#emmie speaks
Just popping in to show everyone my favorite picture of Stan
Y’know what, I don’t think Stan trusted the rest of the losers after they defeated Pennywise the first time and that’s why he didn’t go back (and ended up killing himself because of the trauma but we know that)
And I just want to say before I write this out that I fucking love Stan and I’m not saying this to drag him down :) anyway
Throughout the first movie, Stan is kind of established as the “coward” of the group, Pennywise sort of implies that he was the weak link and- even though I don’t think that’s true- he’s right in some ways. Stan is always the one to try and back out of potentially dangerous situations. He doesn’t want to find the source of the missing kids because he didn’t want to become one of them. He’s the first one to say that it’s summer and they should be having fun but when he’s pleading his case, Ben shows up and he doesn’t bring it up again for a while. Not only this but Stan has a lot of pressure from his dad weighing in on him and doesn’t have a way to relax. He’s literally being hunted and can’t escape it no matter how hard he tries.
The reason he goes along with this crazy shit is because of his friends. He trusts Bill with his life just like the rest of them and even though he’s slightly more outspoken about his distaste for what they’re doing, he still believes Bill can carry them through safely- everyone does! So when they come face to face with Pennywise for the first time- Eddie has a broken arm on the floor, Pennywise is coming at them looking ready to eat, Bev stabbed him but it didn’t kill him, and Ben gets sliced open again- Stan starts to realize that Bill really can’t defend them like they want to think he can and lashes out at him when they’re finally safe. I’m not saying Bill was wrong but I am saying Stan was right, what was happening was extremely dangerous and the group disbanding was inevitable.
So, why does Stan go back to Neibolt? The same reason everyone goes back, they all love each other. Despite how mad they were at each other, they all go back to save Beverly (who, mind you, was the only other person to back Bill up before they fell apart) solely because they love her and won’t let her die at Pennywise’s hands like that. The only thing is that Stan stands back before coming into the house, he knows what they’re up against now and knows damn well he could die but he comes in because he trusts his friends to get them out the other side. Alive.
And what happens? Stan gets separated and captured and almost killed by that fucking painting. Pennywise backs off and leaves but when Stan comes back to his senses, he immediately screams “you brought me into neibolt” accusingly and “you’re not my friends.” It breaks their hearts, obviously, Eddie is desperately trying to reassure him, Richie is sobbing and Mike is hugging him but this once again gets cut off because Bill runs off before he can properly recover.
We all know what happens from there and, to the loser’s credit, they do beat Pennywise and go home safely but Stan never got the conclusion he actually needed and he can’t anymore since 1/7 of their group leaves. So, what does Stan know now that he’ll carry into adulthood?
1. Pennywise would’ve killed him without his friends and he, Stanley Uris, is not enough to secure his own survival (I also don’t believe this but this is his own logic)
2. His friends almost didn’t save him
And, yes they defeated Pennywise by throwing away their own fear, but literally none of the losers remember that when the second movie starts. Not to mention, they throw away their fear but Stan is still the most anxious out of all of them and that kind of fear doesn’t just disappear in an hour.
Stan loves the losers, he wouldn’t have left those letters if he didn’t, but he didn’t trust them anymore. He gets, imo, the worst of the torture Pennywise dishes out and he would have died if the losers were just a few minute late. He was clearly wracked with guilt when he was dying, saying sorry to Bill like he’s a kid again, but I think he’s apologizing more for the lack of faith he has in his childhood friend. He really, really loves them, but he won’t put himself in danger with people he knows can’t protect him.
Over all, I think Stan doesn’t go back because of his lack of faith in his friends but kills himself because he can’t handle the memories or off chance that Pennywise could find him outside of Derry. Once again, I don’t think Stan is a bad character or person because of this, I think he’s incredibly realistic with this and, if I’m right, I think he’s one of the most complex ones too. I’ve just been thinking for years “why did Stan leave them, why didn’t he go back?” But watching the movie with fresh eyes gave me this new outlook on his decision.
Y’know what, I don’t think Stan trusted the rest of the losers after they defeated Pennywise the first time and that’s why he didn’t go back (and ended up killing himself because of the trauma but we know that)
And that concludes my It (2017) viewing and honestly I still love the movie a lot and it made me really miss reddie and all that. Maybe I’ll write a little something sometime who knows, it’d be fun :)
Not to sound like Eddie but there’s way too much blood being passed around in this last scene
EDDIE HUGGING RICHIE SORRY I’M STILL STUCK IN THE PRE CHAPTER 2 MINDSET
Bill meant for it to be a blood pact but the real bonding moment was when they all had to get tetanus shots together
Bill’s hanging out in the background of this fight, recovering after Pennywise held him hostage and my brother goes “look at Bill back there… freeloading motherfucker…” LIKE BRO???
Every time Pennywise does some insane body horror shit my brother goes “y’know… Bill Skarsgård can just do that…”
The fucking therapy I know Bill needs after shooting Georgie holy shit
Yeah okay Ben has to kiss Bev to wake her up but Richie just wakes up??? Fuck off Eddie should’ve kissed him
I never realized how much they fucking run off from each other like holy shit the losers club is just made up of mini Freds from Scooby Doo
These kids survival instincts are butt ass I swear to GOD
Cinema
Absolutely love how they all had a huge blow up but came back together solely because Beverly was captured. Like not to be dramatic but they really all love each other enough to forget about what happened to save one of their own like that
I love Beverly and everything she does and she absolutely went off with killing her dad
Look I hate Henry and all that but he kinda went off with killing his piece of shit dad
Greta I would’ve beat your ass I swear to god
I think Richie would’ve won that fight with Bill like if he wasn’t held back I think he could’ve laid into him with the sheer amount of rage in his skinny little body
Honestly can’t believe Eddie only wore those red shorts once and we made it this fandom’s personality for years
