Don't Miss This Iconic Stephen King Cinematic Before It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
HBO's It: Welcome to Derry is packed with connections to the author's wide-ranging universe of narratives. Beyond the obvious ties to It, the show includes an explicit connection to The Shining through the appearance of a young future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Currently, as the narrative unfolds, It: Welcome to Derry is integrating one more beloved tale from King which merits a revisit.
The Powerful Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
Although Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as a horror film, especially in contrast with a lot of King's other work, it is a haunting story about an innocently imprisoned individual condemned to live his remaining years in a infamous prison. And it's this specific penitentiary that becomes central here, since the Shawshank facility holds considerable lore throughout King's fictional world — a pattern which persists in Welcome to Derry.
Among the stories which mention Shawshank include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Through these narratives, we discover about the awful conditions inside Shawshank State Prison and several of those imprisoned within, such as the partner of one belonging to Pennywise's early victims, who had been found guilty of armed robbery.
So far, though, the majority we have discovered about the prison has been through the eyes of Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in the 1994 movie. Andy ends up in Shawshank after being wrongly convicted, then finds himself beaten and abused by fellow inmates, and exploited by those in authority figures for his financial knowledge. It takes nearly three decades to dig his way out from Shawshank, before making his way "through a river of shit" to reclaim his freedom.
Shawshank's Role in It: Welcome to Derry
In relation to the series, viewers first learned of Shawshank's involvement via an early trailer for the series, in which a prison bus was seen bearing the title painted on the side. During the second episode, we learn who is likely destined for the prison.
Though we know he was not commit the murders of children in the first episode, Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for the crimes. A teaser for the next episode, "the upcoming installment," reveals a guard telling Hank in his cell, "Do you know what happens to kiddie killers at that prison?"
The Implications for Hank and Ronnie
Considering that the actual killer in Derry is an ancient power from another world preying on and murdering kids, Hank's chances of clearing his name do not look good. And even if he does go in the prison and the audience do not see him there, knowing what is known about that prison makes it clear that his experience would be far from enjoyable.
Crucially, however, this development could threaten his daughter. Hank is her guardian. Terrible events are happening around Derry which no one, young or old, comprehends and Ronnie just has her recently formed of friends to depend on. She's going to need her father in the coming episodes, but if Shawshank has any say, she could be without help.
One thing is apparent: Hank doesn’t have 28 years to dig to freedom.
Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are streaming now on HBO Max. Additional installments are released each week on Sundays.
