Don't Miss One Legendary Stephen King Cinematic Before It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
HBO's It: Welcome to Derry contains numerous connections to the author's extensive universe of narratives. Apart from the obvious links to It, the series includes a direct link to King's famous novel through the cameo of a young future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Currently, as the story unfolds, It: Welcome to Derry is integrating another classic tale from King which merits another look.
The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
Although Shawshank Redemption may not be classified as a horror film, especially compared to much of the author's additional writing, it is a gripping tale of a innocently imprisoned individual sentenced to spend his remaining years inside a infamous penitentiary. It is that very institution which is important here, since the Shawshank facility holds considerable history throughout King's stories — a tradition that continues in It: Welcome to Derry.
Among the stories which mention the prison are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Through these narratives, we discover about the awful conditions inside the state penitentiary and some of the inmates within, including the partner of a belonging to Pennywise's early victims, who had been found guilty of armed robbery.
Thus far, however, the most we have discovered concerning Shawshank has been via the eyes of Andy Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in the 1994 film. Andy winds up at the prison following being wrongly convicted, then experiences assaulted and abused by other prisoners, while exploited by those in authority figures due to his expertise in finance. It takes nearly three decades to tunnel an escape route from Shawshank, before making his way "through a river of shit" to reclaim his liberty.
Shawshank's Role in Welcome to Derry
Regarding It: Welcome to Derry, audiences first learned of Shawshank's involvement via an early trailer for the series, in which a prison bus appeared bearing the title displayed on its side. In episode 2, we learn which character is probably headed to the prison.
Although it is known he did not responsible for the murders of children in the first episode, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for those offenses. A teaser for episode 3, "Now You See It," shows a guard telling a jailed Hank, "Do you know what they do to child murderers at that prison?"
The Implications for the Character and Ronnie
Given that the actual killer in Derry is a primordial entity originating elsewhere hunting and killing kids, Hank's chances of proving his innocence do not look good. Even should he does go to Shawshank and viewers do not see him inside, knowing what is known about that prison indicates that his experience would not be pleasant.
Crucially, though, this development could threaten his daughter. Hank is her protector. Horrible things are occurring in the town which no one, young or old, understands and Ronnie just has her recently formed circle of pals to rely on. She's going to need her dad in the coming episodes, however should the prison system has any say, she may be without help.
One thing is apparent: Hank lacks 28 years to dig to freedom.
Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are streaming now on HBO Max. Additional installments are released each week each Sunday.
