IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 positions itself as both an origin story and a myth-expanding prequel to Stephen King’s IT, exploring how Derry repeatedly becomes a feeding ground for an ancient, shape-shifting evil. The show is a blend of the horrors found in a small town and the cosmic mythos surrounding Pennywise. The series reveals, through eight episodes, that Pennywise is not just a mortal entity, but rather an entity constrained by various rituals, artifacts, and cycles.Disclaimer: The following article contains spoilers for the show. Reader's discretion is advised.IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 episode 8, starts with Pennywise making the most terrible of his attacks when he abducts the Derry High children and attempts to escape from the cage that has bound him for many years. In this episode, fans discover that Pennywise is, in part, defeated but not destroyed. He is contained once again, using the cosmic dagger to restore the 13th pillar.However, Pennywise does not fade away in any permanent sense. He sheds his form throughout the episode and flees into the Deadlights, thereby preserving both his existence and his cycle of existence.How is Pennywise defeated in IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 episode 8?The filming of IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 episode 8 (Image via YouTube/ HBO)The defeat of Pennywise in IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 episode 8 occurs through the efforts of the kids of Derry and the few adults who understand what the creature really is. Once General Shaw takes down the last pillar that held Pennywise's confinement, the entity comes back to life, releasing a fog that spreads throughout Derry and abducts the high schoolers from that community.To defeat this entity, the dagger forged from the same comet as the original pillars must be thrust into the ground at the great deadwood pine near the frozen river. Rose further explained that by doing so, the dagger would take the place of one of the pillars and would again seal the area in which Pennywise was contained.To buy time, Dick Hallorann uses his psychic powers to send his spirit into the mind of Pennywise to freeze the entity mid-attack. With this control broken, Dick’s presence weakens Pennywise's hold on those he had abducted. Although Dick's effort provided a temporary respite, they could not hold Pennywise's containment for long.It was only through the endurance of Will Hanlon, Marge, Lily, and Ronnie against the continued influence and pursuit of Pennywise while carrying the dagger to the deadwood that this was able to successfully take place. They were aided by the spirit of Rich Santos, whose intervention made their success possible.This act resulted in the replacement of the pillar and ultimately defeated Pennywise once and for all. He is violently expelled from his physical form, reverting to the Deadlights. He is incapacitated, but not killed.Also read: IT: Welcome to Derry creators react to Stephen King's praiseHow does IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 connect to the sequel? View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThe events and characters of IT and IT: Chapter Two are connected to IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 episode 8. Furthermore, since Pennywise seemingly exists across the dimensions of time, this episode furthers the idea of his multidimensional nature.What stands out in this episode is that the future Pennywise targets Marge by showing her visions of marrying and giving birth to Richie Tozier, a member of the Losers’ Club, who eventually defeats Pennywise. His words imply a cyclical view of time for him by implying that his 'death' at the hands of the Losers' Club is considered a part of his 'birth.' It also allows him to move forward and back in the timeline to find the means to survive.Additionally, Beverly Marsh is introduced in the last scenes of the episode. The flash-forward to 1988 depicts Beverly coming to Juniper Hill Asylum with her abusive father after the death of her mother, and is being observed by Ingrid Kersh, who remains mentally tied to Pennywise. This moment serves as a direct link to the emotional connection at the beginning of IT. It also implies that Pennywise’s impact still resides in Derry, evidenced by Ingrid’s statement: "No one who dies here ever really dies." Marge’s lineage and Beverly's introduction show that the IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 serves as a narrative connector between the IT movies.How does IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 end?A still from the episode (Image via YouTube/ HBO)The emotional ending of IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 takes shape through the Hanlon family. Leroy's evolution as a parent enables him to become both more trusting of his son and more flexible in his understanding of strength. By entrusting Will with the dagger and supporting him in doing things in a non-fearless manner, Leroy shows that one does not have to be hard to have strength.After the creature returns to its cage, the family plans to leave Derry and escape from the pain of their experiences and the deeply ingrained racism of the town. However, instead of fleeing Derry, Rose gives Leroy the chance to remain as a watcher and custodian, preparing for when Pennywise arrives in 27 years.Charlotte, who has consistently challenged the town’s injustices, ultimately chooses to stay, and Leroy supports her decision. Will is relieved to remain close to his memories and his connection to Ronnie, even as she leaves town with her father, Hank. The season ends with a sense of uneasy calm as Pennywise is contained, not erased. The cycle is merely paused, setting the stage for future timelines and further confrontations.IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 is available to stream on HBO Max.