All parties deal with the fallout of the sewer exploration, and Mrs. Kerch’s backstory is expanded upon in It: Welcome To Derry – Episode 6: In the Name of the Father.
Welcome back to the weekly write-up of the prequel series to Andy Muschietti’s adaptation of Stephen King’s 1986 book IT. As it was last week, freely discussing the events of the episode while coyly working around them. As I noted then, I’m taking this as a mixture of recap, review, and thinking about what we saw and how it might come into play in the future episodes (only two more left).
It: Welcome to Derry- Episode 6: In The Name of the Father is written by returning Jason Fuchs and Brad Kane, with American Fiction writer-director Cord Jefferson joining (a favorite of last year, seek it out), directed by Jamie Travis. The episode is strong on personal connection and building tensions both in said personal conflicts/realizations and the wider build-up to the Big Event of this feeding cycle (with the cliffhanger, it seems to be going the Game of Thrones route of the penultimate episode being the climax of the season Big Event-wise). Outside of a few moments, it has fewer big scares or boos, though what it does has worked very well.
In many ways, it’s an episode for regrouping and rethinking after the horrific events for all parties in the sewers last week and before the tragedy soon to occur.
Dick Halloran keeps it light, sitting back to mentally reset with his Dead Box reopened, explaining to those who haven’t read or seen Doctor Sleep just what happened in his headspace last week (again, if you haven’t, you should; both versions are excellent). The Hanlons have a heated moment with extreme reactions, and the logical “we’re leaving.” If only it were so simple. We have more a build in the newly opened Black Spot to set up. This was filmed a year before Sinners was released, but it builds the same vibe; I wonder if others are connecting the dots from watching the film and using that to build the tension for looming violence.
I missed the Tribe and US Air Force’s push this week, but I did like the more direct focus on the core, especially Margie. She gets her due with a great character scene, redeeming herself (with another subtle Pennywise hanging out in the back). I love the little connection forming between her and Richie, though I don’t like the Black Spot giving them booze. Not cool, man. But it makes sense to have them get time with Will with his family and Lilly racing to Mrs. Kersh for her answers (loved those shots of her bike riding to and from the Kersh home), and Ronnie with her dad at the Black Spot.
I believe Richie will die soon, if not in the black spot, then soon after, protecting Margie. Richie Tozier of the Loser’s Club’s mom is a Margaret… who else to name your son after but the kid who saved you, a first puppy love? Beep beep, Richie.
Building on Mrs. Kersh, confirmed in previous episodes to be the Marshs’ former landlady and a form It puts on for adult Bev and Perrywinkle in the 1908 flashback. She’s given more time in her backstory. A tragic one; of broken connections with parents and the loss. Same as Lilly, except Lilly has a better head on her shoulders (until the lobotomy I think is coming; that’s just conjecture, but I’m thinkin that’s her fate). The history and scares have to do with her past, though I’ll admit a jump scare involving Lilly got me good. I loved the black & white with dashes of red, the flashbacks to the 1930s cycle. I like the way she’s being used by Pennywise, as he’s replicating her dad’s clown persona. The reaction It had her “papa?” was wonderful; as was when It directly replicated Bob Grey. It’s somehow more creepy in directly replicating humans, highlighting It’s uncanny valley of monstrosity. Unlike Lilly, Mrs. Kersh won’t recognize that her dad is gone. So this places her in a villain role, but not in the dastardly way of the multi-dimensional child-muncher (a particular child munching this episode is left off screen with the sounds making it far more disturbing than seeing) dressed as her pops. It may be using her to get his means, a slightly willing accomplice. Knowing bad things are happening but blinded by a chance to talk to dear ol’ dad again, purposely ignoring you know that it isn’t. A bit tragic, no? Though the reveal that it was her in the cemetery in episode 3 was a bit of a stretch. With all that she’s up to, she’s matching Laura Palmer in time management.
I can’t wait to see how it plays next week, we’ve had a (kinda) calm in 1960s Derry before the storm. I’m curious, though, how the show will climax with Pennywise. Will it be the Event or will the characters get he chance to face It head-on? It’s been said that the next two seasons go back in time for previous cycles, so they can’t leave off as well(that and where to go in the 60s after It sleeps. I trust the process and the plan, and it’s been a great forward motion so far, but I’m concerned that all the setup can’t possibly be paid off in satisfying ways. As I’ve noted before, I’ve highly enjoyed the more measured build than the first pair of episodes, more direct and, frankly, louder.
Now, let’s have a drink at the Black Spot while we wait. What’s the worst that could happen?