Don't Miss This Legendary Stephen King Film Prior to It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
HBO's Welcome to Derry is filled with references to Stephen King's wide-ranging universe of narratives. Beyond the obvious ties to It, the show showcases a direct link to The Shining via the appearance of a young future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Currently, as the narrative unfolds, Welcome to Derry is integrating one more beloved King story which merits another look.
The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
While Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as horror, especially in contrast with a lot of King's other work, it remains a haunting story of a innocently imprisoned man sentenced to live his remaining years inside a notorious penitentiary. It is this specific institution which is important in this context, as the Shawshank facility possesses significant history throughout King's fictional world — a pattern that continues in It: Welcome to Derry.
Some of the tales that reference Shawshank include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Through these narratives, we learn about the awful conditions inside the state penitentiary and several of the inmates within, including the partner of a of Pennywise's initial victims, who had been convicted for robbery with a weapon.
Thus far, though, the majority we have discovered concerning Shawshank has been through the perspective of the protagonist from Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by the actor Tim Robbins in that 1994 movie. Andy ends up at the prison after being wrongly convicted, then finds himself assaulted and raped by fellow inmates, while taken advantage of by the authority figures for his financial knowledge. He requires nearly three decades to dig an escape route of the prison, before making his way "through sewage" to take back his freedom.
Shawshank's Appearance in It: Welcome to Derry
In relation to It: Welcome to Derry, viewers first learned of Shawshank's inclusion via an initial preview for the series, where a prison bus appeared bearing the title displayed on its side. During the second episode, we learn who is probably destined for the prison.
Although we know he was not responsible for the child deaths in the first episode, Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for the crimes. The preview for the next episode, "Now You See It," reveals an officer informing a jailed Hank, "Are you aware what they do to kiddie killers at that prison?"
The Consequences for the Character and His Daughter
Given that the actual murderer in the town is a primordial entity originating elsewhere preying on and killing kids, Hank's chances of clearing his name appear slim. And even if he does go in the prison and the audience don't follow him there, understanding what is known regarding Shawshank makes it clear that his experience would be far from enjoyable.
Crucially, however, this situation could threaten Ronnie. Hank is her guardian. Terrible events are happening around Derry which no one, child or adult, understands and Ronnie just has her recently formed circle of pals to rely on. She will require her father as the story progresses, but if the prison system has any say, she may be out of luck.
A single fact seems clear: Hank lacks 28 years to tunnel to freedom.
It: Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are currently available via the streaming service. Additional installments air weekly on Sundays.
