It: Welcome to Derry, which serves as a prequel to the It films, released the eighth and final episode of its first season on December 14, 2025, and the finale quietly slipped in a reference that viewers might have noticed. The episode includes a hidden reference to an underrated villain, the Child Catcher from the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This subtle reference is not just seen in the way Pennywise acts. It also emphasizes the show’s larger themes of racism and prejudice and reminds us that Pennywise is one of the symbolic villains who prey on children, but his character also sheds light on the real world's horrific issues.It: Welcome to Derry finale refers to the Child CatcherThe final episode of It: Welcome to Derry, Winter Fire, begins with an eerie scene of a dark fog taking over Derry that instantly sets the tone for the finale. Then, we see Pennywise kill the principal of the school and sing to the schoolchildren so that he can lure them and ultimately take them away. The tune sounds playful, but like most of Pennywise's songs, it clearly hints at his hunger for violence and terrorizing people, especially children. Soon after, Pennywise draws the children out of the school and into his cart. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThis moment seems like a reference to a famous scene from the 1968 film, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In the classic musical, the Child Catcher, played by Sir Robert Helpmann, traps children by tempting them with sweets and false promises. Once they are close enough, he forces them into his wagon and disappears with them. The comparison between Pennywise and the Child Catcher becomes more evident through dialogue and tone. The Child Catcher is known for frightening children with exaggerated threats, and Pennywise uses a similar approach in It: Welcome to Derry, blending jokes, songs, and cruelty to terrify his victims before attacking.Although Pennywise is far more brutal in action, the way both villains lure their victims is similar. They both hide behind funny performances, target children specifically, and operate in plain sight. This makes the reference in It: Welcome to Derry feel much more intentional rather than just coincidental.There are also social and historical similarities between the Child Catcher and Pennywise. While the Child Catcher is known as a scary villain, the way he was presented has sparked debates for years. Some critics argue that the character portrays harmful Jewish stereotypes through his appearance and mannerisms. Others point out that his role as someone who captures children for an authoritarian ruler can be read as an allegory for Nazi Germany.These interpretations are very similar to the ones seen in It: Welcome to Derry. The series repeatedly shows Pennywise as a creature that feeds on human hatred, especially racism and antisemitism. In episode 1, the infamous lampshade scene involving a Jewish child directly references real World War II atrocities, when Nazis made household objects from the skin of concentration camp prisoners.Similarly, later in the season, in episode 7 of It: Welcome to Derry, Rich Santos, a significant character who happens to be a Cuban American, dies during a planned attack by a white mob on a Black community. This violence is not random. Pennywise amplifies it, using the existing prejudice and fear in Derry to fuel his power.In the finale, while the children and adults manage to trap Pennywise temporarily through a ritual, the imagery of children being taken away remains deeply unsettling. By referencing the Child Catcher, It: Welcome to Derry places Pennywise among villains who represent more than just an evil entity. Both figures symbolize systems that harm the innocent while pretending to entertain or protect. This, when combined with real historical atrocities and social prejudice, makes the horror even more realistic and hard to forget. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostIt: Welcome to Derry is streaming on HBO Max.For more articles like this, follow Soapcentral.