It: Welcome to Derry Episode 3 Subtly Gave Away Its Next Devastating Death

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The third episode of ‘It: Welcome to Derry’ quietly suggested a major character might die soon. Many of the show’s hidden references, or Easter eggs, link it to other works by Stephen King, the author of ‘It’.

Beyond references to characters like Dick Halloran from The Shining and hints at future stories like Dreamcatcher, It: Welcome to Derry is full of smart details for fans of Stephen King’s work. The show also cleverly foreshadows surprises to come, adding layers of mystery for viewers.

The first episode of It: Welcome to Derry began with a character watching a musical, and the group revisited that same theater to see the same movie later on. This led to a terrifying and shocking massacre, with only Ronnie and Lily surviving the night.

It: Welcome to Derry Episode 3’s Shoe Poem Hints That Richie Will Die Next

Image via HBO

Considering that only two members of the Losers’ Club die across both It movies, and those deaths don’t happen until the second film released in 2019, the ending of the first movie was deeply shocking for audiences. The violent deaths of the young characters immediately signaled that the story wouldn’t shy away from intense and graphic content.

It’s obvious that the show’s new characters aren’t any more protected than the original ones were at the beginning. While Will Hanlon is likely safe – being Mike’s father from the It movies – Lily, Ronnie, Marge, and Richie are in much more danger, and it looks like at least one of them is going to die.

In the third episode, titled “Now You See It,” Richie tries to convince Will that Will has a crush on Ronnie. However, it’s clear Richie is actually using this as a way to understand his own feelings for Marge, which becomes apparent when he makes a sweet admission soon after.

Richie joked that a person deeply in love might secretly write poems inside their shoes, hiding them from everyone. It’s a quirky detail that clearly hints at something Richie himself has experienced. While charming, this habit also suggests a potentially troubled side to his personality.

It’s highly likely Richie’s shoe, along with a poem, will be discovered after Pennywise attacks him. Throughout both It and It: Chapter Two, the young victims were often identified by their belongings, and the distinct detail of Richie’s shoe feels like a deliberate setup – a clue that will become important later in the story.

Richie’s Death Would Make It: Welcome to Derry Episode 1 Even Darker

Image via HBO

It’s also important to remember that Richie is currently the only main kid character Pennywise hasn’t targeted. Marge continues to play a smaller role because her desire to be accepted by the Pattycakes keeps her from spending much time with Ronnie and Lily. As for Lily, she encountered Pennywise at the grocery store back in episode 2.

Just before meeting the clown, Ronnie saw Pennywise in her room, appearing as a horribly distorted version of her mother. Both she and Pennywise tormented her, but neither of them were killed. Because Will is destined to survive – he needs to live long enough to become Mike’s father – it strongly suggests Richie will be the one to die.

However, Richie’s departure would still be incredibly upsetting. The show already surprised viewers by killing off Phil Malkin, a young and humorous character, in the first episode of It: Welcome to Derry. Losing another lighthearted character would be particularly disheartening, given that Richie shares a name with the beloved comedian from the original It story.

While both shows share similarities, It: Welcome to Derry stood out from Stranger Things because it wasn’t afraid to kill off its young characters. Stranger Things started out surprisingly dark, but viewers noticed the show became hesitant to permanently remove key young characters as it went on.

It: Welcome to Derry Episode 3’s Poem Connects To The Original Movies

As a huge fan, I noticed something interesting as Stranger Things went on. It started feeling like the show became really careful about who died. By seasons three and four, it was almost always newer characters, and they were usually adults or at least older than the main group of kids, who were all safe. It was like the stakes felt lower because we knew our heroes wouldn’t be in danger.

Unlike other stories, It was always intended to be scarier and more focused on horror. Killing off Richie and revealing his death through a secret love poem would also cleverly connect it to the original films. Ben’s poem for Bev is an important element that ties both movies together, establishing a decades-long love triangle.

Given that a child’s poem was so important in the It horror series, it makes sense that another poem would be used when a key character potentially leaves in It: Welcome to Derry. So, while Richie’s possible death would be sad, the story has already hinted at it.

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2025-11-12 01:44