IT: Welcome To Derry Addresses a Major Problem That Stranger Things Has Faced for Years

After the finale of "Stranger Things" season 4, Hawkins was left irrevocably altered, split in two as the Upside Down began merging with the real world. This should have forced the town's residents to confront the extraordinary events around them. Yet, the first four episodes of season 5 rewind to a sense of everyday life, with most of Hawkins still oblivious to the chaos theyve endured. From a logical standpoint, this is hard to reconcile: given the gruesome child deaths and the towns near-apocalyptic fracture, the characters should have recognized the danger. Even ignoring realism, it strains credibility that no one notices demogorgons roaming the streets.

In season 5, Hawkins is shown under a military-imposed quarantine, but this barely registers as alarming for the townspeople, as life seems superficially normal again. Comparing this to Derry in It: Welcome to Derry, the disconnect in Hawkins feels more pronounced. Derry is far from idyllic, with Pennywise (Bill Skarsgrd) posing a relentless threat. The children in Derry are largely defenseless, while Hawkins has Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and her friends as protectors. Derry endures cycles of violence aligned with Pennywises feeding patterns, yet most residents remain complacent, under the creature's influence. Hawkins, by contrast, is not under such control, raising questions about the townspeoples inaction.

It: Welcome to Derry builds on Andy Muschiettis prior films and Stephen Kings original material but paints a nuanced picture of the town in just six episodes. The adults are deeply involved in everyday life yet remain oblivious to Pennywise, whose powers manipulate their fears and memories, turning allies against one another. In Hawkins, the townspeople serve largely as a backdrop, lacking the depth one might expect from a small-town setting. The disappearance of one childor even multiple violent deathswould logically trigger alarm, yet the citizens instead scapegoat Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) amid a wave of panic. While this mob behavior has some credibility, the adult characters often feel underdeveloped, which is surprising for a series that has been a major hit since 2016.

Hopefully, the remainder of "Stranger Things" season 5 will provide more depth to Hawkins residents. It: Welcome to Derry is streaming on HBO Max, while the first volume of "Stranger Things" season 5 is available on Netflix.

Author: Sophia Brooks