‘IT: Welcome to Derry’ finally reveals why Pennywise became a clown and truth is absolutely heartbreaking
The explosive penultimate episode of 'IT: Welcome to Derry,' titled 'The Black Spot,' finally reveals the big secret behind Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård). For those who don’t know, Pennywise has long been known as a terrifying antagonist in Stephen King's chilling novels. The latest episode of the HBO series finally explains why Pennywise appears as a clown, and it's something most fans never knew.
The latest episode of 'IT: Welcome to Derry takes' us back to 1908, confirming for the first time that Robert "Bob" Gray, the human form of Pennywise, was a real person. It also reveals that Ingrid Kersh (Madeleine Stowe) was his daughter, according to CBR. Episode 7 also sheds light on why IT chose Pennywise as its primary disguise. Bob Gray, still in his Pennywise persona, performs a playful clown routine with the help of his daughter, Ingrid.
The scene takes a darker turn when Bob stages a tribute to his late wife, dancing with her empty costume and laying flowers on a makeshift grave. The audience, particularly the children, remains entranced, which catches the attention of It, who observes from the crowd disguised as a young boy. Later that night, still in his Pennywise costume, Bob steps away from the circus to drink and smoke. It’s then that the mysterious boy from the show approaches him, complimenting Bob on how easily children are drawn to him.
After the boy tells Bob he can't find his parents, a woman's scream echoes from the woods, and he persuades Bob to follow him. Later, the only trace left is Bob's bloody handkerchief, shown to his daughter, hinting at his grim fate. The episode suggests that during the 1908 circus visit, IT first encountered clowns and realized how a clown's friendly appearance made it easier to lure frightened, imaginative children.
The episode implies that although IT had been hunting in Derry since the 1700s, the 1908 circus was likely the first time the creature encountered a clown, and recognized how the playful façade could help lure children. The flashback also portrays Bob Gray mourning his wife and struggling with his place in the circus, yet still deeply committed to performing and devoted to his daughter. This makes it all the more tragic that IT would later adopt his likeness to terrify children.
Notably, 'It: Welcome to Derry', which has attracted millions of viewers, explores the terrifying events in 1960s Derry, Maine, while revealing the origins of the evil clown. It serves as a prequel to King's classic horror story and the 2017 and 2019 IT films, as per USA Today. The show features eight episodes, airing every Sunday at 9 pm ET on HBO and HBO Max. The final episode of the show is slated for Sunday, December 14, release.
