The second episode of IT: Welcome to Derry dropped on Halloween with a chilling revelation that connects Pennywise’s dark history to a secret Cold War military operation. If you’re wondering what that bullet-riddled car filled with skeletons means, we’ve got you covered.

IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 2 Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Episode Title	“The Thing in the Dark”
Release Date	October 31, 2025 (early); November 2, 2025 (regular)
Director	Andy Muschietti
Writer	Austin Guzman
Key Discovery	1930s car with multiple skeletons
Streaming	HBO Max
Next Episode	November 9, 2025

What Did the Military Find?

At the episode’s conclusion, the military excavation team uncovers a bullet-riddled vehicle from the 1930s containing several human skeletons. While the show doesn’t explicitly identify them, Stephen King fans immediately recognized this as the Bradley Gang’s car—a notorious group of criminals from Derry’s dark past.

The Bradley Gang massacre occurred during Pennywise’s 1934-1935 awakening cycle, and this discovery was actually teased in the 2017 IT movie through a mural in an alleyway scene. The significance? We likely won’t get the full story until Season 2, which will reportedly take place during that 1935 time period.\

Operation Precept: Weaponizing Fear

General Shaw reveals that Operation Precept aims to uncover a weapon buried beneath Derry that feeds on fear, hoping to gain a tactical advantage in the Cold War nuclear race. This covert operation mirrors Project Arrowhead from Stephen King’s The Mist—both involve the military dangerously tampering with supernatural forces.

Major Leroy Hanlon was specifically recruited because brain damage to his amygdala prevents him from feeling fear, making him ideal for confronting Pennywise. Meanwhile, Dick Hallorann from The Shining uses his psychic “shining” abilities to guide the excavation—though his knowing wink to Hanlon suggests he might be intentionally misleading the military.

The Horror Beyond Jump Scares

Episode 2 delivered two genuinely disturbing sequences that showcase why this prequel works. Young Lilly encounters “Pickle Dad” at a grocery store—a grotesque vision where pickle jars burst open revealing decomposed body parts, representing her trauma from witnessing her father’s factory death.

Ronnie faces an even more psychologically devastating vision: her deceased mother, twisted into a monstrous form, blaming Ronnie for dying during childbirth and attempting to pull her back into a deadly womb. These sequences prove Pennywise’s power lies not in cheap scares but in exploiting deepest personal traumas.

Racism and Real Monsters

Beyond supernatural horror, Episode 2 confronts 1962 America’s racial tensions head-on. The episode explores how racism manifests through constant mistreatment, wrongful arrests, and harassment of Black characters, particularly when Ronnie’s father is falsely accused of the theater massacre. The show effectively argues that human cruelty can be just as monstrous as Pennywise itself.

What’s Next for Derry?

Season 2 will reportedly take place in 1935 and depict the Black Spot bar tragedy—one of IT’s most horrific events where Pennywise orchestrated the burning of a nightclub filled with people. Season 3 could explore the 1908 iron works factory explosion during an Easter egg hunt, promising even more carnage.

For more Stephen King adaptations and horror series coverage, check out our latest streaming recommendations and HBO Max originals guide.

IT: Welcome to Derry airs Sundays at 9 PM ET on HBO and HBO Max, with new episodes available through December 14, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Operation Precept in IT: Welcome to Derry?

Operation Precept is a secret Cold War military mission led by General Shaw to locate and weaponize Pennywise, the fear-eating entity buried beneath Derry. The operation recruits Major Leroy Hanlon, who cannot feel fear due to brain damage, and Dick Hallorann, who uses his psychic abilities to guide excavations. The military hopes to gain advantage over Soviet Russia by harnessing this supernatural weapon.

Who are the skeletons in the car at the end of Episode 2?

The skeletons belong to the Bradley Gang, criminals who were gunned down during Pennywise’s 1934-1935 awakening cycle. This discovery connects to IT lore and sets up Season 2’s storyline, which will take place in 1935 and explore this tragic period in Derry’s history. The Bradley Gang was previously referenced in the 2017 IT film through background murals.