Quick Read
- Episode 3 of ‘Welcome to Derry’ centers on Lilly’s trauma, turning pickle jars into objects of horror.
- The show invents new material not found in Stephen King’s original novel, expanding Pennywise’s mythology.
- Opening credits are packed with Easter eggs referencing King’s wider universe, including Neibolt Street and Juniper Hill Asylum.
- ‘Welcome to Derry’ is HBO Max’s top horror series this Halloween, with strong critical and audience ratings.
Pennywise Finds a New Fear: Pickles Become Nightmares in Derry
If you thought clowns were the only thing Stephen King’s world could ruin for you, think again. Episode 3 of HBO Max’s ‘Welcome to Derry’ delivers a chilling new twist: Pennywise finds fresh prey in the humble pickle jar. This isn’t just a quirky detail—it’s a calculated move that transforms everyday objects into vessels of terror, amplifying the psychological horror that defines the series.
The episode builds on trauma seeded in earlier installments. Lilly, played with raw vulnerability by Clara Stack, is haunted by her father’s gruesome death at the local pickle plant—a freak accident that’s left her with more than just memories. Derry’s urban legend now whispers that his remains lurk in pickle jars scattered across Maine. At school, bullies weaponize this trauma, leaving jars of pickles in her locker, mocking her grief and amplifying her isolation.
But it’s in the local grocery store that the horror crescendos. Lilly’s routine errand warps into a surreal nightmare: aisles twist and shift, trapping her in a maze of leering customers and taunting loudspeakers. As she stumbles into the pickle aisle, the jars morph into grotesque reminders of her loss. Fingers and heads—her father’s, or so Pennywise would have her believe—float among the brine. The jars shatter, and the fragmented remains congeal into a monstrous, tentacled pickle creature that’s as absurd as it is terrifying. Pennywise’s genius, it seems, is in turning personal tragedy into communal dread.
Episode 3: Trauma, Urban Legends, and Pennywise’s Mind Games
The show’s creative team—Andy and Barbara Muschietti, Jason Fuchs, Brad Caleb Kane, and episode writer Austin Guzman—have taken liberties with King’s original material. Lilly and her father’s pickle-centric story don’t appear in the novel; instead, these are new inventions designed to deepen the psychological stakes and keep viewers guessing. If you’re wondering whether Stephen King himself dreamt up the pickle monster, rest assured: this is pure TV fabrication, a chilling example of how adaptation can expand on the themes of the source material while adding fresh nightmares.
This narrative risk pays off. By rooting horror in Lilly’s personal grief and the town’s collective myths, ‘Welcome to Derry’ explores how trauma is perpetuated and exploited. The series isn’t just about supernatural evil—it’s about the way communities can weaponize tragedy, and how Pennywise thrives in the cracks of that collective psyche.
Stephen King Easter Eggs: Clues Hidden in Derry’s Opening Credits
Even as new horrors unfold, the show continues to reward eagle-eyed fans with a tapestry of Easter eggs woven into its opening credits. Set to the eerily upbeat tune «A Smile and a Ribbon» by Patience and Prudence, the credits feature retro cartoon scenes that oscillate between wholesome nostalgia and creeping dread.
Among these, several nods to King’s universe stand out. The Paul Bunyan statue—still under debate in episode 1—hints at a later transformation, echoing its rampage in the book and films. The storm drain, a visual callback to Georgie’s infamous encounter with Pennywise, serves as a subtle warning of what lurks beneath Derry’s surface. Juniper Hill Asylum, glimpsed as doctors prepare to operate on a screaming child, foreshadows future storylines and roots the series firmly in King’s interconnected world.
The haunted house on Neibolt Street, with a family posing for photos as shadows loom in the windows, is a direct line to Pennywise’s lair. And the depiction of Derry’s dark historical events—the Bradley gang shooting and the Kitchener Ironworks explosion—signal that the series will mine the town’s past for fresh horrors, setting up future episodes with a sense of foreboding inevitability.
‘Welcome to Derry’ Dominates Halloween Streaming—and Fan Conversation
According to Screen Rant, ‘Welcome to Derry’ is the undisputed horror hit of the season, topping HBO Max’s charts and drawing strong praise from both critics and audiences. With an 80% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 78% audience rating, the series has quickly carved out its place as essential Halloween viewing. Set in the 1960s, decades before the events of the original ‘IT’ films, the show expands the mythology of Pennywise and Derry, exploring how cycles of violence and fear take root and flourish over generations.
But what keeps viewers coming back isn’t just the scares—it’s the layered storytelling, the character-driven approach, and the way the show balances nostalgia with fresh invention. By blending original elements like Lilly’s trauma with meticulously placed King references, ‘Welcome to Derry’ manages to feel both familiar and daringly new.
The series airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT, with special early releases for Halloween, and is available for streaming on HBO Max. As each episode peels back another layer of Derry’s haunted history, fans are left searching for clues, dissecting symbols, and bracing themselves for whatever Pennywise will twist next.
The Anatomy of Fear: Why Derry’s Horrors Hit So Hard
What makes this episode particularly effective is its refusal to settle for surface-level scares. The horror isn’t just in the monster—it’s in the way trauma ripples through a community, in the way urban legends take on a life of their own, and in the psychological games Pennywise plays with his victims. Lilly’s ordeal isn’t just supernatural; it’s deeply human, a reflection of how grief and bullying can magnify each other until reality itself feels warped.
This episode also raises intriguing questions for viewers: How much of Derry’s evil is the work of a monster, and how much is the product of the town’s own history and secrets? Where does the supernatural end and the psychological begin? These are the questions that linger long after the credits roll, challenging fans to look beyond the jump scares and consider the deeper currents running beneath the surface.
In episode 3, ‘Welcome to Derry’ proves it’s more than just another horror series—by turning ordinary objects into conduits of fear and blending personal tragedy with communal myth, it crafts a narrative that’s as unsettling as it is insightful. The show’s inventiveness and respect for King’s legacy promise a season where every episode is an invitation to look closer—and be afraid of what you find.