Make Time For This Classic Stephen King Cinematic Before It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
The series It: Welcome to Derry is packed with nods to the author's vast library of stories. Beyond the obvious links to the original story, the series includes a direct connection to The Shining through the cameo of the youthful future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the narrative progresses, Welcome to Derry is weaving in another beloved tale from King which merits a revisit.
The Powerful Story of The Shawshank Redemption
While The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically considered horror, particularly in contrast with a lot of the author's additional work, it remains a haunting tale of a wrongfully convicted man condemned to live the rest of his life inside a notorious penitentiary. It is this specific penitentiary that becomes central here, since Shawshank State Prison holds significant history throughout King's stories — a tradition that continues within It: Welcome to Derry.
Some of the stories which mention Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Through these stories, we discover regarding the awful life at the state penitentiary and some of the inmates within, including the boyfriend of a belonging to Pennywise's early victims, who was found guilty of armed robbery.
Thus far, however, the majority we have discovered concerning Shawshank was through the eyes of the protagonist in Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in that 1994 movie. Andy winds up at the prison following his wrongful conviction, then experiences beaten and raped by other prisoners, and exploited by the authority figures for his financial knowledge. It takes him 28 years to dig an escape route from Shawshank, prior to crawling "through a river of shit" to take back his liberty.
The Prison's Role in Welcome to Derry
In relation to the series, audiences initially discovered of Shawshank's inclusion via an initial preview for the series, in which a prison bus was seen bearing the title displayed on its side. In episode 2, it is revealed which character is probably headed to Shawshank.
Although we know he was not responsible for the murders of children in the first episode, Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. The preview for the next episode, "the upcoming installment," shows an officer telling Hank in his cell, "Are you aware what happens to kiddie killers at that prison?"
The Implications for Hank and Ronnie
Given that the real killer in the town is a primordial entity from another world hunting and murdering kids, Hank's prospects of proving his innocence do not look good. Even should he ends up to Shawshank and viewers don't follow him inside, knowing what is known about that prison makes it clear that his time there would not be pleasant.
Crucially, though, this situation could threaten his daughter. Hank is her protector. Terrible events are happening in the town that nobody, young or old, understands and Ronnie just has her new group circle of pals to depend on. She's going to need her father as the story progresses, however should Shawshank plays a role, she may be out of luck.
A single fact is apparent: Hank lacks three decades to tunnel to freedom.
It: Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are streaming now on HBO Max. New episodes are released each week each Sunday.
