It: Welcome to Derry Season 1 Episode 3
The third episode of It: Welcome to Derry, titled Now You See It, premiered on November 9, 2025, on HBO Max. This episode deepens the connection between Stephen King's multiverse, featuring key character crossovers and expanding cosmic mythology.
Stephen King References
Episode 3 contains at least nine confirmed references to Stephen King's broader literary universe, linking the 1962 prequel storyline to the events of the 2017 and 2019 It films.
- The narrative is set exactly 27 years before the Losers Club's encounters with Pennywise in 1989, consistent with King's established 27-year cycle in which Pennywise awakens, feeds, and returns to dormancy (Radio Times).
- The episode reveals how prior traumatic events shaped Derry's supernatural environment.
- General Shaw's Operation Precept subplot explores the military's efforts to exploit Pennywise as a Cold War weapon, indicating the government’s long-standing awareness of the entity before the Losers Club’s discovery.
Season 1 Release Schedule
This episode continues HBO Max's weekly release pattern for the eight-episode season, which concludes on December 14, 2025.
By placing the story 27 years ahead of the 1989 timeline, the prequel reveals the early experiences that shaped Derry’s eerie legacy.
The show effectively bridges familiar Stephen King themes with new mysteries, enriching the interconnected universe fans have come to follow.
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