Don't Miss This Legendary Stephen King Cinematic Prior to It: Welcome to Derry's Next Episode
The series Welcome to Derry contains numerous connections to the author's vast library of stories. Beyond the clear ties to the original story, the series also features a direct link to The Shining via the cameo of a young future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the story progresses, Welcome to Derry is integrating another beloved tale from King which merits another look.
The Powerful Story of The Shawshank Redemption
While The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as horror, particularly in contrast with a lot of King's other work, it remains a gripping story about an innocently imprisoned man condemned to spend the rest of his life in a notorious prison. And it's that very penitentiary that becomes central here, as the Shawshank facility holds significant history throughout King's fictional world — a tradition that continues within Welcome to Derry.
Some of the stories which mention Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Via these stories, we learn about the awful life inside the state penitentiary and some of those imprisoned there, such as the boyfriend of a of Pennywise's initial victims, who was found guilty of armed robbery.
Thus far, however, the majority we have discovered about the prison was via the eyes of the protagonist from Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by Tim Robbins in the 1994 film. The character Andy ends up in Shawshank following his wrongful conviction, then finds himself beaten and abused by fellow inmates, and taken advantage of by the authority figures for his expertise in finance. It takes nearly three decades to tunnel his way out of the prison, before making his way "through a river of shit" to take back his liberty.
Shawshank's Appearance in It: Welcome to Derry
Regarding It: Welcome to Derry, viewers initially discovered about the prison's involvement via an early trailer for the show, where a correctional transport was seen bearing the title painted on the side. In episode 2, we learn who is probably destined for the prison.
Though it is known he did not responsible for the child deaths in the first episode, the character Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. The preview for the next episode, "the upcoming installment," shows an officer informing Hank in his cell, "Are you aware what happens to child murderers in Shawshank?"
The Consequences for the Character and Ronnie
Considering that the real killer in the town is a primordial entity originating elsewhere hunting and killing children, Hank's prospects of proving his innocence do not look good. Even should he ends up in the prison and viewers do not see him inside, knowing what is known about that prison indicates that his time there would not be enjoyable.
More importantly, however, this development could threaten his daughter. He acts as her guardian. Horrible things are happening in the town which no one, child or adult, understands and Ronnie only has her recently formed circle of pals to rely on. She will require her father as the story progresses, however should the prison system has any say, she may be without help.
A single fact seems clear: Hank doesn’t have 28 years to tunnel his way out.
Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are currently available on HBO Max. New episodes are released each week each Sunday.
