What’s in the Box in Welcome to Derry? Pennywise Finally Connects IT to Doctor Sleep

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A standout part of the Welcome to Derry series so far has been the expanded role of Dick Hallorann. Originally appearing in Stephen King’s 1977 novel The Shining – and later the 1980 film adaptation – Hallorann also featured in the sequel, Doctor Sleep. King fans may also recall mentions of the character in his 1986 novel, IT.

In the novel, Mike Hanlon learns about a young cook in the army from his father, William, while hearing the story of the famous fire at The Black Spot. The backstory of this cook, Hallorann, was expanded upon in Doctor Sleep, and is now being explored even further in the Welcome to Derry prequel series. Episode 5 of Welcome to Derry introduces a significant development for Hallorann that will likely have lasting consequences for him.

What Is the Significance of Dick Hallorann’s Box?

In The Shining, Dick Hallorann encounters Danny Torrance and his parents, Jack and Wendy, at the Overlook Hotel. He realizes Danny shares his psychic ability, known as “the shine,” but Danny’s power is even more potent. Hallorann experiences the ghosts at the hotel as faint images, while Danny perceives them as vivid and tangible. As Hallorann explains, those with the strongest psychic gifts are most vulnerable, because “the most dangerous entities are drawn to and feed on that power.”

In Doctor Sleep, Danny is still deeply affected by what happened at the Overlook Hotel, and a frightening ghost named Mrs. Massey has followed him. He meets Dick Hallorann, who shares a similar experience from his own past: after his grandfather, who was cruel to him, died, the grandfather’s ghost continued to haunt him. Fortunately, Hallorann’s grandmother, who also possessed psychic abilities, taught him how to defend himself against the spirit.

He gave Danny a metal lockbox, explaining that Danny would create a similar one inside his own mind. This mental box would contain all the terrible things he’d experience, keeping them safely locked away and preventing them from bothering him ever again.

The box has the same function: to trap his grandfather’s evil spirit and any other dark entities he’s come across. If it were opened, Hallorann would undoubtedly be deeply troubled and haunted, which is probably why ‘It’ is trying to release whatever’s inside.

Pennywise Hits Back at Dick Hallorann in Welcome to Derry Episode 5

In the third episode of Welcome to Derry, Major Hanlon and Captain Russo used a helicopter to fly over the woods while Hallorann focused on a specific object to psychically track It. This allowed Hallorann to mentally connect with It’s location and essentially enter Pennywise’s domain, signaling to It that he was a significant danger.

In Episode 4, Hallorann figured out how to find the lair by entering Taniel’s mind against his will. Once he had the location, Hallorann, Leroy, Pauly, and a group of soldiers went into the sewer tunnels. However, when Hallorann waded into some shallow water, he suddenly fell into a deep pit. He then woke up frightened in his grandparents’ bathroom, just as his grandfather came bursting in.

The man insists Hallorann unlock the box, but Hallorann won’t comply. Hallorann’s grandmother uses her psychic ability to urge him not to open it. A tense standoff follows, and Hallorann’s grandfather shoots his grandmother in the leg before continuing to pressure him. After relentless torment, the box is finally opened, causing Hallorann to become deeply distraught. Later, after escaping through a sewer, Hallorann pictures the box in his mind, now wide open in the bathroom, and realizes there will be serious consequences.

As much as It seems all-powerful – this ancient, cosmic being – I always figured there had to be something that could actually hurt it, something it feared. And I think Hallorann, with his ‘shining’ ability, definitely falls into that category. The way he just appeared in Pennywise’s world, unannounced, felt like a real shock to It – something it wasn’t prepared for. But it’s not just the power itself, it’s Hallorann’s sheer willpower, his determination. That’s what really makes him a threat, and honestly, I think confronting It is the most dangerous thing he’ll ever do.

It cleverly used Hallorann’s weakness to both protect itself and greatly increase his fear. Whatever is contained within the box will relentlessly pursue anything that possesses a strong life force or potential.

It: Welcome to Derry airs every Sunday on HBO, leading up to the season finale on December 14.

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2025-11-24 06:07