Instant Reaction: Welcome to Derry Episode 2 — “The Thing in the Dark” Brings the Fear Home

Welcome to Derry Episode 2 expands its cast and deepens its terror with “The Thing in the Dark.”

HBO’s It prequel continues to build its world of terror with strong character work and creeping dread.

Episode 2 of Welcome to Derry, titled “The Thing in the Dark,” dropped on Halloween — and while we caught it a little late, the chills were worth the wait. The follow-up to HBO’s It prequel doubles down on the tension, expanding its ensemble while slowly unspooling the nightmare that’s taking hold of the town.

This week’s episode introduces Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon and Blake Cameron James as her son, Will, marking a more formal entry for one of the series’ central families. We also meet Arian S. Cartaya as Rich and Joshua Odjick, a young Native American boy whose storyline feels destined for something deeply haunting. The returning standout remains Clara Stack as Lily, whose innocence is quickly being consumed by the town’s rising darkness.

Around them, the adult world grows more complex. We get a deeper look at Major Leroy Hanlon, General Shaw (played by the ever-commanding James Remar), and Amanda Christine’s Veronica, each carrying a piece of Derry’s hidden terror. Beneath it all, the specter of Pennywise looms — not always seen, but always felt.

One of the episode’s strongest aspects is how it balances supernatural horror with social commentary. As Charlotte’s family integrates into a white neighborhood, the series deftly addresses racial tension and social displacement without losing sight of its larger mythos. The horrors of Derry, both human and cosmic, intertwine naturally, giving the show a grounded edge rarely seen in Stephen King adaptations.

Stylistically, “The Thing in the Dark” leans into unsettling atmosphere over jump scares, giving audiences glimpses of violence and fear without revealing too much too soon. The episode teases the broader mystery — missing children, strange military activity, and the growing unease among Derry’s residents — all building toward something that feels both inevitable and unknown.

If Episode 1 set the stage, Episode 2 sharpens the blade. The writing remains tight, the pacing confident, and the performances layered with emotion and dread. Welcome to Derry feels like a show unafraid to explore the ugliness beneath nostalgia — a true psychological expansion of King’s world.

The next episode, “Now You See It,” drops November 9 and promises to dig deeper into the military subplot and the strange dig site at the center of Derry’s growing horror.

Verdict:

★ ★ ★ ★ ½ / 5 — The fear is spreading, the lore is deepening, and “The Thing in the Dark” proves this series is becoming HBO’s next big horror obsession.