It: Welcome to Derry is a series that begs comparison. The first and obvious comparison is to It itself: the novel, the miniseries, and the two movies it serves as a prequel for. It’s also similar to other period sci-fi/fantasy HBO series, like Lovecraft Country or Watchmen. But the biggest influence that looms over everything is Stranger Things.
Welcome to Derry has a complex relationship with the Netflix series. In a way, they are both based on the works of Stephen King, but it’s clear that this series was developed in the hopes of creating a decade-long phenomenon like Stranger Things. The result is a series that is King through and through with a truly innovative plot — but one that gets a little lost in trying to outdo its predecessor.
