Watching IT: Welcome to Derry

Breznican and Vespe are back for one more episode of Watching IT: Welcome to Derry and this time they’re joined by one of the show’s cast members: Mr. Stephen Rider who played the wrongfully persecuted Hank Grogan, father of Ronnie Grogan, lover of Ingrid Kersh, and the movie geek projectionist who ended up being a convenient scapegoat for the town’s authorities to blame for the disappearance of a bunch of kids. We talk to Rider about his role and get into the nitty gritty of building this character. Why does Hank Grogan love movies so much? What was it like filming that crazy finale? And when was the first time this character saw something supernatural? The answer to that last one may surprise you as he talks about a run-in with Pennywise that Hank has that the audience never gets to see.  Of course we also can’t help but dig into the Stephen King of it all as well, including how reading the book helped shape his approach to Hank Grogan. Enjoy this extra special interview episode that caps off our coverage of Season 1 of IT: Welcome to Derry. Hopefully we’ll be back for Season 2. We’re always watching…  Shout out to Watching IT: Welcome to Derry’s sponsor Black Magic Design, the makers of professional level cameras, equipment, and post production services at consumer level prices.

Pennywise is on the move and all the storylines converge to stop It before it’s too late. In this new episode of Watching IT: Welcome to Derry, our co-hosts Anthony Breznican and Eric Vespe take in the finale and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the whole season. The last puzzle piece is in place, so how does this first season stack up?  Spoiler alert: pretty dang well. There’s some disagreement on a few plot points, but by and large Breznican and Vespe agree that the big swings taken by Andy Muschietti and his creative partners are not only respectful of Stephen King’s text, they also fit into his universe. They feel like something he might have written if he had thought of it, which is about the best compliment a Constant Reader can give to anyone adapting King’s work. From Hallorann’s trap for Pennywise to the straight up heavy metal imagery as Pennywise is fully unleashed, this episode brought the thunder and Breznican and Vespe are bursting at the seams to dig into it. Shout out to Watching IT: Welcome to Derry’s sponsor Blackmagic Design, the makers of professional level cameras, equipment, and post production services at consumer level prices.

We’ve made it to the penultimate episode of IT: Welcome to Derry, titled The Black Spot, and, to put it delicately, the poo-poo is hitting the fan. The end of Pennywise the Dancing Clown’s 1962 cycle is upon us and that means it’s time to get ready for some real carnage.  This episode delivers in a big way as a showdown at The Black Spot provides the backdrop for almost every character and subplot up to this point. We finally get some answers as to the military’s true plan for the evil that lives beneath Derry and why It prefers that particular clown form. Once again, Vespe and Brez are there to talk through the episode, give their thoughts, and point out some fun King easter eggs along the way, including a nice nod to one of the best Stephen King miniseries. Shout out to Watching IT: Welcome to Derry’s sponsor Blackmagic Design, the makers of professional level cameras and equipment at consumer level prices.

In Episode 6 of IT: Welcome to Derry, titled In the Name of the Father we get a deeper look at Mrs. Kersh’s backstory, Lilly keeps looking crazy to her class mates, and there’s a real promise of revealing the origins of Pennywise’s human alter ego, Bob Gray. Marge and Rich have a meet-cute over her mutilated eyeball and Will finally stands up to his justifiably worried father. All the while IT’s influence over the townspeople is coming to a boil as all roads lead to The Black Spot and a fiery conclusion to this 1962 cycle. Shout out to Watching IT: Welcome to Derry’s sponsor Blackmagic Design, the makers of professional level cameras and equipment at consumer level prices.

All the pieces are set, the kids are getting stoned, the adults are arming up, and everyone is converging at the Derry sewer system in Episode 5 of IT: Welcome to Derry, titled Neibolt Street. What happens when ITs home is bum rushed by the whole cast of this show? Well, let’s just say nobody’s gonna have a good time in those sewers.  Vespe and Breznican are back yet again to talk about one of the most entertaining episodes of the show to date and celebrate the return of everybody’s favorite kid-eating clown. Shout out to Watching IT: Welcome to Derry’s sponsor Black Magic Design, the makers of professional level cameras and equipment at consumer level prices.