You Should Watch This Classic Stephen King Movie Before It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
HBO's Welcome to Derry is packed with references to Stephen King's wide-ranging collection of tales. Beyond the obvious links to the original story, the series also features an explicit connection to The Shining through the cameo of a young future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Currently, as the story progresses, Welcome to Derry is weaving in one more classic King story that deserves another look.
The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption
Although The Shawshank Redemption may not be considered a horror film, especially compared to a lot of King's other work, it remains a gripping tale about an innocently imprisoned individual sentenced to spend the rest of his life in a infamous penitentiary. It is that very institution that becomes important here, since the Shawshank facility possesses considerable history across King's fictional world — a pattern which persists within Welcome to Derry.
Some of the tales which mention the prison include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Through these narratives, we discover regarding the awful life at the state penitentiary and some of those imprisoned within, including the boyfriend of one of Pennywise's initial targets, who had been convicted for robbery with a weapon.
Thus far, though, the majority we have discovered concerning Shawshank has been through the perspective of Andy Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in that 1994 movie. The character Andy winds up at the prison after being wrongly convicted, and experiences assaulted and raped by other prisoners, and exploited by the officials in power for his expertise in finance. He requires him 28 years to tunnel an escape route of the prison, prior to making his way "through sewage" to take back his liberty.
Shawshank's Role in It: Welcome to Derry
Regarding the series, audiences first learned about the prison's inclusion via an initial preview for the series, where a prison bus was seen bearing the title painted on the side. In episode 2, we learn who is probably headed to Shawshank.
Although we know he did not responsible for the murders of children in the first episode, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for the crimes. A teaser for episode 3, "Now You See It," shows a guard telling a jailed Hank, "Are you aware what happens to kiddie killers in Shawshank?"
The Implications for Hank and Ronnie
Given that the real murderer in Derry is a primordial entity from another world hunting and murdering children, Hank's prospects of clearing his name appear slim. And even if he does go to Shawshank and the audience do not see him inside, understanding what is known regarding Shawshank makes it clear that his experience would be far from enjoyable.
Crucially, however, this development would endanger Ronnie. He acts as her guardian. Horrible things are happening around Derry that nobody, child or adult, understands and Ronnie just has her recently formed circle of pals to depend on. She's going to need her dad in the coming episodes, however should Shawshank has any say, she could be without help.
One thing seems clear: Hank lacks three decades to dig to freedom.
It: Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are currently available via the streaming service. New episodes air weekly each Sunday.
