It, Welcome to Derry Ep.2
Before I get started, I read that many readers—be they fans of fantasy or other genres—have been accusing self-published writers of using AI to write their stories on account of the em dash. I’ve read various reasons why these accusations are being thrown around: plagiarism, lack of a proper English education—Oxford cough, cough—no one uses the em dash unless an AI system tells them to, etc. But…AI systems learn from humans, gathering data—creepy—from numerous sources online. It eats what it’s fed; therefore, it stands to reason that if AI is providing em dash recommendations, it’s on account of writers—fiction or non-fiction—properly, and consistently, applying the em dash.
Just sounds like complaining for the sake of complaining.
Sip coffee…
So, anyway. It, Welcome to Derry Ep. 2. Probably, most certainly—inadvertently due to Rambling?—will be spoilers.
Really fun episode as the series begins to delve more into the story. A bit confusing why the U.S. Air Force is using a medium to locate a “fear” weapon to counter the dreaded Communists as they park nukes in Cuba. Though, admittedly, it would be hysterical to see Pennywise show up in Havana: “Arroz con pollo, Georgie?” Anyone else read that in Pennywise’s voice? No? Sorry, it’s early. Fall back—like retreating—an hour can be great and still tiring. In any case… I really liked them introducing a medium to the story. Stephen King is known for his medium characters. The Shining is probably his most renowned story. And anyone who read It should’ve recognized the significance of the vehicle the medium found and military pulled from the mud. Wonder if they’ll show the shoot-out?
The town of Derry is beginning to reveal more of itself to Mrs. Hanlon. Like an artichoke—fun analogy—being pulled back layer by putrid layer, she’s seeing the vileness, cruelty, and malevolence. However, it’s in these darkest times that the brightest lights begin to shine the strongest with Lilly, Charlotte, and Will. Apparently, Maturin is gathering their forces to combat the Deadlights. Wonder if they’ll introduce the Ritual of Chüd—only the psychic battle!—in this season? Betcha Pennywise uses em dashes…
Anyone else a bit thrown off by the blatant, unflinching violence towards kids? I mean, It definitely had violent scenes, but the series is like, “Hold my beer.” Perhaps I’m just getting old, but I find myself asking, “Is that necessary? Turn on the subtitles, I can’t hear it.” Looks at everyone else: “What you say?” Conversely, the point is the brutal nature of the spider—Deadlights, Pennywise, Bob Gray, the leper, grotesque batbaby, pick your poison—and how they feed: fear, brutal, unrelenting fear. The stronger the fear, the more gratifying the meal.
I will say that, so far, we haven’t seen Pennywise; only several terrifying—albeit very yucky—forms. And that’s great actually. The series is slowly building. Akin to the spider’s process of terror, the crescendo is taking the viewer by the hand with a taloned grip and slowly escalating until it’s time to bite.
That’s all. Welcome to November,
Patrick