'IT: Welcome to Derry' episode 7 ending, explained: What's the army planning?

IT: Welcome to Derry only has one episode left, and things seem to be going from bad to worse.

Because as well as a Pennywise origin story and a re-creation of one of the book's most disturbing historical chapters, episode 7 also ends with a twist that spells trouble for not just the main characters, but potentially the entire United States.

So what exactly happened, and what could it mean?

What happens at the end of IT: Welcome to Derry, episode 7?

After a horrific arson attack brings an apparent end to the creature's current killing cycle, the military — following the lead of Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk) — tracks down one of the ancient pillars that essentially acts as a cage to keep the monster in Derry. Major Hanlon (Jovan Adepo) thinks they'll be using this pillar to trap and kill the creature, but soon discovers the military actually intends to destroy it.

During a tense discussion with General Shaw (James Remar), the army's real plans become clear: They don't want to kill the creature, they want to free it.

Why is the army trying to free IT?

Given Pennywise has spent the past six episodes laying waste to 17 children, the army's plan to unleash IT into the U.S. seems misguided at best. But General Shaw seems convinced that IT is exactly what America needs. "This country is slowly fracturing into a thousand, jagged, ill-fitting pieces," he barks. "I am only trying to prevent another civil war."

The general believes that the only chance of controlling the population is through the kind of fear that a creature like Pennywise has the power to instil en masse.

"Look at this town. What happened last night, horrific," Shaw says. "But guess what? The streets are calm today. No rioting, no looting, no unrest. The fear — it settles on every living person it touches like a fog. Like a goddamned anaesthetic."

Despite the best efforts of Major Hanlon, the army succeeds in destroying the pillar. As we see from the final shots of the episode, this causes the creature to reawaken from its slumber.

Somehow we think the army may not have properly thought this little scheme through.

New episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry premiere Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.