It: Welcome to Derry Season 1 Episode 3 Overview
Episode 3 of It: Welcome to Derry, titled Now You See It, premieres on November 9, 2025, on HBO Max. The episode deepens the connection between Stephen King's multiverse with several key character crossovers and expands the series' cosmic mythology.
Stephen King References in Episode 3
This episode contains at least nine confirmed references to Stephen King’s works, linking the 1962 prequel events directly to the timeline of the 2017 and 2019 It films. It explores how the story fits within King’s larger fictional universe.
Plot Connections and Timeline
- The episode ties the events of 1962 to the Losers Club's experiences in 1989, the setting of the 2017 film It: Chapter One.
- The storyline follows King’s 27-year cycle theory, where Pennywise awakens, feeds, and then returns to dormancy.
- The narrative is set exactly 27 years before the children encounter Pennywise in 1989, showing how earlier events shaped Derry’s supernatural environment.
Military Subplot: Operation Precept
General Shaw’s Operation Precept highlights the Cold War-era military efforts to exploit Pennywise as a weapon, revealing the government’s knowledge of the entity long before the Losers Club’s discovery.
"The show operates on Stephen King’s established 27-year cycle, where Pennywise awakens, feeds, and returns to dormancy." (Radio Times)
Release Schedule
Episode 3 follows Episode 2, continuing HBO Max’s weekly rollout of the eight-episode first season, which concludes on December 14, 2025.
Author’s summary: Episode 3 of It: Welcome to Derry intricately links Stephen King’s multiverse, advancing key storylines and revealing the supernatural and military forces shaping Derry’s dark history.