‘It: Welcome to Derry’ episode 3 Easter eggs and hidden references, explained

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There’s a lot going on in Derry

Chris Chalk in "IT: Welcome to Derry" episode 3
(Image credit: Brooke Palmer / HBO)

“It: Welcome to Derry” has quickly become one of the standout shows of 2025, and it’s easy to see why. The longer format gives the creators the freedom to dive deep into Stephen King’s sprawling mythology, weaving in characters, locations, and lore that fans of the book will recognize and those new to the universe will be drawn into. Even just three episodes in, the series has peppered the story with clever Easter eggs and subtle nods.

Episode 3 (titled “Now You See It”) may be slightly lighter in terms of overt references compared with the first two, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to spot if you’re paying attention. Here, we’re breaking down all the Easter eggs and hidden references in “It: Welcome to Derry” episode 3 that you might have missed.

1. Spot the turtle

Turtle charm in "IT: Welcome to Derry" show (2025)

(Image credit: HBO Max)

Episode 3 briefly takes us back to 1908, where a young General Shaw wanders through a circus, wide-eyed at the games. One stall features a knock-down game with a turtle among the targets. This is a subtle (and very quick) nod to Maturin, the cosmic turtle from Stephen King’s “It” universe.

In King’s novel, the turtle represents creation and stands as Pennywise’s eternal opposite, so its inclusion feels like a clever wink to fans familiar with the deeper mythology. The presence of turtles in “Welcome to Derry” already feels meaningful rather than decorative, from a school mascot in a turtle costume to Lilly’s lucky turtle charm.

2. Andy Muschetti cameo

Andy Muschetti

(Image credit: Birdie Thompson /AdMedia Photo via Newscom / Alamy)

Director Andy Muschietti makes a brief but memorable appearance, seated at the piano inside the “Human Freaks” tent. Though fleeting, the cameo is impossible to miss: Muschietti clearly delights in the scene, playing the keys with a menacing grin. It’s a fun behind-the-scenes nod that gives fans a chance to spot the creator himself enjoying the carnival chaos he helped bring to life.

3. Slingshot moment

Diesel La Torraca as young Francis Shaw in "IT: Welcome to Derry" episode 3

(Image credit: Brooke Palmer / HBO)

One of the most striking moments comes when young Francis is chased through the forest by the carnival's “Skeleton Man,” a figure that Pennywise embodies as a manifestation of fear. Earlier, Francis’s father had won him a slingshot at the carnival, but Francis ended up giving it to his new friend, Rose, in exchange for a drink of water. In a tense twist, Rose uses the slingshot to fire directly at the creature, effectively saving Francis.

The scene cleverly nods to Stephen King’s novel, where the Losers’ Club often resorts to everyday objects — including slingshots, which they use to fire silver slugs at Pennywise — as weapons against the monster.

4. That rubbing alcohol bottle

Amanda Christine and Clara Stack in "IT: Welcome to Derry" episode 3

(Image credit: Brooke Palmer / HBO)

One moment that rewards watchers with a sharp eye is when Lilly (Clara Stack) brings Ronnie (Amanda Christine) a bottle of rubbing alcohol from the nurse’s office, and we get a clear insert-shot of the label: “Van Helden.” That name isn’t random, because within the series, an eight-year-old girl named Danielle Van Helden disappeared in May 1961, suggesting the prop is a subtle nod to the show’s deeper lore.

It could also echo the surname of one of the show’s crew (the art-director) — minus the space — which further hints at showrunners layering in Easter eggs not just for fans of the story, but for those familiar with the production too.

5. Bradley gang’s cadillac / 1935 massacre

"IT: Welcome to Derry" episode 2

(Image credit: Brooke Palmer / HBO)

In episode 3, the military confirms that the bullet-ridden vehicle unearthed in earlier digs is tied to the Bradley Gang Massacre of 1935, a violent moment in Derry’s history where the outlaw Bradley brothers’ car was discovered buried and filled with bodies.

According to the show, eyewitnesses from the time reported “sightings of the entity in one of its forms” during the massacre, hinting that Pennywise may not just have observed the chaos but helped instigate it. The implication is that Derry’s history of horror is literally buried in its past.

6. Creepy circus wagon

Chris Chalk in "IT: Welcome to Derry" episode 3

(Image credit: Brooke Palmer / HBO)

This one’s an obvious nod, but I couldn’t not include it. When Dick Halloran (Chris Chalk) uses his Shining-like abilities as a human compass to track It, he ends up in the sewers (the exact location from the movies), complete with a creepy circus wagon labeled “Pennywise” and children floating eerily above. The moment grows even more chilling as Pennywise’s voice taunts him, asking, “Who are you?” It’s a clear bridge to the cinematic universe, giving fans a direct connection to the iconic imagery and horrors of the original story.

7. Pennywise says hello

Arian S. Cartaya, Clara Stack, Amanda Christine, and Blake Cameron James in "IT: Welcome to Derry" episode 3

(Image credit: Brooke Palmer / HBO)

During the graveyard scene, as the kids are being chased by the ghosts of Teddy (Mikkal Karim Fidler) and Suzie (Matilda Legault), Will (Blake Cameron James) tumbles down a slope in front of a broken chapel. Drawn to a mysterious figure, he steps inside to investigate, and it’s here that eagle-eyed viewers are rewarded. In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, Pennywise’s gloved hand briefly appears, gripping the wall just as Will snaps a photo.

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Alix Blackburn
Alix Blackburn
Senior Streaming Writer (UK)

Alix is a Senior Streaming Writer at Tom’s Guide, which basically means watching the best movies and TV shows and then writing about them. It’s a dream job for someone who’s been obsessed with storytelling since she first figured out how to work a remote. 


Before joining Tom’s Guide, Alix honed her skills as a staff writer with outlets like Screen Rant and Bough Digital, where she discovered her love for the entertainment industry. 


She heads to the cinema every week as a tradition, no matter what’s showing. For her, movies aren’t just entertainment — they’re a ritual, a comfort, and a constant source of inspiration. When she’s not at her desk or at the cinema, you’ll probably find her deep into a horror video game on her PC.

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