Beginning with another flashback to 1908, the final episode of Andy Muschietti’s prequel series takes us back to the origins not of the monster, but of the creature’s infamous Joker persona.
So what do we learn? We’ve unpacked it all below.
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What happens to Pennywise in episode 7?
In 1908, Ingrid Kersh (Madeleine Stowe) is working at the amusement fair with her father Bob Gray (Bill Skarsgård), who performs as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. When he’s in his costume he looks like a budget version of the evil Pennywise we know so well, and it’s clear the man himself is not an evil, child-snatching entity.
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Credit: HBO
So what’s happening here?
The first clue comes when we see a terrified child looking at Pennywise through the window with no smile on his face. Later, the same child approaches a makeup-free Bob and tells him that “kids seem attracted to you.” The child then says that he cannot find his parents, before leading Bob into the woods towards the sound of the screaming.
The next thing we know is that Ingrid’s father has disappeared, and his remains are a blood-stained handkerchief found in the woods.
What does this tell us about Pennywise’s origins?
At first, the episode dismisses any possibility of Mrs. Kersh being the demon’s actual daughter (as she herself realizes at the end of the episode). This tells us that Pennywise was once a real, human clown, chosen by the creature due to his popularity among children. The Joker is essentially one of IT’s many guises – one he changes into when he wants to charm children.
new episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry Premieres Sunday at 9pm ET on HBO and HBO Max.
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