Episode 7 revolves around a devastating arson attack, the big reveal of the real Pennywise’s origin, the destruction of one of the pillars trapping IT, and Pennywise’s premature reawakening.
This episode opens way back in 1908 showcasing the original Pennywise at a carnival, whose real name is revealed as Bob Gray. We learn who Bob Gray is in the IT novel, he is a struggling circus performer and is a genuine entertainer for kids. A malevolent child (IT) sees how drawn kids are to Bob Gray, the kid later lures Bob into the woods to consume him and steals his Pennywise persona for his own future cycles of feasting.
I like this sequence because it really shows the origin of IT and how he got the look of Pennywise. I also think showing off Bob Gray was a good idea because in IT: Chapter Two we see photos of Bob Gray in Ingrid Kersh.
“The Black Spot Massacre” in 1962, a racist mob led by ex-police chief Clint Bowers, surround the Black Club looking for Hank Grogan. Hank Grogan tries to turn himself in, but the military personnel protect him and hold their ground, so the mob leaves. The mob locked the doors from the outside and lit the place on fire. Marge and Rich are trapped in a heartbreaking final moment, Rich sacrifices himself by lying on top of a small cooler so Marge can fit inside and survive the fire. Dick Hallorann, guided by a spirit, helps Hank, Will, and Ronnie escape through a hidden exit under a fridge.
I absolutely hated this part of the episode because they killed Rich (my favorite of the younger cast). I honestly thought that they should’ve killed either Ronnie or Hank Grogan because their characters felt less developed than most of the cast.
After the fire, Hallorann leads the military to one of the ancient pillars (found within a turtle shell) that helps contain IT. General Shaw reveals his true, twisted plan: not to contain IT, but to destroy the pillar and free the monster across America, using the resulting fear to unite and control the fracturing nation. Despite Leroy Hanlon’s attempts to stop him at gunpoint, the military destroys the pillar.
Overall, the episode was very good other than one of my favorite characters death and does setup the finale.
