Similar to the previous IT movies and book, the central villain in this series is Pennywise, an ancient creature who resurfaces every 27 years to cause terror in Derry, Maine. Pennywise preys on people’s deepest fears, manipulating what they see and believe. But Pennywise isn’t the only source of evil; there are also humans who actively help it create fear and violence.
Episode seven depicts a horrifying act: ex-Police Chief Bowers and a group of white men burn a barn filled with mostly Black people, claiming to be acting justly. Bowers is a truly awful person, and he’s not alone. General Francis Shaw, Leroy Hanlon’s boss in Welcome to Derry, is equally reprehensible, and a character I deeply dislike.
Let me start by saying James Remar is incredible as General Shaw. He truly delivers a fantastic performance as a focused military leader with a disturbing goal. My praise is entirely for the actor! However, the character of General Shaw in IT: Welcome to Derry is deeply flawed and makes terrible choices, ultimately leading to more tragedy. In the seventh episode, the military remains committed to Operation Precept, relentlessly searching for the pillars that contain Pennywise.
Dick Hallorann thinks the entity has fallen back to sleep and shares the location of one of the pillars. But when Leroy Hanlon finds it, he suspects something is wrong. Instead of using the pillars to trap the entity and potentially weaponize it to end global conflict – a plan Hanlon clearly thinks is foolish – Shaw intends to destroy the pillars, effectively freeing Pennywise. Shaw believes Americans are too divided and sees releasing this ancient, fear-fueled evil as a solution to societal problems like racism and economic hardship. He believes that the more people who die, the more powerful the entity will become.
Shaw believes the fire at the Black Spot strangely benefited Derry by creating a sense of calm. His suggestion to deliberately unleash ‘IT’ to scare people into obedience is, frankly, a terrible idea. It would likely cause widespread fear and panic, ultimately leading to more deaths. The problem is, there’s no way to control or contain such a powerful evil once it’s released.
To be honest, I understand the nature of IT better than I understand Shaw’s views on Welcome to Derry. IT isn’t limited by morality, conscience, or any of the rules that govern people. It’s simply a predator that thrives on fear and disorder. Expecting IT to change its behavior is like asking a lion to stop hunting for food. Rose’s family had the right approach: acknowledge IT’s power and leave it alone.
Shaw, however, seems determined to repeat the mistakes of the past, even advocating for actions that could lead to more violence, despite his experience as a military leader. Like the early settlers who caused so much harm through disrespect and prejudice, Shaw is heading down a similar path in IT: Welcome to Derry. His actions are rooted in a lack of understanding, fueled by the advantages he has as a white, able-bodied man in a position of power.
It’s incredibly frustrating that he would risk Derry, and potentially the world, based on what he believes is the best course of action. His initial proposal to Hanlon, and even more so his true plan, are frankly ridiculous. It’s especially baffling considering his own near-death experience with IT as a child. This decision shows he doesn’t genuinely care about Rose, who saved his life and confided in him with Derry’s deepest secret, or the other Native people in the area. While somewhat expected given his position, it’s still deeply disappointing.
I genuinely believe in not wishing harm on anyone, even those who dislike me. But watching IT: Welcome to Derry… wow, it just flips that switch. I found myself desperately hoping Shaw would suffer a truly awful fate and that Pennywise would really enjoy… well, you get the idea. At the very least, I wanted to see Hanlon deliver some serious payback with a satisfying smirk. Shaw is just awful, and because of him, the episode ends with Pennywise inside his home, seemingly hurting his son, Will. And poor Hanlon is still completely devastated by Pauly’s death, which happened because of this whole mission. Seriously, General Shaw? You’re the worst, and I really can’t stand him.
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2025-12-08 06:04