Make Time For This Iconic Stephen King Film Before It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
The series It: Welcome to Derry is filled with references to the author's wide-ranging collection of tales. Beyond the clear ties to It, the show showcases a direct link to King's famous novel via the cameo of the youthful future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the narrative unfolds, Welcome to Derry is weaving in another classic tale from King which merits another look.
The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption
Although Shawshank Redemption may not be classified as horror, particularly compared to much of the author's additional work, it remains a gripping story of a innocently imprisoned individual sentenced to spend his remaining years in a infamous penitentiary. And it's this specific institution which is important here, as Shawshank State Prison holds considerable lore throughout King's stories — a pattern that continues in It: Welcome to Derry.
Among the tales that reference the prison are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Via these stories, we discover regarding the awful conditions inside Shawshank State Prison plus some of the inmates there, including the partner of a of Pennywise's early victims, who was found guilty for robbery with a weapon.
Thus far, however, the most we have discovered concerning Shawshank has been through the perspective of Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in the 1994 movie. The character Andy ends up in Shawshank following being wrongly convicted, then experiences assaulted and abused by other prisoners, and taken advantage of by those in officials in power due to his financial knowledge. He requires nearly three decades to dig his way out from Shawshank, prior to crawling "through a river of shit" to take back his liberty.
The Prison's Appearance in It: Welcome to Derry
In relation to the series, audiences first learned about the prison's involvement via an initial preview for the series, where a prison bus appeared bearing the title displayed on its side. In episode 2, it is revealed who is likely destined for Shawshank.
Although we know he was not commit the murders of children initially, 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, "Now You See It," reveals a guard informing a jailed Hank, "Do you know what they do to kiddie killers in Shawshank?"
The Consequences for the Character and Ronnie
Given that the real killer in Derry is a primordial entity from another world hunting and killing children, Hank's chances of clearing his name do not look good. Even should he does go in the prison and viewers do not see him inside, understanding what we do about that prison makes it clear that his time there would be far from pleasant.
More importantly, however, this development could threaten Ronnie. Hank is her guardian. Horrible things are happening in the town which no one, child or adult, understands and she only has her new group of friends to rely on. She will require her dad as the story progresses, however should the prison system plays a role, she could be without help.
One thing is apparent: Hank doesn’t have 28 years to tunnel to freedom.
Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are currently available via the streaming service. Additional installments air weekly on Sundays.
