Don't Miss One Legendary Stephen King Movie Prior to It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
The series It: Welcome to Derry contains numerous references to the author's wide-ranging collection of tales. Beyond the obvious ties to the original story, the series also features an explicit connection to The Shining via the cameo of a young future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the story progresses, It: Welcome to Derry is integrating one more classic tale from King which merits a revisit.
The Powerful Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
Although Shawshank Redemption may not be classified as horror, especially compared to a lot of King's other writing, it remains a gripping story of a innocently imprisoned man condemned to live the rest of his life in a notorious penitentiary. And it's this specific institution which is central in this context, as Shawshank State Prison holds significant lore across King's stories — a tradition that continues in It: Welcome to Derry.
Among the tales that reference Shawshank include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Through these stories, we discover about the terrible conditions inside the state penitentiary and some of the inmates within, such as the boyfriend of a belonging to Pennywise's initial targets, who was convicted for robbery with a weapon.
So far, though, the most we have discovered concerning Shawshank was through the eyes of Andy Dufresne from Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by the actor Tim Robbins in the 1994 film. The character Andy ends up at the prison following his wrongful conviction, then experiences assaulted and raped by other prisoners, and taken advantage of by those in officials in power for his financial knowledge. It takes him 28 years to dig his way out from Shawshank, before crawling "through sewage" to take back his liberty.
The Prison's Appearance in It: Welcome to Derry
Regarding the series, audiences initially discovered of Shawshank's involvement from an initial preview for the series, in which a prison bus appeared with the name displayed on its side. During the second episode, it is revealed who is likely destined for the prison.
Though we know he was not commit the child deaths in the first episode, the character Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. A teaser for episode 3, "the upcoming installment," shows a guard telling Hank in his cell, "Do you know what happens to child murderers in Shawshank?"
The Implications for Hank and Ronnie
Given that the actual murderer in the town is an ancient power from another world preying on and killing kids, Hank's chances of clearing his name appear slim. Even should he does go in the prison and the audience don't follow him there, knowing what we do about that prison indicates that his experience would be far from enjoyable.
Crucially, however, this situation would endanger his daughter. Hank is her guardian. Horrible things are happening around Derry which no one, young or old, comprehends and Ronnie only has her recently formed of friends to rely on. She will require her father in the coming episodes, however should the prison system has any say, she could be out of luck.
A single fact is apparent: Hank lacks three decades to dig to freedom.
It: Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are currently available via the streaming service. New episodes are released each week each Sunday.
