Here is the first of my rankings of the different versions of each of the losers
1. IT 2017 (Jaeden Martell)
This is arguably the one I feel most passionate about. Jaeden is everything I love about book Bill and then some.
The emotions he can portray on his face without saying any words half of the time is astonishing. A scene that will always stick out to me is when he sees Pennywise for the first time in the cellar. His emotions from the time he wakes up to water dripping on his face, through going to Georgie’s room and feeling deep mourning, and then to the fear he feels as he walks down to the basement, and even the mix of horror but partial happiness he feels when he first sees Georgie is expressed without him even having to say anything.
Another moment where Jaeden’s acting stands out to me is when he gives his speech before going into Neibolt. You can FEEL every emotion he is putting out there and it always gives me chills. One of the things I don’t like about each of the film adaptations is that we don’t get the losers’ inner monologue (something that isn’t really the fault of anyone since it would be weird to have random voice overs). BUT when Bill is giving his speech you can understand how his emotions of loss, mourning, selfblame, and despair have bubbled up into something that the book calls ‘a child lead to madness’ (may not be the direct quote i’m not pulling my book out rn).
All of this is not even mentioning the way each of his actions are just SO BILL. I can’t even really describe it but to me every part of his performance embodies Bill. From when he is walking next to Silver and saying “He thrusts his fists against the post and still insists he sees the ghosts”, to him simply riding Silver, and then their little moment in the drug store.
All of it perfectly embodies Bill and makes me love this character even more than the book did.
I love Bill in the book. His descriptions of how he feels that everything that happened with Georgie is his fault and how he feels that his parents are right to ‘not love him anymore’ is so incredibly heart breaking. The book does a fantastic job of showing the way that trauma can affect a child especially when the source of that trauma is pushed aside and they are told to basically act like it didn’t happen and to keep moving forward.
I love how he plays the leader role, how he is willing to do anything for his friends. How he feels responsible for them and making sure they stay safe.
I also love his nonchalant-ness, if that makes sense. He is also a big daydreamer and I love the way his brain works.
Overall I just love the way he is written.
3. Miniseries 1990 adult (Richard Thomas)
This version of Bill was extremely close to being my second favorite. I know it’s an unpopular opinion but I LOVE THE MINISERIES.
Richard Thomas’s Bill is everything I wanted adult Bill to be in the book/chapter 2.
He naturally takes on his leader role, but isn’t cocky about it. He is also just a silly goofy guy, but his trauma and fear is still there.
Also he doesn’t cheat on his wife which is great lmao.
(also special shout out to the scene of Mike and Bill riding Silver)
4. Miniseries 1960, child (Jonathan Bradis)
Honestly, I don’t have a whole lot of opinions on him. I feel like he is very similar to book bill. The only reason he ranks higher than adult book Bill is the fact that he is less sexist lmao.
5. Novel Bill 1985 (adult)
I don’t HATE adult Bill in the novel. I also don’t LOVE him though.
There are parts of him that are great. I love his goofiness BUT I hate his sexism and the fact that he cheated on his wife obviously.
and also also ‘you can’t be careful on a skateboard mister’
6. Chapter 2, 2019 Bill (James McAvoy)
I hate this bitch. He ruined the movie for me. James McAvoy does not know how to act. His stutter sounds like he is gonna vomit, his constant “woah woahs” sounds so fucking stupid, and he talks incredibly fast compared to any of the other Bill’s which completely contradicts the book.
The writing for him is awful. He is too cocky and it’s fucking annoying. Also what is that scene with Audra in the beginning?? like wtf was that!?
My friends and I have an inside joke that this dude kidnapped Bill and is just pretending to be him and it’s the only thing that makes him bearable.
Also not to mention that he kinda caused Dean’s death so….
So yeah.. there is my ranking for Bill.. the next one when be linked here when it’s ready.
