You Should Watch One Legendary Stephen King Cinematic Prior to the Series' Next Episode
The series Welcome to Derry contains numerous connections to Stephen King's vast library of stories. Beyond the clear ties to It, the show also features an explicit connection to The Shining via the cameo of a young Dick Hallorann. Currently, as the story unfolds, It: Welcome to Derry is integrating one more classic King story that deserves a revisit.
The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
Although The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as a horror film, especially compared to a lot of the author's additional work, it is a haunting story about an innocently imprisoned man sentenced to spend his remaining years in a notorious prison. And it's this specific institution which is important here, as the Shawshank facility possesses significant lore across King's fictional world — a pattern that continues in It: Welcome to Derry.
Some of the tales that reference the prison are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Through these narratives, we learn regarding the awful conditions inside Shawshank State Prison and some of the inmates within, such as the boyfriend of one belonging to Pennywise's early victims, who was found guilty of armed robbery.
So far, though, the most we've learned about the prison has been via the perspective of Andy Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by Tim Robbins in that 1994 movie. The character Andy winds up at the prison following being wrongly convicted, and experiences beaten and abused by fellow inmates, and taken advantage of by those in officials in power due to his financial knowledge. It takes nearly three decades to dig an escape route from Shawshank, before crawling "through a river of shit" to reclaim his freedom.
Shawshank's Role in It: Welcome to Derry
Regarding It: Welcome to Derry, audiences first learned of Shawshank's involvement via an early trailer for the show, where a correctional transport was seen bearing the title painted on the side. During the second episode, we learn which character is likely destined for Shawshank.
Though it is known he did not responsible for the child deaths initially, the character Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for the crimes. A teaser for episode 3, "Now You See It," reveals a guard informing Hank in his cell, "Do you know what they do to child murderers in Shawshank?"
The Implications for Hank and Ronnie
Considering that the actual murderer in Derry is an ancient power from another world preying on and murdering children, Hank's prospects of proving his innocence appear slim. Even should he ends up to Shawshank and the audience do not see him inside, knowing what we do regarding Shawshank indicates that his experience would not be enjoyable.
More importantly, however, this situation would endanger Ronnie. Hank is her protector. Horrible things are occurring around Derry which no one, young or old, understands and she just has her new group of friends to rely on. She's going to need her father in the coming episodes, however should the prison system has any say, she may be out of luck.
One thing is apparent: Hank lacks three decades to tunnel his way out.
It: Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are streaming now on HBO Max. Additional installments are released each week each Sunday.
