It: Welcome to Derry Season 1 Episode 3 Overview
It: Welcome to Derry Episode 3, titled Now You See It, premiered on November 9, 2025, on HBO Max. This episode deepens the connection to Stephen King’s extensive literary universe by including major character crossovers and expanding the show’s cosmic mythology.
Stephen King Multiverse Connections
The episode links the 1962 prequel timeline directly to the Losers Club events in 1989, as depicted in the 2017 film It: Chapter One. This installment continues to explore King’s concept of a 27-year cycle in which Pennywise awakens, preys, and then returns to dormancy.
According to Radio Times, the narrative timing is set "exactly 27 years before the children first encounter the entity in 1989," highlighting how earlier trauma influenced Derry’s supernatural events.
Episode 3 introduces at least nine confirmed references to King’s works, reinforcing the interconnected multiverse theme. The first season consists of eight episodes, with weekly releases concluding on December 14, 2025.
Key Plot Developments
- General Shaw’s Operation Precept reveals the military’s attempt to weaponize Pennywise during the Cold War.
- The subplot shows that the government had knowledge of Pennywise decades before the Losers Club’s encounter.
Episode Release and Structure
This episode follows Episode 2, maintaining HBO Max’s weekly release schedule for the season.
Summary
The episode intricately ties together different timelines and characters within Stephen King’s multiverse, expanding on the mythology and the Cold War-era mysteries surrounding Pennywise.
"Operation Precept represents the military’s attempt to weaponize Pennywise for Cold War purposes," enriching the narrative with governmental conspiracy elements.
Author's Summary: Episode 3 of It: Welcome to Derry skillfully connects key timelines and deepens Stephen King’s multiverse with significant plot revelations and cultural references.