There Are A Whole Bunch Of Cool Easter Eggs In IT: Welcome To Derry Episode 2, And I Love The Super Subtle Shining Detail The Most

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Be warned: This article reveals major spoilers from the second episode of IT: Welcome To Derry, titled “The Thing In The Dark.” If you haven’t watched it yet (it’s now streaming on HBO Max), you might want to avoid reading further!

As a huge Stephen King fan, I’m completely hooked on HBO’s IT: Welcome to Derry, and it’s the kind of show you just want to rewatch, pausing to catch everything. While it’s based on a specific story from IT, the creators have packed each episode with tons of easter eggs and nods to both the IT movies and the wider Stephen King universe. The first episode was full of them, and now that the second one’s out, I’ve been having a blast digging into all the cool details in this new chapter.

The episode “The Thing In The Dark” is packed with interesting details, from unusual characters to clever set design. Here’s a breakdown of everything I’ve noticed:

The Welcome To Derry Intro Nods To The Neibolt House, The Bradley Gang Massacre, And More

Similar to many TV show premieres, the first episode of IT: Welcome To Derry doesn’t include the usual opening credits. However, it was well worth waiting to see them finally appear in the episode, “The Thing In The Dark.” The sequence is beautifully animated and packed with hidden details, perfectly set to the song “A Smile And A Ribbon” by Patience and Prudence. The illustrations depict some of Derry, Maine’s most terrifying moments – like the Bradley Gang massacre and the Kitchner Ironworks explosion – but the standout for me is a perfectly maintained house on Neibolt Street, looming under a massive mushroom cloud.

Mention Of A Thrift Shop Reveals Second Hand Rose In Operation

While describing the premiere’s details, I noticed several recognizable shops in Derry’s downtown area, like Jade Orient, Keene’s Pharmacy, and Nan’s Luncheonette. In the second episode, another business is added to this list. When Leroy Hanlon returns home to his wife and son, he gives his son a telescope he found at a local thrift store called Second Hand Rose. Interestingly, this is the same Second Hand Rose that adult Bill Denbrough visits in IT: Chapter Two, where he spots his childhood bike, Silver, in the window.

The Derry Curfew Is In Effect

Growing up in 20th-century America, kids often played outside until the streetlights came on, signaling it was time to go home. However, the town of Derry, Maine, isn’t like most places. With a long history of danger for children, Derry enforces a strict curfew. This policy—a grim part of the town’s character—is prominently displayed on a sign outside the high school in the story, “The Thing In The Dark.”

Young Norbert Keene Smoking A Cigarette

One of the best ways to get to know a new town is by walking around the city center, and that’s exactly what Charlotte Hanlon does on her first day in Derry. While running errands, she spots some people and places she recognizes. She politely nods to Norbert Keene as he’s smoking outside the pharmacy. Fans of IT will remember him as the character Beverly Marsh tries to distract in IT: Chapter One while Bill, Eddie, Stan, and Richie steal medical supplies to help Ben Hanscom after he’s injured. Which reminds her of that whole incident…

A Familiar Alley In Downtown Derry

While Charlotte walks through Derry, the camera focuses on an alleyway for a reason. Director Andy Muschietti intentionally highlighted this spot, as it’s where the Losers Club truly began to form in the first IT movie (before they met Mike Hanlon). This alley is where six of the seven friends first come together, helping Ben treat the serious cuts he received during an attack by Henry Bowers.

The Paul Bunyan Statue Is Erected

Derry has many problems, but one thing the local government does seem to handle well is public works – much like how Mussolini was known for keeping trains running on time. In the pilot episode of IT: Welcome To Derry, a newspaper mentions plans to build a Paul Bunyan statue, and by the second episode, we see it being constructed. While the statue sparks protests and complaints, viewers know it’s going to remain a landmark in Derry for decades to come.

Meet Stan Kersh

While running errands, Charlotte meets a friendly butcher named Stan Kersh, who sells her a roast. Fans of the movie IT: Chapter Two might recognize the last name – Beverly Marsh visits a home once lived in by her father and meets a Mrs. Kersh. Currently, the connection between Stan and Mrs. Kersh is unclear, but hopefully, the show will reveal how they’re related later on.

The Derry Effect Exemplified

Derry is a deeply troubled place because of a dangerous combination of meanness and indifference. People harbor a lot of anger and readily ignore it, even when it turns violent. This atmosphere is a direct result of IT’s influence, and it’s clearly demonstrated at the butcher shop when Charlotte arrives. A group of boys brutally attack a child in the street, and no one intervenes – except for Charlotte, who is new to Derry and hasn’t yet been affected by the town’s negativity.

Clint Bowers Arrives On The Scene

While looking for hidden details in the first episode, I found a newspaper mentioning Clint Bowers – a relative of Henry and Butch Bowers. He doesn’t actually appear until the second episode, when we learn he’s the Chief of Police in Derry. Clint is in charge of investigating the deaths of Teddy, Phil, and Suzie, but he’s easily influenced by prejudiced people in his community. He focuses his suspicion on Hank Grogan, despite the fact that the real killer is IT.

Early in the episode “The Thing In The Dark,” the thrift shop Second Hand Rose is mentioned. Later, Charlotte visits the store and unexpectedly meets a familiar face: Stephen King himself, who appeared in IT: Chapter Two. He might not seem recognizable at first, but his Maine accent and a single word – “beaver” – quickly reveal his identity.

A Cameo From The Shopkeeper In His Youth On The Hunt For A Bea-vah

Calumet Baking Powder May Be Familiar To Shining Fans

Beyond Dick Hallorann’s increased role in the second episode of IT: Welcome to Derry, there’s another clever connection to The Shining. While Lilly Bainbridge shops for groceries, viewers might notice Calumet Baking Powder repeatedly appearing on the shelves. This isn’t just a detail to make the scene feel like the right time period – it’s an Easter egg! The cans of baking powder are the same ones seen in the pantry where Wendy locks Jack Torrance away as he descends into madness.

With the early release of IT: Welcome To Derry Episode 2 for Halloween, fans are eager to discover more hidden details and references. The next episode arrives on November 9th, and we’ll be back on TopMob shortly after to share a complete breakdown of all the special moments you might have missed.

Dick Hallorann Is Using His Shine For A Secret Military Operation

It’s great to see Dick Hallorann included in IT: Welcome To Derry. He’s a character from Stephen King’s book who connects the show and movies to both The Shining and Doctor Sleep. Beyond his role as a link between these stories, Dick has psychic abilities – though not as powerful as Danny Torrance’s. The series reveals he’s working with the Air Force, using his powers to help General Francis Shaw locate the evil force in Derry. While he didn’t have a major role in the first episode, the second episode shows Dick is a valuable asset for the military.

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2025-10-31 11:10