Episode 3 of It: Welcome to Derry, titled Now You See It, premieres on November 9, 2025, on HBO Max. This episode deepens the connections within Stephen King's multiverse by weaving in significant character crossovers and expanding the cosmic mythology.
The episode contains at least nine confirmed references to Stephen King's broader literary universe. It bridges the 1962 timeline of the prequel series to events from the 2017 and 2019 It films, enriching King's interconnected multiverse.
Following Stephen King's established 27-year cycle, Pennywise reawakens every 27 years to feed before returning to dormancy. According to Radio Times, this episode is set exactly 27 years before the 1989 events depicted in It: Chapter One, illustrating how past traumas influenced Derry's supernatural reality.
Episode 3 introduces General Shaw's Operation Precept, a military effort to harness Pennywise as a weapon during the Cold War. This subplot reveals government knowledge of the entity long before the Losers Club's 1989 encounter.
"The show operates on Stephen King’s established 27-year cycle, where Pennywise awakens, feeds, and returns to dormancy."
"General Shaw’s Operation Precept represents the military’s attempt to weaponize Pennywise for Cold War purposes."
Author’s summary: Episode 3 of It: Welcome to Derry intricately links Stephen King’s multiverse by merging timelines and introducing Cold War military intrigue surrounding Pennywise.