at Juniper Hill.
Ingrid Kersh (Madeleine Stowe), now an elderly woman who has likely been in the asylum since the 1960s cycle, appears behind her, smiling, and informs her that nobody in Derry truly dies.
This moment ties back to the films, connecting with a scene in *IT: Chapter Two* where an older Beverly (Jessica Chastain) is haunted by the creature in Mrs. Kersh’s guise.
*IT: Welcome to Derry* is available for streaming on HBO Max.