Don't Miss One Classic Stephen King Cinematic Prior to the Series' Upcoming Installment
The series It: Welcome to Derry is filled with references to Stephen King's vast collection of tales. Apart from the clear ties to It, the series showcases a direct link to The Shining through the appearance of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Currently, as the narrative progresses, Welcome to Derry is weaving in another classic tale from King which merits a revisit.
The Powerful Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
While The Shawshank Redemption may not be considered horror, especially in contrast with much of the author's additional work, it remains a gripping tale of a innocently imprisoned man sentenced to live his remaining years inside a infamous prison. It is this specific institution that becomes central in this context, as the Shawshank facility holds significant lore across King's fictional world — a tradition which persists within It: Welcome to Derry.
Some of the stories which mention Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Via these stories, we discover about the awful life at the state penitentiary plus some of those imprisoned within, such as the partner of one of Pennywise's early targets, who was found guilty for robbery with a weapon.
So far, though, the most we have discovered about the prison has been via the perspective of Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in that 1994 movie. The character Andy ends up at the prison following his wrongful conviction, and experiences beaten and abused by other prisoners, while exploited by those in officials in power due to his expertise in finance. He requires nearly three decades to dig an escape route from Shawshank, prior to making his way "through sewage" to take back his freedom.
The Prison's Role in Welcome to Derry
Regarding It: Welcome to Derry, viewers first learned of Shawshank's inclusion from an initial preview for the series, in which a correctional transport appeared with the name displayed on its side. In episode 2, we learn which character is probably headed to Shawshank.
Although it is known he was not commit the child deaths initially, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. A teaser for episode 3, "the upcoming installment," shows an officer informing Hank in his cell, "Do you know what happens to child murderers at that prison?"
The Consequences for Hank and Ronnie
Given that the real killer in Derry is an ancient power from another world preying on and murdering children, Hank's chances of proving his innocence appear slim. Even should he ends up to Shawshank and viewers don't follow him inside, knowing what is known about that prison indicates that his time there would not be enjoyable.
Crucially, though, this situation would endanger Ronnie. Hank is her protector. Terrible events are happening around Derry that nobody, child or adult, comprehends and she just has her new group of friends to depend on. She will require her dad as the story progresses, but if the prison system has any say, she could be out of luck.
One thing seems clear: Hank lacks 28 years to dig to freedom.
It: Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are streaming now on HBO Max. New episodes air weekly each Sunday.
