Following a highly successful continuation of It: Welcome to Derry with Episode 5 (Neibolt Street), the series continued on HBO Sunday, November 30, 2025, with the latest entry, Episode 6, titled In the Name of the Father.
This time, focusing on Pennywise the Clown and its origins, In the Name of the Father is honestly an excellent way to keep the series’ narrative going. Also, the losers’ club friendships are strained after the tense altercation in the sewers of Derry. This is while the Hanlons are starting to be heavily affected by Pennywise and his antics. Meanwhile, the hunt for Grogan is still alive and well.
Not only does In the Name of the Father start to show us who Pennywise the Clown was, but it also unveils his daughter, Periwinkle. Pennywise the Clown, who happened to go by the name of Bob Gray (Bill Skarsgård). It turns out that Robert Gray had a loving daughter who was heavily affected by his disappearance, and that she took on an alternate personality in hopes of gaining his much-needed attention. While Periwinkle is trying to track down her father, Major Hanlon ( Adepo) and his son Will (Cameron) are having a conflict of their own. After Will disobeyed his father’s orders to help a friend in need, patience and boundaries wane thinly.
Hank Grogan (Rider) is finally able to lay low in hopes of gaining his freedom while his daughter and her friends try to prove his innocence. However, the townspeople might have a different idea of redemption and justice. Hallorann (Chalk) is dealing with ghosts of his own that cease to leave him alone. Will he be able to use the Shining to help with Pennywise and set him free from the now ongoing nightmares?
Adding to everything, Lily (Stack) and Ronnie’s (Christine) friendship is being tested. Lily, finding the shard, is starting to be affected by her and her mindset. With her new attitude, her friends begin to question her sanity.
Altogether, In the Name of the Father is such an enticing entry because it shows the audience some vital relationship paradigms. Not only is Periwinkle looking for her dad, but Will is having tense moments with his dad as well. Ronnie is finding out where her father’s now. An episode that is really centered on relationships with one’s father and how they affect everyone in one profound way or another.
Beyond everything else, racism is another major topic surrounding In the Name of the Father. The way Bowers (Outerbridge) is ready to have Grogan attacked for no other reason than an assumption, and how quickly everyone is quick to jump on the bandwagon without a second thought. The writing is phenomenal. It really does grasp this country during that time period.
Writers Jason Fuchs, Cord Jefferson, and Brad Caleb Kane have surpassed many expectations again, thus making it interesting to see what happens on Sunday, December 7th, when The Black Spot premieres on HBO and HBO Max at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. Until then, Cryptic Rock gives In the Name of the Father 5 out of 5 stars.
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