WELCOME TO DERRY’s Latest Death Shatters the Losers’ Club

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From the very beginning, Welcome to Derry established its willingness to kill off characters, especially children. The first episode shockingly eliminated four young people, including Matty, and three who seemed destined to be central figures in the story. While there have been other deaths and unsettling events since then, the loss of Rich in episode seven was particularly heartbreaking. His death is one of the most emotionally impactful moments of the series, occurring during a grim and significant event in Derry’s history.

The sixth episode ended with a clear threat: a group of masked white men, including the old police chief, arrived at the Black Spot searching for Hank Grogan. While Hallorann insists they have the wrong person, Grogan fears violence and offers to surrender. However, the Black soldiers and customers refuse to let him go, believing it would mean certain death for him. They arm themselves, and the white group appears to back down.

The story takes a horrifying turn when the people trapped in the barn are locked inside and the building is set ablaze. The scene is prolonged and intensely disturbing, showing people suffering terribly as they burn and are shot by the white mob. It’s a brutal moment reminiscent of scenes from Stephen King’s novels, and difficult to watch. The tension is heightened when Margie and Rich become trapped in the main room, with Hallorann unable to reach them to help. Rich discovers a metal box that might protect them from the fire, but it’s only big enough for one person. He insists Margie take shelter inside, and she realizes he intends to stay behind, climbing on top of the box to keep it sealed shut.

There’s this really beautiful scene where he finally tells her how he feels, and she says it back – they actually say ‘I love you’ to each other. But then, tragically, Rich doesn’t make it. He succumbs to the smoke, and they find him next to the box when the firefighters get there. Thankfully, Margie, Ronnie, and Will manage to escape through a hole they create in the floor. Seeing them all huddled around Rich’s body, just completely heartbroken and crying… it was devastating. It honestly hit me harder than any of the other deaths in the movie, even Pauly’s, because of everything that happened right before.

At first, we didn’t really know the children who were being hurt, but Rich’s kind personality and ability to keep the group united quickly made viewers care about him. It’s heartbreaking to see such a sweet character go, especially because his death was caused by racism and one person’s dangerous obsession. With Pennywise now targeting Will Hanlon, we’re left hoping the remaining kids will survive the final confrontation.

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2025-12-08 06:03