How did Rich die in IT: Welcome to Derry? Details explored

Episode 7 of IT: Welcome to Derry opens by taking viewers back to 1908, when General Shaw was first introduced to us as a kid, and Pennywise was in his human form. Backstage, when he takes off his makeup, a middle-aged balding man is revealed. As the night progresses, he is seen standing, sipping his drink, and smoking. That is when a kid arrives, saying he cannot find his parents, and Bob takes his hand and leads him somewhere. Later, when Ingrid looks for Bob, she finds his handkerchief soaked in blood.

The episode jumps to 1962 and features a racist masked mob that attacks a haven club called The Black Spot. It was a hangout for Black airmen and friends, including Rich. They demand from one of the club patrons, but are refused as the black friends are armed too. Though the mob pulls back, they eventually open fire and set the building ablaze. Rich, while attempting to save Marge from the smoke and fire, sacrifices his life.

Read on to know more about how Rich died in IT: Welcome to Derry.

Here is how Rich dies in IT: Welcome to Derry

A racist mob attacks the place where Rich and Black airmen usually hang out. When their demands aren't met, and the black soldiers confront them, taking out their arms, the situation escalates. They apparently back off but create chaos by setting the place on fire. Many people inside are shot or burned alive. The synopsis of the episode, per IMDb, describes,

"A vigilante attack on the Black Spot unleashes long dormant forces. In the aftermath, Dick helps uncover another crucial artifact."

Amidst this, the fire rages, and Rich and Marge Truman run to save their lives. They find a metal box, similar to a cooler or fridge, and decide to hide under it and save themselves from the smoke. However, the box only had space for one person. Rich tells Marge to enter the box while he covers her from the smoke. He dared to try to save his life or run away to find a way out, but spent his last time with Marge.

In the final moments, they both exchanged words of love while Rich confessed how he had always loved her. She told him that she did too. Rich tells her about the time he first saw her, explaining what she was wearing exactly, while Marge cries from under the box. The moment for viewers comes out as heartbreaking yet tender as they know that this might be the last moment for Rich.

The next morning, the firefighters rescue people, and they find Marge alive, but she is traumatized, while Rich's body lies beside the box, lifeless. Therefore, Rich suffers death because of inhaling smoke. His death was heartbreaking, given the way he saved his love, Marge.

Here is what Rich's death signifies in IT: Welcome to Derry

In IT: Welcome to Derry, even though amidst the smoke we see Pennywise's silhouette emerging, this tragedy is not caused by anything supernatural but by human actions. Racism is no less horrific than a supernatural killer clown. The hatred the violence caused by this incident make it feel painfully real and not just a horror gimmick.

Rich's death stands out because of his sacrifice. He doesn't try to escape and chooses to die so that the girl he loves can survive. Therefore, even if Rich doesn't survive, his legacy and impact last longer than his character. It has affected Marge and other kids and adds a turning point to their arcs. It is also a reminder that evil in Derry isn't only supernatural but human, too. The horror isn't just monsters, but human prejudice and hatred also have the potential to be equally evil.

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Episode 7 of IT: Welcome to Derry dropped on 7 December 2025.

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