# Welcome to Derry: Pennywise Returns and Cosmic Turtles Shape Stephen King’s Twisted Town
Stepping back into the haunted streets of Derry, HBO’s new series “Welcome to Derry” plunges viewers into the eerie universe Stephen King first conjured in his classic novel “IT.” The show, set in the 1960s, serves as a prequel to the bone-chilling events King fans know so well, dissecting the mysterious origins of Derry’s terror and the cosmic clown who calls it home. With its vintage setting and supernatural undertones, the series brings together a cast of timeless fears, curious government projects, and mythological guardians—like that all-important turtle—woven through everyday life.
## Pennywise in Uniform: Government Plots and Forgotten Heroes
In a startling twist, the second episode reveals a side of the story that’s as bizarre as it is terrifying: officials in Washington once considered using Pennywise as a weapon. Strategizing beyond nuclear power, they launch “Operation Precept,” a top-secret mission to harness Derry’s resident demon for their own ends. Major Leroy Hanlon, a war veteran whose brush with death has left him immune to fear, is chosen to confront the creature. General Shaw—ever the risk-taker—envisions channeling the cosmic chaos of Pennywise to serve national interests. Meanwhile, Dick Halloran, whose psychic abilities span King’s interconnected worlds, embarks on a mission using his “shine” to locate psychic beacons around Pennywise’s lair. The attempt blends military ambition with supernatural dread, sparking questions about humanity’s capacity for both hope and hubris when facing the unknown.
## Layers of Lore: Easter Eggs, Mythical Turtles, and Tragedy
“Welcome to Derry” thrives on its rich tapestry of references. Throughout the opening credits and scattered scenes, the show cleverly drops clues for sharp-eyed fans—a Depression-era shootout involving Pennywise, a factory catastrophe during an Easter celebration where tragedy strikes, and a nod to the infamous Bradley Gang. The narrative revisits the Kitchener Ironworks explosion, which took more than a hundred lives in 1908, illustrating how Derry’s cycle of violence feeds Pennywise’s hunger for fear. For seasoned followers of King, the constant appearance of turtles is much more than decoration. Embedded in school mascots and exchanged as lucky tokens, the turtle is a subtle tribute to Maturin, the cosmic rival to Pennywise and one of the few forces capable of resisting the clown’s corruption. Producers Jason Fuchs and Andy Muschietti seed these turtle hints throughout the script, pointing to possible links with King’s “The Dark Tower” universe—a tantalizing prospect for those who crave deeper lore.
## Pickle Jars and Supermarket Scares: King’s Personal Nightmare
Stephen King’s presence remains palpable in every scene, especially the moment he claims as his favorite: a suburban horror sequence at a local grocery store. Lilly, one of the show’s characters, relives traumatic memories of her father’s death at a pickle plant, triggering a panic attack surrounded by glass jars and haunting visions. The resulting chaos is both surreal and deeply disturbing—the kind of uniquely unsettling set-piece that lingers long after the screen fades to black. King himself has praised this scene for its ability to blend the mundane with pure terror, showing that even the most ordinary places can become sites of unspeakable dread.
## Waiting for Pennywise: Fear Builds, But Terror Lurks Ahead
Despite all the tension, viewers have yet to see Pennywise fully emerge in his monstrous glory. King reassures fans that, once unleashed, Bill Skarsgård’s portrayal will be as nightmarish as ever. Until then, the show explores psychological horror through the young residents of Derry, who grapple with personal trauma, disturbing visions, and the mundane cruelties of everyday life. The lurking presence of Pennywise makes even simple tasks—like shopping for pickles—fraught with apprehension.
## Charting Derry’s Sinister Past: History Repeats Itself Every 27 Years
“Welcome to Derry” unfolds as a trilogy, with each season charting key events in the town’s dark history. Season one dives into the explosion at the Black Spot nightclub, while future seasons promise to revisit the Kitchener Ironworks tragedy and the infamous Bradley Gang massacre. The 27-year cycle—Pennywise’s preferred feeding schedule—serves as a backbone for the series, tying historic calamities together through threads of cosmic horror and broken hope. By unraveling the strange rhythm at which Derry’s nightmares intensify, the series crafts a chilling narrative about fate, fear, and the persistence of evil.
## Halloran: More Than a Chef, A Psychic Guide Through Derry’s Nightmare
Dick Halloran emerges as an anchor in both King’s universe and “Welcome to Derry.” No longer confined to the kitchen of the Overlook Hotel, Halloran is reimagined as a man struggling with his own ghosts, lending his psychic expertise to those desperately fighting against the darkness. His journey connects the show’s unraveling mysteries to broader themes running through King’s novels, offering a sense of continuity for die-hard fans. With “Doctor Sleep” available for streaming, Halloran’s role becomes even more pivotal, bridging stories of horror, resilience, and childhood memory across multiple King adaptations.
## Should You Venture to Derry?
If heart-pounding suspense, supernatural riddles, and emotionally scarred residents aren’t enough to warn you, “Welcome to Derry” delivers a non-stop parade of haunting images and psychological shocks. Turtles, pickles, and the twisted histories of small-town America combine to create an experience that is both familiar and remarkably fresh. Whether you’re a seasoned King reader or a newcomer looking for a good thrill, Derry promises a wild ride through terror, myth, and the odd comfort of cosmic turtles.
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### 中文翻译
# 欢迎来到德里：潘尼怀斯归来，宇宙神龟形塑史蒂芬·金的扭曲小镇
重返鬼魅缠绕的德里街头，HBO新剧《欢迎来到德里》将观众带进了史蒂芬·金在经典小说《它》中首次构建的诡异宇宙。该剧设定在上世纪六十年代，作为金式恐怖事件的前传，细细剖析了德里的诡谲起源和居住于此的宇宙小丑。复古场景与超自然元素交织，剧集结合了最纯粹的恐惧、不寻常的政府项目以及神话般的守护者——处处可见的重要神龟——巧妙地融入日常生活。
## 军装下的潘尼怀斯：政府计划与被遗忘的英雄们
在令人咋舌的转折中，第二集揭示了故事尤为奇异恐怖的一面：华盛顿官员曾考虑将潘尼怀斯作为武器。策略超越核武器，他们启动“前提行动”，秘密试图将德里的恶魔转为己用。身负战伤、免疫恐惧的老兵莱罗伊·汉隆少校被选中直面怪物。肖将军擅于冒险，幻想将潘尼怀斯的宇宙混沌为国家服务。同时，拥有通灵天赋、游走在金式多宇宙的迪克·哈洛兰则用自己的“闪耀”寻找小丑巢穴附近的心灵灯塔。军方野望与超自然恐惧交错，刺激着观众去思考人性在未知面前的希望与狂妄。
## 典故彩蛋层层叠加：复活节悲剧与神龟暗号
《欢迎来到德里》用丰富的典故做点缀。开场字幕和片段里，剧集巧妙地为眼尖观众投出线索——潘尼怀斯参与的大萧条时期枪战、复活节工厂灾难与臭名昭著的布拉德利帮事件，都一一浮现。剧集重温了1908年基奇纳铁厂爆炸，百余条生灵丧命，进一步展现德里循环暴力是潘尼怀斯恐惧饕餮的温床。对老粉来说，经常出现的神龟远不是装饰。它作为学校吉祥物或幸运符频繁亮相，象征宇宙龟玛图林——潘尼怀斯的对立面，也是唯一能抗衡小丑腐化的存在。制片人贾森·福克斯与安迪·穆切蒂在剧本中频频埋下线索，暗示与金作品《黑暗塔》世界的潜在联结，为热衷宇宙连线的观众增添期待。
## 酱菜瓶与超市惊魂：金氏至爱恐怖场面
史蒂芬·金在每个段落都留下了自己的印记，尤以他深深爱戴的超市恐怖片段为最。剧中主角莉莉在杂货店因父亲于腌渍厂丧命而回忆涌现，引发恐慌，伴随玻璃瓶坠地与痛苦幻象。这一幕荒诞又令人不安，是那种令人久久难忘的怪异场景。金本人盛赞此桥段，将平淡日常与极端恐怖融为一体，告诉我们普通场所也能成为恐惧的温床。
## 潘尼怀斯暂未现身：恐惧升温，恐怖未至
尽管氛围紧张，观众仍未真正见到潘尼怀斯的全面变身。金向粉丝保证，待他现身时，演员比尔·斯卡斯加德演绎的小丑依旧让人毛骨悚然。在此之前，剧集通过德里年轻居民经历个人创伤、惊悚幻觉与日常暴虐，打造心理恐怖。潘尼怀斯无处不在的阴影，让采买普通酱菜都变得忐忑不安。
## 德里不详往事：27年一次的历史轮回
《欢迎来到德里》以三季结构展开，每季聚焦小镇黑暗历史中的关键事件。第一季揭示夜总会“黑点”的爆炸案，未来将谈及基奇纳铁厂悲剧和布拉德利帮惨案。27年轮回——潘尼怀斯的进食周期——贯穿剧集，是连接灾难的主线。拆解德里噩梦的怪异节奏，剧集编织出恐怖、命运与破碎希望的阴郁故事。
## 哈洛兰：不只是厨师，还是心理导师
迪克·哈洛兰在金宇宙与《欢迎来到德里》中都是关键。他不再只是观景酒店的厨子，而是带着自身伤痛，辅佐抵抗黑暗的人们。他的旅程连接剧集与金其他作品主题，也让死忠粉丝感受到了故事延续。随着《睡梦医生》上线流媒体，哈洛兰的角色更显重要，把恐怖、坚韧与童年创伤跨越多个金式改编串联起来。
## 你是否应该探访德里？
若你爱心跳加速、超自然谜题和痛苦居民，还嫌不够警惕，《欢迎来到德里》将不断呈现令人毛骨悚然的画面和心理惊吓。神龟、酱菜瓶和美国小镇扭曲史共同构筑了一场既熟悉又新鲜的体验。无论你是金迷还是猎奇新人，德里都将带来恐惧、神话与宇宙龟带来的另类慰藉的狂野旅程。
