Make Time For One Iconic Stephen King Film Before It: Welcome to Derry's Next Episode
The series Welcome to Derry is filled with references to Stephen King's wide-ranging universe of narratives. Apart from the obvious ties to It, the show showcases an explicit connection to The Shining through the appearance of the youthful future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Currently, as the story unfolds, Welcome to Derry is integrating one more beloved King story which merits a revisit.
The Powerful Story of The Shawshank Redemption
Although Shawshank Redemption isn't typically considered horror, particularly compared to a lot of the author's additional work, it is a gripping tale of a innocently imprisoned man sentenced to spend the rest of his life in a infamous prison. It is that very institution that becomes central in this context, as Shawshank State Prison holds significant lore across King's stories — a pattern which persists within Welcome to Derry.
Among the stories which mention Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Through these narratives, we learn regarding the awful life inside Shawshank State Prison plus several of the inmates there, including the partner of one of Pennywise's early targets, who was found guilty of armed robbery.
Thus far, however, the majority we've learned about the prison was through the perspective of the protagonist in The Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in that 1994 film. Andy winds up in Shawshank after being wrongly convicted, and finds himself beaten and raped by other prisoners, while exploited by those in officials in power for his financial knowledge. He requires him 28 years to tunnel his way out of the prison, prior to crawling "through a river of shit" to reclaim his liberty.
The Prison's Appearance in Welcome to Derry
Regarding It: Welcome to Derry, audiences initially discovered of Shawshank's involvement from an early trailer for the series, where a correctional transport was seen with the name displayed on its side. In episode 2, it is revealed who is likely headed to Shawshank.
Though it is known he was not commit the child deaths initially, Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for those offenses. A teaser for episode 3, "Now You See It," reveals an officer telling a jailed Hank, "Are you aware what they do to kiddie killers in Shawshank?"
The Implications for Hank and Ronnie
Considering that the actual murderer in the town is a primordial entity originating elsewhere hunting and killing kids, Hank's chances of clearing his name do not look good. And even if he does go in the prison and the audience don't follow him there, knowing what we do about that prison makes it clear that his time there would be far from enjoyable.
More importantly, though, this development could threaten his daughter. He acts as her protector. Horrible things are happening in the town that nobody, young or old, understands and she only has her new group of friends to depend on. She's going to need her father as the story progresses, but if Shawshank 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 the first two episodes are currently available on HBO Max. New episodes air weekly each Sunday.
