The upcoming 2025 landscape of Stephen King TV adaptations features two prominent series: HBO’s “IT: Welcome to Derry” and MGM+’s “The Institute.” While both are rooted in King’s chilling storytelling, the success and reception of these adaptations have diverged notably, offering important lessons—especially for “The Institute” as it prepares for its second season.
Why IT: Welcome to Derry’s Bold Opening Highlights The Institute’s Shortcomings
“The Institute” premiered earlier in 2025 with a focus on the thriller and horror elements of Stephen King’s novel, following the story of Luke, a gifted child abducted for sinister purposes, and Tim Jamieson, a former cop seeking a new beginning in a nearby town. Despite this intriguing premise and a solid cast including Mary-Louise Parker as Ms. Sigsby and Ben Barnes as Tim Jamieson, the show’s first season delivered a more restrained approach. It aimed for wider audience appeal by softening some of the novel’s most unsettling and intense moments, rather than embracing the full horror potential inherent in the source material.
In contrast, HBO’s “IT: Welcome to Derry,” which premiered later in 2025 on October 26, immediately set a darker and more ruthless tone. Directed by Andy Muschietti and starring Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise alongside Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon, the series does not shy away from brutal scenes that establish the imminent danger to its characters. Its opening episode delivers a sequence that plunges viewers directly into the terror and otherworldly menace associated with Pennywise, unabashedly killing off many young characters and reinforcing that no one is safe in this grim world.
This aggressive and uncompromising approach differentiates “IT: Welcome to Derry” from other horror series that often aim for a younger or more mainstream audience by playing it safe. Rather than adopting familiar tropes typical of young-adult science fiction, it boldly stakes out its own identity by fully committing to the graphic and psychological horrors Stephen King originally penned. This strategy has earned the show mostly favorable reviews from critics and established it as a high benchmark for horror adaptations.
How The Institute Can Benefit from Embracing a More Unflinching Tone in Season 2
Though “The Institute” received a more mixed critical reception than “IT: Welcome to Derry,” it has secured a renewal, giving the MGM+ thriller a valuable opportunity to refine its approach. Season 2 is poised to raise the stakes and deepen the drama surrounding themes of control, confinement, and exploitation—elements central to both the book and the psychological intensity expected in a Stephen King adaptation.
Since the conclusion of the first season aligns with the ending of the original novel, the upcoming season will feature an original storyline. This narrative freedom could allow “The Institute” to explore more daring and thematic territory. With inspiration from the unapologetic tone of “IT: Welcome to Derry,” the show might adopt a more fearless depiction of horror, embracing the disturbing and brutal elements that made King’s work resonate so powerfully in the first place.
Such a shift would distinguish the series from typical genre conventions and avoid the pitfalls of excessive conventionality that marked its initial reception. Moreover, adopting a no-holds-barred storytelling style may better convey the dark realities faced by characters like Luke and Ms. Sigsby, amplifying emotional impact and tension, thus captivating both critics and audiences more effectively.
Setting a New Standard for Horror Television Inspired by IT’s Success
“IT: Welcome to Derry,” with its bold and uncompromising vision of horror, stands as a model for what Stephen King TV adaptations can achieve. By refusing to dilute its unsettling content, the HBO production has solidified its place among the standout horror shows of 2025, reshaping expectations for the genre through its commitment to darkness and unpredictability.
For “The Institute,” the lessons from “IT” come at a crucial moment. As viewers anticipate its second season, the possibility of blending original storytelling with a more intense and fearless portrayal of horror could elevate the series beyond its previous limitations. This course correct could not only enhance the show’s critical standing but also deepen audience engagement in the perilous, emotionally charged world crafted by Stephen King.
Ultimately, 2025’s Stephen King TV adaptations present a study in contrasts—between cautious restraint and raw intensity—with “IT: Welcome to Derry” pushing boundaries that “The Institute” might soon learn to embrace in order to maximize its impact.
