You Should Watch One Legendary Stephen King Film Prior to It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
The series Welcome to Derry is filled with references to Stephen King's vast library of stories. Beyond the obvious ties to the original story, the show includes an explicit connection to The Shining through the cameo of the youthful future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Currently, as the narrative progresses, It: Welcome to Derry is weaving in one more classic King story that deserves a revisit.
The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption
While Shawshank Redemption may not be classified as horror, especially compared to much of King's other work, it is a haunting tale of a innocently imprisoned man sentenced to spend his remaining years inside a infamous prison. It is this specific institution that becomes important here, as Shawshank State Prison possesses considerable history throughout King's fictional world — a tradition which persists within Welcome to Derry.
Among the tales which mention Shawshank include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Via these stories, we discover regarding the awful conditions at Shawshank State Prison and several of the inmates there, including the partner of a of Pennywise's early victims, who was found guilty of armed robbery.
Thus far, though, the most we've learned concerning Shawshank has been via the eyes of the protagonist in The Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in the 1994 film. Andy winds up in Shawshank after being wrongly convicted, then finds himself beaten and raped by fellow inmates, while taken advantage of by those in authority figures due to his expertise in finance. He requires him 28 years to tunnel his way out from Shawshank, before making his way "through a river of shit" to reclaim his freedom.
Shawshank's Appearance in It: Welcome to Derry
Regarding the series, viewers initially discovered about the prison's inclusion via an initial preview for the series, where a prison bus appeared bearing the title painted on the side. During the second episode, we learn which character is likely destined for Shawshank.
Though it is known he did not responsible for the child deaths in the first episode, the character Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for those offenses. A teaser for the next episode, "the upcoming installment," reveals an officer informing a jailed Hank, "Are you aware what they do to kiddie killers at that prison?"
The Implications for the Character and Ronnie
Given that the actual murderer in Derry is a primordial entity from another world hunting and killing kids, Hank's chances of clearing his name do not look good. And even if he ends up in the prison and the audience do not see him there, knowing what is known about that prison indicates that his experience would be far from pleasant.
More importantly, however, this development could threaten his daughter. He acts as her protector. Terrible events are occurring in the town that nobody, child or adult, comprehends and Ronnie only has her new group circle of pals to depend on. She's going to need her father in the coming episodes, however should the prison system has any say, she could be without help.
A single fact seems clear: Hank lacks 28 years to dig to freedom.
Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are streaming now on HBO Max. Additional installments are released each week on Sundays.
