Episode 2 titled “The Thing In The Dark” introduces more characters from established characters in the previous episode such as Major Leroy Hanlon’s wife, Charlotte Hanlon, and their son Will Hanlon. Ronnie’s Father is arrested due to the disappearance of Teddy, Suzie, and Phil, also known as “The Movie Theatre Massacre.” Leroy finds out the real reason why he was sent to Derry, “Operation Precept” to locate and help weaponize a deeply buried entity, also known as Pennywise. 

Episode 2 is about the trauma and manipulation of people’s fear. Before Ronnie’s father goes to Prison, Ronnie experiences a terrifying vision of her dead mother. While Lily is at a grocery store she is tormented by visions of her dead father’s body parts in pickle jars. I think this episode does a really good job of the manipulation of fear by using the kid’s traumatic experiences even more against them.  

The Hanlon family storyline focuses more on racism and social isolation. Charlotte stopped a group of teenage boys picking on another boy, she then got grim looks from white people walking across the street. In the neighborhood where The Hanlon’s live, Leroy also experiences cold stares when a white neighbor walking by sees him. I like how this episode uses real life events and ties them into the show making it feel more realistic to the real life 60’s. 

Social isolation and guilt are used very well with Lily Bainbridge when having to lie to cops about who or what made her “friends” disappear to not get sent back to Juniper Hill Asylum. She feels much guilt for hurting her friend Ronnie and doesn’t want to interact with anyone. When at lunch she dodges her friend and sits by herself, Andy Musceti (our showrunner) does a great job giving his characters emotional depth.