Juniper Hill is an important location in It: Welcome to Derry, for many different reasons. It: Welcome to Derry episode 2‘s story furthered the mystery at the center of the titular town. Be it pushing the surviving children ever closer to Pennywise or revealing what It: Welcome to Derry‘s Operation Precept is, the show is fleshing out its wider narrative.
It: Welcome to Derry‘s HBO Max record proves that this narrative is resonating with audiences, be it the broader Stephen King fans, those who like the It movies, or simply those looking for a new horror series. For the former two groups, It: Welcome to Derry‘s Stephen King Easter eggs are providing plenty of hidden secrets.
One such Easter egg is not overtly secret, though: Juniper Hill Asylum. The hospital was introduced officially in It: Welcome to Derry episode 2 after being mentioned in the premiere. This, along with how it ties to other stories, makes it a vital location for the HBO Max series.
Juniper Hill Asylum Is A Key Location In The Stephen King Universe
Beginning with the wider implications of Juniper Hill Asylum, the hospital is a big location in several other Stephen King stories beyond It. Mental illness is a big element in many Stephen King stories, either honestly or via characters who have experienced unbelievable events and are dubbed “insane” enough to be sent to the asylum.
The Stephen King stories that feature Juniper Hill Asylum are:
- It
- Insomnia
- Needful Things
- Gerald’s Game
- The Sun Dog
- The Tommyknockers
- Bag of Bones
- Cell
- Fair Extension
- 11/22/63
- Nightmares and Dreamscapes
- The Dark Half
- Gwendy’s Final Task
Evidently, Juniper Hill Asylum is not only important to some central characters in the It universe, as it links to wider stories from the prolific author’s collection.
Juniper Hill’s Role In The It Franchise Explained
It: Welcome to Derry tightens the focus on Juniper Hill by tying it specifically to two characters, rather than the many other Stephen King stories in which it appears. In It: Welcome to Derry, the asylum is an important location for Lilly Bainbridge. In the first episode, it was revealed that Lilly was sent to Juniper Hill after her father’s death.
It: Welcome to Derry episode 2 saw Lilly suffering from more fear-induced hallucinations at the hands of Pennywise, causing her mother to recommit her to Juniper Hill. How this will impact Lilly’s story going forward remains to be seen, but it links to the fate of another character in the franchise from It: Chapter One and It: Chapter Two.
That character is Henry Bowers, the childhood bully of the Loser’s Club, who is enlisted to do Pennywise’s bidding in It: Chapter Two. In that film, Bowers is freed from Juniper Hill by Pennywise, after being committed there for suspected schizophrenia that was brought on by the visions Pennywise subjected him to as a child, and the horrors Henry committed.
This means that Juniper Hill is a connection between the various parts of the It timeline, as well as a link to the broader Stephen King universe. It: Welcome to Derry focuses intently on Lilly as a character, meaning more about Juniper Hill Asylum will be revealed as the show goes on.
- Release Date
-
October 26, 2025
- Network
-
HBO
- Directors
-
Andy Muschietti
