Episode 3 of Welcome to Delhi

Back in 1908, a young boy named Francis Shaw kicks off an eerie adventure with an unusual nine-minute call. Fast forward to 1962, and an Air Force general finds himself compelled to visit a peculiar freak show called “Grotesque Events of Horror Beyond Our Expectations” at a circus in Derry. Here, the sights are bizarre: conjoined twins and a one-eyed “skeleton man” lurking in the shadows. Little does he know, outside, a clown is watching him closely.

As the story unfolds, Frank and his father encounter car troubles—a mischievous clown has stolen some parts. Frank, who is lacking a few cents, trades his new slingshot for some water from three local indigenous children, one of whom is Rose. I actually ran into her last week at a thrift shop; small world, right? Their friendship grows, leading them into the woods where, surprisingly, the skeleton man reappears. Suddenly, it morphs into a terrifying monster, chasing Frank with its menacing rows of teeth. Just when things seem grim, Rose shows up and, with a precise slingshot shot, turns the tide. In a vivid moment, it looks like the monster is trapped within the forest.

Meanwhile, in the present, Shaw and Colonel Fuller discuss a vehicle recently unearthed. Frank points out that what they’ve uncovered originated long before cars existed in Derry. Fuller mentions that they might have found something related to the 1935 Bradley Gang Massacre. The discussion takes a turn as they explore the lore around sightings of the creature. There’s a suggestion that Dick Halloran could provide insights on the monster’s territory if he were to use an old slingshot that left a mark. For those familiar with Derry’s oddities, this explanation raises eyebrows concerning the adults’ amnesia.

Later, Halloran and his fellow aviators are caught in a comical moment when rain collapses their canvas roof, leading to discussions on strange topics like potential mind control with goats. Real priorities, however, soon leading them to adhere to Halloran’s instructions on the plane. It’s during this time his unusual behavior brings about one of the funniest lines of the episode, as Paulie asks about some bizarre goat-related military experiments.

Just as the humor fades, Halloran has a hallucination that transports him to the sewers where a door marked with Pennywise’s name bursts open. Faced with the monster, memories of bloody wars flash before his eyes as toys drift ominously in the water. Among these is a figure—his grandmother—warning him about the impending danger.

After this intense encounter, Halloran finds himself back on the plane, almost preparing to jump. Luckily, Leroy holds him back. They discuss the unsettling experiences at the base and the dangers posed by their proximity to the monster, much to Shaw’s concern.

At the Hanlon residence, Halloran inquires about Charlotte’s happiness in Maine. There’s revelation about her activism and a hint that she has unfinished business in Derry. Discussions with Leroy hint at deeper mental connections and experiences they’ve shared, leading to urgency about Halloran’s focus on the impending threat.

Meanwhile, Rose participates in a council meeting with indigenous leaders, expressing skepticism about the military’s activities around the burial grounds. There’s a palpable tension as her nephew urges immediate action to prevent deeper incursions into sacred territory. Rose’s protective instincts kick in, insisting they should proceed cautiously.

Later, Shaw approaches Rose, sharing information about suspicious military projects in the area, which he claims are merely studies related to soil. Flashing back, we see a past moment between Frank and Rose—an emotional connection as she returns his slingshot, evoking memories of their shared history.

In a lighter subplot, a character named Lily prepares to leave Juniper Hill and confides in a sympathetic caretaker. She grapples with relationships while trying to prove a monster’s existence to the police, seeking justice for events tied to recent tragedies. The story threads become more intricate as the children navigate dangers, leading to supernatural elements that culminate in a chaotic and comedic climax revolving around ghosts and a creepy cemetery.

Questions to Ponder

• What’s Hank Grogan’s true involvement? Does he really have an alibi he’s hiding?
• Last week’s podcast hinted at deeper themes of horror being related to birth; was that intentional?

“I think I understand once what we’re portraying… and maybe there are deeper reasons for how we’re linking these themes without recognizing it. The fear of childbirth always resurfaces.”

Stephen King Trivia

• In IT: Chapter 2, Henry Bowers has been at Juniper Hill since the first film. His artwork often features an unnerving old man similar to the one haunting young Frank.
• Actor Joshua Ozick, who plays Taniel, recently appeared in another King adaptation.
• A statue of Jesus gracing a cemetery during a haunting moment pays homage to a similar chilling scene in the novel.