Make Time For One Legendary Stephen King Movie Before It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
HBO's It: Welcome to Derry is packed with nods to Stephen King's wide-ranging library of stories. Beyond the clear ties to It, the show also features an explicit link to King's famous novel through the cameo of a young future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the narrative progresses, It: Welcome to Derry is weaving in another classic King story that deserves another look.
The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption
While The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as horror, particularly compared to a lot of the author's additional writing, it remains a gripping story about an innocently imprisoned individual condemned to spend his remaining years in a infamous prison. It is this specific institution which is important in this context, since the Shawshank facility holds considerable history across 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, as well as It. Through these stories, we learn about the terrible life inside Shawshank State Prison plus several of the inmates there, such as the partner of one belonging to Pennywise's initial victims, who was found guilty for robbery with a weapon.
So far, though, the most we've learned concerning Shawshank has been through the eyes of the protagonist from The Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in the 1994 film. The character Andy ends up at the prison after being wrongly convicted, then finds himself beaten and abused by other prisoners, and exploited by the authority figures due to his expertise in finance. He requires him 28 years to dig his way out of the prison, before crawling "through sewage" to reclaim his liberty.
Shawshank's Appearance in Welcome to Derry
Regarding It: Welcome to Derry, viewers initially discovered of Shawshank's involvement via an initial preview for the series, where a correctional transport was seen bearing the title painted on the side. During the second episode, it is revealed which character is likely headed to Shawshank.
Although it is known he was not responsible for the child deaths in the first episode, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. A teaser for the next episode, "Now You See It," shows an officer telling Hank in his cell, "Are you aware what they do to kiddie killers in Shawshank?"
The Implications for Hank and Ronnie
Considering that the real killer in the town is a primordial entity from another world preying on and killing kids, Hank's prospects of clearing his name do not look good. And even if he ends up to Shawshank and the audience do not see him inside, understanding what is known regarding Shawshank indicates that his time there would be far from enjoyable.
More importantly, though, this development would endanger his daughter. Hank is her protector. Horrible things are occurring in the town that nobody, child or adult, comprehends and she only has her new group of friends to depend on. She's going to need her father in the coming episodes, but if Shawshank plays a role, she could be without help.
A single fact is apparent: Hank doesn’t have 28 years to dig to freedom.
It: Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are currently available on HBO Max. Additional installments air weekly on Sundays.
