Stephen King Fans Say It: Welcome to Derry Delivers the Definitive Pennywise, Redeeming It: Chapter 2 — Muschietti Earns an Apology

We are a week out from the finale, and episode 7 of It: Welcome to Derry just threw gasoline on the fandom. People are calling this the best on-screen Pennywise ever, full stop. Mild spoilers ahead.

Episode 7 finally digs into Pennywise

The penultimate chapter, The Black Spot, actually gives shape to the Bob Grey angle and how that man became the monster. On top of the origin pieces, the show finally lets the era's big disaster hit. Pennywise rides the chaos like a storm chaser and gorges, picking off victims in some of the nastiest, most brazen ways the series has shown.

Fans: from Chapter 2 skeptics to true believers

A lot of viewers who were cold on 2019's It: Chapter 2 are suddenly very warm on what Andy Muschietti and company are doing here. One Redditor, who said Chapter 2 let them down, basically recanted after this episode:

"Mr. Muschietti, I’m sorry for doubting you. This episode by itself may just be the greatest depiction of Pennywise in any media format. Take my hand? Do I have face on my face? They see you too? The MEATCLEAVER? I’m Pennywise your dancing daddy? The pool of gore? The last scene on the fridge?? I had to play all of these scenes back like 3 times. Bill is incredible. That’s all, just had to gush about it!"

Other replies echoed the sentiment, saying Chapter 2 felt trimmed to chase a broader crowd and lost the best material, but episode 7 proves Muschietti has the goods when he can actually go there. And yes, Bill Skarsgard gets singled out: people love that he gets to play the man (Bob Grey) and then flip into full psycho clown.

Numbers and what is next

According to IMDb, The Black Spot is the highest-rated installment so far, sitting at a near-perfect 9.5/10. The Stephen King spinoff wraps on December 14 with episode 8, titled Winter Fire.