Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Spoilers for “The Thing in the Dark,” episode 2 of IT: Welcome to Derry. The episode delivers striking horror and a strong sense of 1960s Derry, but its story is already split among the children’s trauma, a racially charged murder investigation, the Hanlons’ arrival and a military hunt for something buried. Those threads share ideas about fear and power; they do not yet share a consistently clear dramatic center.
What happens in “The Thing in the Dark”?
Released October 31, 2025, “The Thing in the Dark” picks up in the wake of the Capitol Theatre massacre. Lilly wakes still haunted by what she experienced, while the authorities turn their attention to Hank, Ronnie’s father. The accusation puts Ronnie and Lilly’s already strained trust under pressure: they experienced the killings differently, and now the adults’ version of events threatens to become the town’s accepted truth.
Hank is a convenient suspect, but the episode makes clear that the investigation takes place in a town where racism shapes who is believed and who is blamed. Ronnie’s family is left to bear the consequences while the children try to make sense of the theater horror.
Pennywise targets private grief
The children’s encounters with Pennywise draw on their individual anguish. Lilly is confronted with the pain of her father’s death; Ronnie with guilt connected to her mother’s death. The scenes mix nightmare imagery with uneasy humor, making the horror personal rather than merely spectacular. Lilly’s detention at Juniper Hills is part of this story, not a reason to treat her fear or grief as a diagnosis.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Will finds his footing in Derry
Major Leroy Hanlon’s family is settling into town, and Will’s first experiences at school are marked by bullying and unfair treatment. Detention brings him into contact with Rich and Ronnie, opening a path toward friendship. Will’s optimism and curiosity give him a distinct presence amid the episode’s darker strands, while the prejudice he encounters extends the story’s concern with how Derry treats people it marks as outsiders.
Leroy’s injury becomes a military question
Leroy learns that the attack on him was a test. His inability to feel fear has drawn the military’s attention as it searches Derry for a weapon. That revelation shifts the series toward a Cold War procedural: officers are not just responding to danger but trying to understand and potentially control it.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Hallorann guides the search
Dick Hallorann’s psychic “shine” helps the military pursue its target. The episode ends with the search party uncovering a car containing skeletal remains; Hallorann says they are close. His presence links the series to Stephen King’s wider fictional universe, though the show follows the timeline of the two film adaptations of IT, not the novel’s timeline, according to TIME.
Why the episode can feel spread too thin
The issue is less that any single plot is uninteresting than that the hour keeps changing the kind of story it wants to tell. The children’s emotional horror, the investigation into Hank, Will’s school life and the military’s search all require introductions and explanation. Their transitions can make the episode feel like several openings competing for attention rather than one story gathering momentum.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
There are thematic links. The children are haunted by fear and grief; Hank’s treatment shows how prejudice can shape a community’s response to a crisis; and the military wants to locate and control a weapon associated with fear. But thematic connection is not the same as dramatic cohesion. In this episode, the links are more suggestive than fully developed, and the military plot in particular can feel distant from the children’s immediate peril.
That tension appears in the critical response. New York Magazine/Vulture’s Louis Peitzman, as quoted in Rotten Tomatoes’ episode listing, calls the hour “heavy on introductions and reveals without a clear anchor.” The phrase captures the structural risk: the episode keeps adding pieces before it settles on which one should organize the rest.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
What works: atmosphere and individual horror scenes
The diffuse structure does not make the hour ineffective. Esquire’s recap praises the title sequence’s contrast between idealized Americana and the darker realities beneath it, as well as the episode’s horror imagery and execution. Those choices give Derry a period-specific surface that feels increasingly sinister as the characters move through it. The Review Geek likewise finds the horror sequences stronger, while questioning whether the military subplot will pay off.
The episode’s best material comes when its strands meet in a concrete human consequence: Lilly and Ronnie’s friendship is strained by the massacre, and Hank’s accusation brings the town’s prejudice into the children’s lives. Will’s school troubles also make Derry’s hostility visible outside the supernatural set pieces. These moments give the broader ideas weight, even as the military storyline remains a separate engine for now.
Recommended Free Tools
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Does episode 2 hold together?
“The Thing in the Dark” is more convincing scene by scene than as a unified hour. Its fear, racism and institutional control could form a compelling thematic spine, but the episode has not yet made that spine strong enough to bind every plot into one clear direction. The horror imagery and period atmosphere are real strengths; the unresolved question is whether the series can make its many introductions feel like parts of the same unfolding story rather than competing promises.
Episode details
- Title: “The Thing in the Dark”
- Release date: October 31, 2025
- Network and streaming: HBO; HBO Max is listed as a streaming option by Rotten Tomatoes.
- Tomatometer: 90% from 10 reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes page as checked October 5, 2026. This is a dated snapshot of a score and review count that can change.
Franchise context: Hallorann connects the show to The Shining. For readers interested in the source material, TIME notes that the series follows the films’ timeline rather than Stephen King’s IT novel, so the book is franchise context—not an exact guide to the show’s plot.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
