It: Welcome to Derry's New Characters Face Uncertain Future

With just one episode remaining in It: Welcome to Derry, fans are already grieving the show's fresh group of young protagonists. The sadness isn't necessarily because these characters are destined for doom – though facing off against a shape-shifting cosmic horror in clown makeup doesn't exactly promise good odds – but because they likely won't appear in any potential future seasons if HBO greenlights more episodes.

Before the series even debuted, director Andy Muschietti outlined his vision for upcoming installments. Future seasons would jump backward through time, he explained, with the second season taking place in 1935 and a third set in 1908. Drawing inspiration from the historical interludes in Stephen King's source material, each season would focus on a devastating tragedy from Derry's dark past: starting with the 1962 Black Spot fire that viewers witnessed in the devastating seventh episode, followed by the Bradley Gang Massacre, and concluding with the Kitchener Ironworks explosion.

Building Connections in Limited Time

Initially, this creative timeline approach seemed exciting... but that was before audiences met Will Hanlon, Lilly Bainbridge, Ronnie Grogan, Marge Truman, and Rich Santos. While Stephen King's novel often gets criticized for its massive length (and admittedly could have been trimmed by several hundred pages), much of its appeal comes from the extensive time readers spend simply existing alongside Bill, Beverly, Ben, Richie, Stan, and Mike. Yes, they frequently face danger – whether escaping local tormentor Henry Bowers or trying to convince themselves they didn't just see a werewolf in a letterman jacket pursuing them down the street. However, countless scenes show them just being kids: listening to rock music on the radio while constructing a dam in the Barrens or racing around on Bill's lightning-fast bicycle, Silver.

This element forms a crucial part of the multi-generational narrative – making it genuinely disappointing to realize we'll never get that same leisurely exploration with these new protagonists, despite television's natural advantages for extended character development.

Emotional Investment in Young Heroes

Over seven weeks, viewers have developed genuine affection for these fictional youngsters as they discuss cosmic wonder with innocent amazement, navigate awkward romantic moments, and determine whether they're the type of people who help others in crisis (lifeboats) or abandon them (anchors). Lilly (Clara Stack) and Ronnie (Amanda Christine) have endured particularly brutal experiences, both having witnessed It's savage assault on Susie, Phil, and Teddy at the Capitol theater in the premiere episode.

The pair didn't just observe the horrific violence – they've been forced to cope with its traumatic aftermath. Lilly was returned to Juniper Hill Asylum while Ronnie's father was wrongfully blamed for the children's deaths. Meanwhile, Marge (Matilda Lawler) nearly lost both eyes after It made her believe they were sprouting on stems, and beloved Cuban-American character Rich (Arian S. Cartaya) died heroically while rescuing her during The Black Spot fire. After watching them suffer so extensively, developing deep sympathy for these characters became unavoidable.

Crafting Maximum Impact

The series was clearly constructed with this emotional response in mind, fully aware that viewers' time with these characters would be brief. Unlike the film adaptations it connects to, It: Welcome to Derry features a large ensemble cast, making scenes with immediate, powerful impact essential for audiences to bond with the show's young heroes. Co-showrunners Jason Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane – who penned five of the eight episodes together – deserve recognition for creating dialogue that establishes these kids' personalities and relationships so efficiently and effectively.

While reluctant to acknowledge it, there is a benefit to It: Welcome to Derry choosing this anthology-style approach. As a devoted fan of The Walking Dead, there's something admirable about horror series that aren't hesitant to eliminate main characters without warning – shows that recognize when protagonists constantly face mortal danger, not everyone survives every encounter. Perhaps knowing we'll never see these characters again after the eighth episode's final credits might encourage the creative team to be more merciless as the season concludes.

Rich's death has already occurred – not by Pennywise's hand, but through Chief Bowers and his racist associates – demonstrating that anything could happen heading into the finale. In both the films and novel, Bill and his friends all survive their initial encounter with It. Could the show surprise audiences one final time by killing all their television counterparts? While nobody wants that outcome, it significantly raises the stakes knowing such a possibility exists.