"IT: Welcome to Derry" Episode 7 is a cinematic masterpiece

Reel Perspectives

December 8, 2025

Spoilers ahead...

The penultimate episode of HBO's hit series "IT: Welcome To Derry," titled "The Black Spot," premiered on December 7 and was a cinematic masterpiece. The episode focused on the backstory of Bob Gray and featured a heartbreaking death tied to a racial massacre, effectively setting the stage for an epic conclusion, which will be released next Sunday.

Based on Stephen King's 1986 novel It, everyone cannot stop talking about the latest episode that set social media on fire, and with good reason, as there is so much to unpack. We finally got to see Bob Gray's backstory in a revealing flashback, confirming he was indeed human. Set in 1908, Bob was a gentle giant and devoted father who cared for his daughter, Ingrid, after his wife passed away. He promised his daughter that she would perform with him as "Periwinkle," just as her mother did, while he took on the persona of "Pennywise the Dancing Clown".

It's Bob's ability to connect with children that is the appeal for IT. One night, Bob met his tragic fate when the demonic entity took on the form of an innocent child and lured Bob into the woods, killing him. Flash forward to 1962, IT gleefully confessed to Ingrid that he ate Bob and assumed his identity, in one of the most deliciously bone-chilling scenes from the series, and exposed her to the horrific Deadlights -glowing orange lights that are the source of IT's powers existing in ultimate darkness, leaving its victims helpless - and leaving her comatose.

It's debatable that she deserved her fate since she was the one responsible for leading the police chief, along with the rest of the racist police officers, to the only Black owned bar. She tipped him off that Hank, who was also her lover, was hiding at the bar because of her twisted obsession that Pennywise was still her father. Her plan was to incite as much violence to lure Pennywise out of hiding.

The massacre at the bar, single-handedly, was an exceptional cinematic experience that elevated the series to new heights. Director Andy Muschietti (who also directed the recent It films) is fully committed to crafting not just a horror prequel, but a visually striking and emotionally resonant story that resulted in Rich's heroic death, sacrificing himself for Marge. Those powerful scenes were not only the most devastating of the episode but also of the entire series, with chaotic, visceral bursts of shock and devastation that delivered the emotional pathos of those gut-wrenching moments.

General Francis Shaw is convinced that control through fear is the only way to maintain order, so he deliberately unleashes IT, who was perfectly content to hibernate for another 27 years, and destroys one of the ancient pillars that serves as a cage to trap IT. Leroy Hanlon tries unsuccessfully to stop The General, who is convinced he's preventing another "civil war". IT immediately unleashes the Deadlights upon Leroy's son, Will, leaving us with a major cliffhanger heading into episode 8.

 The finale promises to be terrifying, suspenseful, and highly entertaining, sending us on a roller coaster of emotions as we wonder which of our beloved characters will survive.

The first seven episodes of "It: Welcome to Derry" are streaming on HBO MAX. The finale will premiere on December 14 at 9 pm EST.