Instant Reaction: “Welcome to Derry” Episode 3 – Ancient Evil, Familiar Echoes, and the Shining Connection

Instant Reaction: “Welcome to Derry” Episode 3 – Ancient Evil, Familiar Echoes, and the Shining Connection

 Dick Halloran’s powers take the spotlight as Welcome to Derry ties deeper into Stephen King’s expanding universe.

Episode three of HBO Max’s Welcome to Derry, titled “Now You See It,” peels back more layers of the town’s twisted mythology, connecting the dots between It, The Shining, and the broader Stephen King universe. While not the most explosive installment so far, it’s a crucial one — grounding the lore and deepening character ties that have been simmering since the pilot.

The episode gives us more time with Major Hanlon and Dick Halloran, as the two begin to understand the strange connection that drives much of King’s world — The Shining. Halloran’s abilities take center stage here, and the show uses his presence to tie Derry into a larger supernatural network that includes references to Shawshank Prison and Castle Rock, all staples of King’s eerie New England continuum.

Meanwhile, Will Hanlon and his friend Rich team up with Lily and Ronnie in a lighter, Scooby-Doo-style subplot that finds the kids sneaking around town, snapping photos, and chasing clues. Their curiosity feels innocent, even nostalgic — but Welcome to Derry never lets that innocence last.

One of the standout elements of “Now You See It” is the series’ growing emphasis on the ancient nature of evil. Flashbacks to an old circus, a gangster-era shootout, and new details about Native American encounters with the entity all suggest Pennywise’s reign of terror dates back far beyond what we’ve seen before. This isn’t just another retelling of It — it’s an origin study, showing how the monster has shaped Derry’s history for centuries.

Stylistically, the show continues to impress. The production design feels rich with decay, and the sound design — particularly during moments tied to Halloran’s psychic connection — continues to give the show its pulse. While this episode may not carry the emotional punch of the first two, it serves as a connective thread between world-building and escalation.

If anything, “Now You See It” reminds us why Welcome to Derry is working where Castle Rock stumbled — it’s focused. The narrative doesn’t get lost in anthology logic or scattered Easter eggs; it builds one cohesive horror lineage, brick by blood-soaked brick.

3 out of 5

Not the strongest episode yet, but a vital chapter that deepens the mythology, expands the King-verse, and sets the stage for what’s next. The nightmare beneath Derry’s surface is only beginning to stir.