Welcome to Derry: All the Homages and References to the "Kingverse"

Stephen King's narrative universe, dubbed the "Kingverse" by fans, is a vast and intricate web of cursed places, characters who share the gift of the Shining, and cosmic forces that tie together dozens of seemingly independent stories. With the arrival of IT: Welcome to Derry, the prequel series that delves into the roots of the evil afflicting the Maine town, this complex multiverse has forcefully returned to the spotlight, offering a unique opportunity to explore the deep mythology hidden behind literature's most iconic clown.

WARNING: This article contains full spoilers for the plot and characters of the IT: Welcome to Derry series.

Set in the 1960s, about three decades before the Losers' Club first faced Pennywise, Welcome to Derry doesn't just tell the origins of the creature and its twenty-seven-year waking cycle. The series acts as a true narrative bridge, scattering each episode with subtle but crucial references that not only enrich IT's lore but directly connect the events of Derry with other iconic works like the terrifying Overlook Hotel from The Shining, the mystical wanderings of The Dark Tower, and the supernatural events of The Shawshank Redemption and The Mist. This constant interconnectedness suggests that the evil in Derry is not an isolated anomaly, but rather a manifestation of a much larger dark force that pervades all of Maine and, perhaps, King's entire reality.

The pilot episode, in particular, lays the groundwork for this ambitious weaving, highlighting how IT not only feeds on fear, corrupting the entire adult population of Derry, making them silent accomplices or active perpetrators of local violence. From nuclear threats echoing Cold War fears, to the physical appearance of iconic characters — like Dick Hallorann, the cook already encountered in The Shining — the work offers attentive observers a fascinating narrative puzzle to solve. Every billboard, every graffitied name, and every mention of institutions like the Juniper Hill Asylum (the recurring psychiatric hospital in the Kingverse) is not accidental, but rather a clue that reveals the breadth of King's universe.

Let's prepare to explore every homage and every hidden reference, showing how these references are not mere fan service but structural elements that delineate the deep and recurring nature of evil. We will trace the threads that weave together the "Kingverse" in this new, terrifying immersion into the history of Derry, a place that, as we have learned, has never been an island: only the focal point of horrors greater than we can imagine. Since some references will appear often throughout the series, they will only be cited the first time they are shown: it's up to you to be attentive and find them in subsequent episodes!

Episode 1: The Pilot - Homages and References in IT: Welcome to Derry

The episode establishes three main axes for the series: cosmic evil, the historical corruption of Derry, and the introduction of psychic powers into the IT universe through the appearance of Dick Hallorann. This combination sets the stage for a narrative that links adolescent fear to grand mythological horror.

Direct Links to IT (films and novels)

These references connect the series directly to Pennywise's horror cycle, establishing the context and characters that foreshadow the story of the Losers' Club.

• The Paul Bunyan Statue: the series shows a newspaper announcing the construction of the Paul Bunyan statue. This sculpture is an iconic landmark in Derry, which will come to life as one of the Losers' Club's nightmares in IT Chapter 2 (and in the novel).
• The White Legion of Decency: a billboard shows the logo of this group. In the novel IT, it is the racist organization responsible for the Black Spot Fire in 1962, a violent and traumatic event that serves as a catalyst for the emergence of evil in Derry.
• The "mutated winged child": during the encounter with the fake family, the mother swells and gives birth to a winged and grotesque creature. This figure is directly taken from the novel IT, where it appears in Mike Hanlon's memories as one of the first manifestations of Derry's evil sighted by the inhabitants.
• Water and the sewer: great emphasis is placed on pipes, water, and the sewer system. This is Pennywise's hiding place and symbolizes a formless evil (like water) that permeates every corner of the city, a central theme throughout the IT saga.
• Leroy Hanlon: the introduction of Leroy Hanlon, pilot and central figure of the episode, clearly identifies him as Mike Hanlon's grandfather, the only African-American member and the only one to remain in Derry from the Losers' Club, establishing a direct family link to future events.
• Creature from the Black Lagoon: a poster of Creature from the Black Lagoon is hung in the boys' room. IT takes this form in the novel (in one of its manifestations) to terrorize the Losers.
• Alvin Marsh and parallels with Beverly: Alvin Marsh's name (Beverly Marsh's abusive father) is graffitied in the bathroom. Furthermore, Lily's encounter with IT, emerging from the bathroom drain, is a clear callback to Beverly's iconic scene in the 2017 film and the novel.
• The projector scene: IT's infestation of the film reel to terrorize Matty and the other boys replicates the crucial projector scene from IT Chapter 1, the key moment when the Losers' Club first unites.

The Extended Kingverse: Connections to Other Worlds

These references expand the context of Welcome to Derry beyond the sole story of IT, connecting it to other fundamental works in King's universe.

• Dick Hallorann and the Shining: Chris Chalk plays Dick Hallorann, the cook with psychic powers in The Shining and Doctor Sleep. Here, Dick is a military cook in Derry and uses his Shining to perceive IT and save lives during the impending Black Spot Fire (as narrated in the novel IT).
• Maturin the Turtle (Bert the Turtle): the episode features a turtle-shaped pendant and the school mascot Bert the Turtle (from a real nuclear safety campaign). The Turtle is Maturin, the cosmic entity opposite IT and co-creator of the universe in the canon of IT and The Dark Tower.
• Juniper Hill Asylum: it is revealed that Lily was admitted to this institution. Juniper Hill Asylum is a recurring asylum, a place of treatment or detention for characters with trauma or psychic powers in works like Insomnia, Needful Things, and IT Chapter 2.
• Ray Gity / Ray Brower: the name "Ray" of the child in the car is a possible nod to Ray Gity from The Long Walk or, more likely, to Ray Brower from Stand by Me, whose body is found by the protagonists, symbolizing violence against children.

Cultural and Thematic References

These references are not direct narrative connections, but rather stylistic choices that reinforce the series' themes (deception, Cold War fear, corruption, racial oppression).

• The Film The Music Man: the film screened in the cinema (set in 1962) is about a con man (Harold Hill) who deceives the inhabitants of a small town for personal gain. This is a perfect parallel to how IT deceives the residents of Derry, feeding on their fear and indifference.
• Cold War theme and mutations: the radio in the car talks about nuclear tests in Moscow and genetic mutations caused by radiation. This links the series to the cultural terror of 1962, and IT's "Mutated Winged Child" becomes the physical manifestation of this collective fear.
• Batman comic and Clayface: the comic Ted is reading features Clayface, a known shapeshifter. The choice of this antagonist is not accidental: it emphasizes the series' main theme, that evil (IT) is a deceptive and formless force that adapts to the victim's fears.
• The "Pilot": the title is a clever pun, as it is both the opening episode of the series and the profession of the protagonist, Leroy Hanlon, an army pilot.

Episode 2: The Thing in the Dark

The second episode delves into the historical roots of Derry's evil, focusing on the Hanlon family, military intervention, and the growing awareness of IT as an alien and cosmic entity. The episode uses the Cold War and the rampant racism of 1962 as metaphors for IT's corrosive influence. It also expands the Kingverse with the explicit use of Dick Hallorann's Shining to locate IT. The lineage of the Bowers' evil is reiterated, and the protagonists' connection to the future Losers is revealed.

Direct Links to IT (films and novels)

These references connect the series directly to Pennywise's horror cycle, establishing the context and characters that foreshadow the story of the Losers' Club.

• Yellow Eyes / Deadlights: Pennywise's glowing yellow eyes (representing his true form, the Deadlights) appear in the shadow of a tunnel in the introduction and re-emerge during Ronnie's nightmare.
• Well House: the iconic house built on the site where the first settlers disappeared and which hides IT's lair in the sewers, appears in the introduction.
• Red Balloon: a red balloon floats among the flames of a nuclear explosion (in the intro), reminding us that IT is always present when tragedy strikes Derry.
• Bradley Gang Massacre: the introduction depicts the 1935 carnage, a violent event caused by IT. Later, the bodies and the gang's car are found at the excavation site, directly connecting the current plot to Derry's history.
• Veronica Grogan and Matthew Clemens: it is revealed that Ronnie's full name is Veronica Grogan. She and Mattie Clemens (from episode 1) are names of victims cited by Beverly Marsh in the novel, inserting the protagonists into IT's current feeding cycle.
• The death of Will Hanlon: the introduction of Will Hanlon (Mike Hanlon's future father) foreshadows his violent death, and that of his wife, in the Black Spot fire, an event triggered by IT.
• Captain Bowers: Police Chief Clint Bowers is clearly the grandfather (or father) of the violent lineage that includes Butch and Henry Bowers, keeping the cycle of bullying and evil alive in Derry.
• Norbert Keane: the pharmacist Keane, a minor but recurring character in the novel and films, is glimpsed as Charlotte walks through the streets of Derry.
• Kersh the butcher: the butcher's name is Kersh. "Mrs. Kersh" is the identity Pennywise uses to torment Richie in IT Chapter 2. His lines suggest that it might be IT itself observing the Hanlon family.
• Supermarket vision: Lily is tormented by IT in a supermarket. She sees cereal boxes with photos of dead children (Maddie, Teddy, Suzy) decaying. Phil is the only one whose photo doesn't rot, suggesting he may have been abducted by IT (like Beverly in the 2017 film).

The Extended Kingverse: Connections to Other Worlds

These references expand the context of Welcome to Derry beyond the sole story of IT, connecting it to other fundamental works in King's universe.

• IT as an alien entity: Will's interest in astronomy and the poster for Teenagers from Outer Space emphasize the theme of IT as an extraterrestrial. This connects to Mr. Gray from Dreamcatcher, also a parasitic alien investigated by the Derry government who infects minds.
• The Shop: the military intervention seeking to contain and use IT as a weapon (a metaphor for the nuclear bomb) recalls the secret government agency "The Shop" that investigates the paranormal in works like Firestarter.
• Shakapiwa Tribe and Ritual of Chud: the appearance of Native American characters at the excavation site suggests they are descendants of the Shakapiwa tribe, who trapped IT in the novel. They are immune to Derry's spell and aware of the Ritual of Chud.
• Sacred Lands (Overlook Hotel): the military excavation on Native American lands reflects the theme of desecration of sacred lands, central to The Shining (the Overlook Hotel built on an Indian burial ground).

Cultural and Thematic References

These references are not direct narrative connections, but rather stylistic choices that reinforce the series' themes (deception, Cold War fear, corruption, racial oppression).

• Cold War and nuclear fear: the episode uses the nuclear terror climate of 1962 ("duck and cover" drills, images of explosions) and transforms IT into a metaphor for the atomic bomb, a weapon so dangerous it threatens the safety of those who use it.
• JFK (John F. Kennedy): references to President Kennedy, including his portrait hanging in the Hanlon home, symbolize hope and resistance to racial oppression for the family in a city dominated by hatred.
• A Summer Place: the soundtrack of the 1959 film, playing as Charlotte walks through Derry, creates a sense of false serenity in a city whose idyllic appearance hides a deep evil.
• A Raisin in the Sun: a poster in Ronnie's room for the famous play about racism and segregation, which mirrors the Hanlon family's situation in Derry.
• 1960s cinematic aesthetic: the visual look of the series, characterized by warm tones and diffused light, is deliberately inspired by Kodak Gold 200 film to immerse the viewer in the historical period of 1962.

Episode 3: The Skeleton Man - Homages and References in IT: Welcome to Derry

The third episode expands the Kingverse with a critical flashback to 1908, revealing a young Francis Shaw's first encounter with IT and his connection to Rose, a descendant of the Shakapiwa people. The episode reinforces the theme of Derry's cycle of violence and IT as a cosmic entity. It also highlights how IT exploits individual fears (the titular "Skeleton Man" for Shaw), reaffirms the role of the Shakapiwa people as guardians, and establishes an intense mental confrontation between IT and Dick Hallorann.

Direct Links to IT (films and novels)

These references connect the series directly to Pennywise's horror cycle, establishing the context and characters that foreshadow the story of the Losers' Club.

• 27-year cycle: the flashback takes place in 1908, exactly two cycles before 1962 (the main year of the series). The 54-year difference reiterates the entity's cyclical nature.
• Derry Lineages: the episode continues the theme of "lineages" destined to fight IT or be its victims. Cited are: the Hanlons (Leroy, Will, and in the future Mike), the Bowers (Clint, Butch, and in the future Henry), and the Uruses (Teddy and in the future Stan).
• Pennywise and the circus: the 1908 flashback takes place in a circus/carnival. We see a photo (which will be used for Mrs. Kersh in IT Chapter 2) depicting Bob Gray and his daughter. Pennywise uses circus iconography as his primary disguise.
• "Skeleton Man": the "Skeleton Man" form that IT uses to torment Francis Shaw is another reference to its possible forms, reminiscent of the skeletal and contorted appearance used to scare Stanley in IT Chapter 1 and the elongated form of Mrs. Kersh in IT Chapter 2.
• Circus wagon: in Hallorann's vision, Pennywise's circus wagon appears, the same one seen in the films IT Chapter 1 and depicted in a 1935 photo.
• "They all float": when IT bleeds after being hit by Rose's slingshot, the blood "floats" in the air, a direct reference to the famous line: "They all float down here."
• The slingshot: the slingshot, a gift from Francis Shaw's father, is used by Rose (Shakapiwa descendant) to hit IT, a weapon the Losers' Club also uses to fight the entity in the novel and miniseries.
• Jackson Street: Jackson Street is mentioned as the location where Hank was on the night of the murders. This is the same street where in the future (in 1989) Georgie Denbrough will be killed by Pennywise.
• Derry makes you forget: Shaw and Rose discuss how memories fade as soon as one leaves Derry, a mechanism IT uses to protect itself from the outside world and which is central to the plot of IT Chapter 2.

The Extended Kingverse: Connections to Other Worlds

These references expand the context of Welcome to Derry beyond the sole story of IT, connecting it to other fundamental works in King's universe.

• Shawshank: Bowers threatens Hank: "You know what they do to child killers in Shawshank?" Shawshank is the fictional prison at the center of The Shawshank Redemption and is a recurring location in the Kingverse.
• Cultural and Thematic References

Cultural and Thematic References

These references are not direct narrative connections, but rather stylistic choices that reinforce the series' themes (deception, Cold War fear, corruption, racial oppression).

• The Orisha and Santería: Rich attempts an exorcism citing the Yoruba/Santería tradition, mentioning the Orisha. He explains that "bad" spirits take the form of deceased ancestors, which happens immediately when IT manifests in the cemetery, connecting Derry's evil to broader spiritual traditions.
• Racial segregation: Rich asks Will if the police can arrest people "for no reason," and Will responds by asking "Do we live in the same country?" This powerful exchange highlights the differences between the experiences of the white and African-American communities in 1960s America and how the fear generated by racism feeds IT.

Episode 4: The Star's Secret

The fourth episode reveals IT's cosmic origin through a flashback to Derry's ancestral tribe. The concept of the 13 artifacts is introduced, fragments of the star that served as a cage for the entity, and the role of Dick Hallorann and his psychic ability in the fight against IT is consolidated. IT's connection to Derry's racial history, its nature as a mental parasite, and the city's cyclical destiny are highlighted.

Direct Links to IT (films and novels)

These references connect the series directly to Pennywise's horror cycle, establishing the context and characters that foreshadow the story of the Losers' Club.

• Derry Shops: familiar shops like Nan's, the Arrowhead Hotel, and Quality Meats, Stan Kersh's butcher shop, are shown. The Arrowhead Hotel is theorized as an homage to the Overlook Hotel (The Shining).
• Jade of the Orient: the Chinese restaurant appears in street scenes. It is the same restaurant where the Losers' Club reunites as adults in IT Chapter 2.
• "You'll burn too": when Will is dragged into the water, IT takes the form of the burned Major Hanlon, threatening him: "You'll burn too," a clear parallel to Pennywise's famous line: "You'll float too."
• IT as a parasite: it is established that IT does not immediately kill its victims; it prefers to "play with its food," as fear (adrenaline) makes them more "tasty," making IT a mind parasite.
• IT's cosmic origin: IT's origin is revealed, having arrived millions of years ago on Earth inside a fallen star from space, whose impact created the crater seen in IT Chapter 2.
• The Black Spot: the Black Spot lodging is shown, provided by Shaw to Hallorann and his friends as a refuge. This is a foreshadowing of the Black Spot massacre and fire caused by IT, as recounted in the novel.

The Extended Kingverse: Connections to Other Worlds

These references expand the context of Welcome to Derry beyond the sole story of IT, connecting it to other fundamental works in King's universe.

• Water and fear: IT dragging Will underwater symbolizes its desire to pull its prey "beneath Derry's surface." Water is a recurring indicator and symbol of fear in King's stories.

Cultural and Thematic References

These references are not direct narrative connections, but rather stylistic choices that reinforce the series' themes (deception, Cold War fear, corruption, racial oppression).

• Segregation and Civil Rights Movement: the exchange between Will and his father about Will dating a white girl, and Charlotte's threat to Bowers to call leaders like MLK, JFK, and RFK, highlight the racism and fervor of the Civil Rights Movement in 1962 America.
• IT and colonization: in the flashback, IT takes the form of a colonizing priest during the battle against Nani, linking IT's cosmic evil to the violence and oppression imposed on Native Americans.
• Social parasitism: a parallel is drawn between the snail/bird parasite shown in class and the way bullies use Marge, exploiting her fears to harm Lily, acting as "social parasites" on behalf of IT.

Episode 5: Nebolt Street - Homages and References in IT: Welcome to Derry

The fifth episode marks the triumphant arrival of Pennywise (in his iconic form) and deepens the mythology of the struggle between the cosmic entity IT and the protectors. Mrs. Kersh's role as a key figure is confirmed, and a strong parallel is established between IT's threat and the fear of nuclear war in 1962.

Direct Links to IT (films and novels)

These references connect the series directly to Pennywise's horror cycle, establishing the context and characters that foreshadow the story of the Losers' Club.

• Mrs. Kersh: it is confirmed that the other clown seen in the photos (the one from 1908) and outside the Hanlon house is the real Mrs. Kersh, Bob Gray's daughter. The woman is linked to IT, who killed and impersonated her father.
• Extended shapeshifter: IT reveals a new and unsettling side of its abilities, impersonating Maddie for hours in broad daylight and interacting with the children, demonstrating its ability to take not only monstrous but also convincingly human forms long-term.
• Divide and Conquer (perhaps): it is shown that IT constantly tries to divide the children (as it did with the Losers' Club), but ends up uniting them in shared trauma (Marge and Lily).
• The Augury: the Augury is mentioned as the catastrophic event that concludes each cycle, as in the case of the Black Spot fire.

The Extended Kingverse: Connections to Other Worlds

These references expand the context of Welcome to Derry beyond the sole story of IT, connecting it to other fundamental works in King's universe.

• Contamination and aggression: IT's secretions contaminate Derry's water, making residents apathetic to evil and aggressive, a theme that connects to otherworldly evil in works like Dreamcatcher.
• Cultural and Thematic References

Cultural and Thematic References

These references are not direct narrative connections, but rather stylistic choices that reinforce the series' themes (deception, Cold War fear, corruption, racial oppression).

• The appearance of Pennywise: Pennywise finally appears in his classic form, singing "Down with the Clown" and saying "Duck, kiddos," a clear thematic callback to the "Duck and Cover" campaign against nuclear bombs.
• IT as a nuclear weapon: Shaw's obsession with using IT as a weapon is a thematic parallel to the Cold War and nuclear weapons. IT is the "bomb" that, if used, would lead to destructive escalation (as Rose warns).
• Uncle Sam: IT transforms into Uncle Sam in the sewers, symbolizing the soldiers' fear regarding their role in the Cold War and the military mission that put them in danger.
• The color red: the use of the color Red (Mrs. Kersh, Black Spot, balloons) is constantly associated with evil, violence, and IT's influence.

Episode 6: In The Name of The Father

The sixth episode flashes back to 1935 to reveal the origin of Pennywise the Dancing Clown's iconic form and the symbiotic link between IT and young Ingrid Gray (the future Mrs. Kersh). Events leading to the Black Spot fire are also foreshadowed. Here, the connection to Maturin is further explored, and the tragic fate of the Hanlon family is foretold.

Direct Links to IT (films and novels)

These references connect the series directly to Pennywise's horror cycle, establishing the context and characters that foreshadow the story of the Losers' Club.

• Cycle of racial hatred: IT fuels racial hatred in the city, triggering a violent, vigilante manhunt against Hank Grogan, a direct parallel to the Bradley Gang massacre in the previous cycle (1935), which was also instigated by IT.
• Origin of Pennywise: it is revealed that Bob Gray, a circus performer from 1908, was the original Pennywise the Dancing Clown. IT killed and assumed his identity and costume, creating the iconic form that will terrorize Derry.
• "Nobody who dies here, really dies": Ingrid/Mrs. Kersh tells Lily: "Nobody who dies here, really dies," the same iconic line she tells Richie Tozier in IT Chapter 2.
• Paper airplane: Rich's paper airplane ends up in the drain, recalling Georgie Denbrough's iconic paper boat scene.
• Voices in the pipes: Richie and Marge both mention hearing children's voices in the pipes, a common experience for Derry children that indicates IT's subterranean presence.
• Falcon Tavern: the tavern where residents discuss the hunt for Hank is the Falcon Tavern, a bar mentioned in the novel.
• Artifact's Influence: Lily becomes possessive and irritable due to the Star Fragment, suggesting that the Artifact may emit an energy that divides the children. This connects to the theme of IT dividing the Losers' Club.
• Leroy Hanlon's anger: Will's father, Leroy Hanlon, shows signs of increasing violence and coldness, foreshadowing the tougher, more isolated Leroy Hanlon who will be seen in the future, Mike Hanlon's grandfather.

Cultural and Thematic References

These references are not direct narrative connections, but rather stylistic choices that reinforce the series' themes (deception, Cold War fear, corruption, racial oppression).

• "In The Name of The Father": the episode title refers to IT's manipulation of Ingrid, deceiving her by taking on the appearance of her father, Bob Gray, to force her to feed it.
• War of the Worlds: when Hank asks Will what his favorite movie is, Will replies "War of the Worlds" (1953), maintaining the theme of an "alien invasion" that fits IT's cosmic nature.

Episode 7: The Black Spot

The seventh episode focuses on the Augury (the big final event) of the 1962 cycle: the Black Spot fire. The origin of Pennywise's costume and Ingrid Gray's (Mrs. Kersh's) betrayal are revealed, while Dick Hallorann loses control of his power and IT returns to hunt earlier than expected. It marks the end of the 1962 cycle with a violent tragedy and the breaking of the cosmic barrier that imprisoned IT.

Direct Links to IT (films and novels)

These references connect the series directly to Pennywise's horror cycle, establishing the context and characters that foreshadow the story of the Losers' Club.

• The iconic dance: Bob Gray (before IT assumes his identity) is seen performing Pennywise's iconic dance, which will later be replicated in the films and book to terrorize victims.
• IT devours Stan Kersh: IT (in clown form) decapitates and feeds on Stanley Kersh (Phil and Suz's father), the racist who had incited the attack, making him an ironic and horrible victim.
• IT awakens: IT awakens early from its hibernation, emerging from its lair covered in blood and organs, an image directly inspired by the novel.
• Foreshadowing of Mike Hanlon: Hank Grogan is faked dead (simulating his death with a charred body) so he can escape Derry with Ronnie. This suggests that Will Hanlon will marry Charlotte and their son will be Mike Hanlon.

The Extended Kingverse: Connections to Other Worlds

These references expand the context of Welcome to Derry beyond the sole story of IT, connecting it to other fundamental works in King's universe.

• The breaking of the "mental lock": IT manages to break Dick Hallorann's "mental lock," exposing him to the noise and sight of all deceased spirits. This is a precursor to his struggle against spirits in Doctor Sleep.
• Derry's deceased spirits: Dick is besieged by spirits, including his friends and a Civil War veteran with a missing face, emphasizing that Derry is a burial ground on which IT feeds.

Cultural and Thematic References

These references are not direct narrative connections, but rather stylistic choices that reinforce the series' themes (deception, Cold War fear, corruption, racial oppression).

• Propaganda and cover-up: the authorities and local radio cover up the Black Spot massacre and turn the racist Stanley Kersh into a hero.

Episode 8: The Time Rift - Homages and References in IT: Welcome to Derry

The final episode concludes the 1962 cycle with IT's temporary defeat and a series of shocking revelations that directly connect the prequel series to the cinematic future (the era of the Losers' Club). It is revealed that for IT, time is a "flat circle," effectively making this series a sequel as well as a prequel.

Direct Links to IT (films and novels)

These references connect the series directly to Pennywise's horror cycle, establishing the context and characters that foreshadow the story of the Losers' Club.

• The fog: a thick fog envelops Derry, which is not only a physical manifestation of IT's fear (as in The Mist), but also a metaphor for the so-called mental fog that manipulates Derry's citizens into ignoring atrocities.
• "It's time to float": above Pennywise's head in the school gym, a banner reads the clown's iconic phrase: "It's time to float."
• Marge is Margaret Tozier: Pennywise addresses Marge as Margaret Tozier, revealing that Marge will be Richie Tozier's mother, one of the future members of the Losers' Club.
• "Beep beep Margie": before being frozen by Hallorann, IT tells Marge the famous line: "Beep beep Margie," a reference to Richie Tozier's catchphrase.
• Mrs. Kersh in Juniper Hill: Ingrid Gray/Mrs. Kersh is shown 26 years after the fire, locked in Juniper Hill psychiatric institution. It is here that she first meets young Beverly Marsh.
• Beverly Marsh cameo: Sophia Lillis reprises her role as a young Beverly Marsh (1988), crying after her mother's suicide before her father's subsequent assault.
• The flat circle: IT reveals it perceives time as a flat circle where past, present, and future (including its death at the hands of the Losers' Club) occur simultaneously. This transforms the prequel into a sequel for the entity.
• IT remembers the future: Pennywise screams the phrase "Goodbye, Losers!" as it escapes, demonstrating knowledge of the "Losers" who are not yet born and awareness of its fate.

The Extended Kingverse: Connections to Other Worlds

These references expand the context of Welcome to Derry beyond the sole story of IT, connecting it to other fundamental works in King's universe.

• The Todash: Rose gives Dick Hallorann the Root of Maturin, which allows him to access the Todash, the dark void surrounding King's multiverse and from which IT and the creatures of The Mist originate.
• Setup for The Shining: Dick Hallorann accepts a job as a cook at the Overlook Hotel in Colorado, concluding with the line: "How much trouble can a hotel be?", directly connecting Dick to the plot of The Shining and Doctor Sleep (here for the explanation).

Other articles to read:

• It: Welcome to Derry, the ending explained: what really happens in episode 8
• Pennywise conquers the Navigli: the Milanese event for the launch of IT: Welcome to Derry
• It: Welcome to Derry fails to avoid ruining what was good about the films it prequels
• IT: Welcome To Derry, everything you need to know: the true face of horror is about to be revealed