Welcome to Derry – “The Black Spot” Episode Review

Rating: 8.1/10

TYLER, Texas (TXAN 24) — “The Black Spot” doesn’t waste a second easing you in — it opens with tension, fire, and chaos, setting the tone for one of the series’ most emotionally charged episodes so far. From a filmmaking standpoint, it’s easily one of the strongest entries. The pacing is sharp, the visuals are cinematic, and the acting lands every beat.

But even with all that, there’s a lingering frustration that’s hard to shake. Hollywood has leaned on Black trauma as a narrative engine for decades, and this episode taps into that well again. The execution is high-level, but the reliance on Black suffering to move the plot forward feels overused and, at times, exhausting.

Still, the episode delivers some heavy revelations, including the death of a key character that hits hard. More importantly, it gives us a clear picture of how Pennywise came to be. It’s unsettling, it’s tragic, and it sets up a wide runway for where the show can go in future seasons.

In short: powerful episode, beautifully crafted — but its emotional weight comes with a familiar cost. If the series builds on the mythology it established here without repeating old storytelling crutches, “Welcome to Derry” could carve out something truly special.