You Should Watch This Legendary Stephen King Movie Before the Series' Next Episode
HBO's It: Welcome to Derry contains numerous references to Stephen King's extensive collection of tales. Beyond the clear ties to It, the show includes an explicit connection to The Shining through the appearance of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Now, as the narrative progresses, It: Welcome to Derry is integrating one more classic King story that deserves a revisit.
The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
While Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as horror, especially in contrast with much of King's other writing, it is a gripping tale of a wrongfully convicted man sentenced to live the rest of his life inside a notorious penitentiary. It is that very institution which is central in this context, since Shawshank State Prison possesses significant history across King's fictional world — a pattern that continues in It: Welcome to Derry.
Among the stories that reference Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Through these stories, we discover about the awful conditions at the state penitentiary and several of the inmates there, such as the boyfriend of a of Pennywise's initial victims, who was found guilty of armed robbery.
So far, though, the most we've learned about the prison was via the perspective of the protagonist from Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in the 1994 movie. Andy winds up in Shawshank following his wrongful conviction, and experiences assaulted and abused by fellow inmates, and exploited by the officials in power for his expertise in finance. It takes him 28 years to dig an escape route of the prison, before making his way "through sewage" to take back his freedom.
The Prison's Appearance in Welcome to Derry
In relation to the series, audiences first learned about the prison's involvement via an initial preview for the show, in which a prison bus was seen with the name displayed on its side. In episode 2, it is revealed which character is probably headed to Shawshank.
Though it is known he was not commit the murders of children initially, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for those offenses. A teaser for the next episode, "the upcoming installment," shows a guard informing Hank in his cell, "Are you aware what they do to child murderers at that prison?"
The Consequences for the Character and Ronnie
Considering that the real killer in the town is a primordial entity originating elsewhere preying on and killing children, Hank's chances of proving his innocence do not look good. And even if he ends up in the prison and the audience don't follow him inside, knowing what we do regarding Shawshank makes it clear that his time there would not be enjoyable.
Crucially, though, this development could threaten Ronnie. He acts as her protector. Horrible things are occurring in the town which no one, young or old, understands and she just has her recently formed of friends to rely on. She will require her dad as the story progresses, but if the prison system has any say, she could be out of luck.
A single fact is apparent: Hank lacks 28 years to dig his way out.
Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are streaming now on HBO Max. Additional installments air weekly on Sundays.
