It: Welcome to Derry Season 1 Episode 6 Review: In the Name of the Father

It’s starting to feel clear that It: Welcome to Derry Season 1 might be dealing with too much to handle. Its main narrative, from the Losers Club’s troubles to the growing philosophical divide between Leroy and Charlotte and more, this series is trying to make the most of it.

Although It: Welcome to Derry Season 1 Episode 5 was a satisfying return to that classic King terror, Season 1 Episode 6 “In the Name of the Father” moves the show back to the space of social paranoia. While the series overall has been planting these subtle tidbits about racial injustice, these elements become fully apparent.

As such, it can make what we’ve already seen feel somewhat overdramatic even though it wants to nail home how drastic the situation’s become with all of these factors. Still, what this episode does good is build upon the terrifying presence of “IT” through Hallorann along with a couple of character dynamics.

From its opening, this episode plays its hand viciously as Leroy reprimands Will for going with the Losers Club despite being told not to. What we get from this scene is a harsh back and forth between father and son that, although might be reasonably motivated, feels really painful to watch.

We know that the Losers Club has gone through so much, but each member has their own problems to confront. Specifically, in Ronnie and Will’s cases, what they’ve both faced respectively goes beyond the straightforward terror that “IT” causes.

The stigma that’s been placed on both of them, in part due to their parents’ circumstances, only prolongs that pain that both the characters and the viewers feel. It’s tough to see Will and Ronnie having to face these problems because of both the Creature and Derry’s society at large, which makes Leroy’s confrontation somewhat disturbing.

Although, this does fit Leroy’s “cold, military-man” personality as he’s shaken up after Season 1 Episode 5. At this point, Leroy’s somewhat troubled to see a different perspective as he wants to do his duty. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to cut it for Charlotte, whose renegade mannerisms clash with Leroy in a brief situation.

Even though this moment is supposed to be impactful, the series should have not kept it so brief. It’s a heavy-handed moment that’s supposed to really intensify the disconnect that Leroy and Charlotte have, but the way that the dialogue is written almost downplays the tension.

As for the Losers Club, the cold-blooded argument between Lilly and Ronnie really drives things to an extreme. Lilly knows about the Creature’s weakness, which was laid out on Season 1 Episode 4, but Ronnie has her reservations because of the dangers “IT” poses.

This argument does have that effectiveness, but it’s almost weird to see Lilly and Ronnie switch perspectives. Where Lilly initially wanted to keep herself away from trouble, her confrontation with “IT” motivates her to end the threat. On the other hand, Ronnie wanted Lilly’s help to prove her dad’s innocence, but doesn’t want to help her destroy “IT”.

The scene that we get after this, with Ronnie and Will’s reunion, does lend itself as one of the sweeter aspects of this episode. It does feel nice to see both of them finding commonality with their struggles even if its meant to move their relationship forward. Just like the Leroy-Charlotte scene, though, it’s kept short.

What we get from the rest of the Loser Club, particularly with Rich and Marge, does lend a bit of cuteness to the show. When we first got introduced to Rich’s lovestruck attachment to Marge on Season 1 Episode 2 “The Thing In The Dark”, it felt a bit pompous, most likely due to the visual flair.

However, given the events of the previous episode, their interaction here feels much more natural as they start to get acquainted with each other. It’s a nice bit to ease the edge off the rest of the emotion-packed moments and I do hope there’s a bit more build-up before the finale.

As for Lilly, what she has to go through this episode is troubling as she can’t catch a break from the psychological paranoia placed on her mind. This is heavily felt in that climactic unraveling she has with her former friend, Ingrid, who’s much more sinister than she seems.

We’re given a flashback to her past initially, where she discovered that kids were being haunted by “IT”, which took the form of her father’s carnival persona: the iconic Pennywise. She tried to save a kid from the Creature’s grasp, but was unable to at the last minute.

While this reveal was a bit shocking, the way that Ingrid’s background was told through exposition was very unusual. Although we got hints of Ingrid’s past through Shaw’s recollection on Season 1 Episode 3 “Now You See It”, it’s been established in a way that’s somewhat confusing.

It’s like the show’s trying to tie Ingrid to nearly every storyline, from Ronnie and her dad Hank to Lilly’s mental problems to even Leroy and Charlotte. By doing all of this, It: Welcome to Derry is putting so much narrative weight on Ingrid’s shoulders as if to make her the key to stopping “IT”, at least for this cycle.

In a way, Ingrid could either become the underdog of this story or a character whose death might be a cop-out when we see “IT” fully come into play. Whatever way the series is swinging, I hope it does good with Ingrid in the end.

As for Hallorann, what he faces in this episode thankfully keeps up the psychological pressure that he had previously. Although his other military pals don’t recognize the pain he’s going through, Leroy tried to do his best to appease his worries. Though, his holding back does look like it can only go so far.

This holding back does collide with what’s looking to be a dangerous, hate-filled scenario as some of Derry’s townspeople, led by the corrupt Bowers, looks to attack the “bar” for people of color. If this isn’t a sign for viewers that It: Welcome to Derry is indeed socially aware, then I don’t know what is.

However, what I do know is that the next episode will definitely be heated, both in terms of the narrative and the online outcome. Whatever happens, I trust that the series will end on some resounding good notes, wherever they might be.

It: Welcome to Derry Season 1 Episode 6 is a troubling, yet adequately intense, episode with more social paranoia and unusual character twists that’s carried by Halloran and the Losers Club. As this series slowly reaches its conclusion, I hope that it can push the horror into a higher gear before it runs out of narrative beats to try out.

Stray Thoughts:

• That cut-off kiss between Will and Ronnie will definitely lead to them actually kissing in the finale. However, it does make that romantic build-up feel somewhat rushed.
• So Hank’s relationship with Ingrid was essentially a one-time bit on “29 Neibolt Street”? I thought it’d hold more emotional weight.
• I find it a bit hard to believe that Ingrid could be so fanatically charmed by “IT” as if it were really her father. I guess there have been characters that were more desperate than her.
• I am pretty happy that we got that reunion between Ronnie and Hank as well, even though I know it might be short-lived.
• They really saved the entire bar party scene for the end of this episode?! I do admit I wanted more from that!

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New episodes of It: Welcome to Derry release on Sundays, 9:00 PM EST, on HBO and HBO Max.

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