Make Time For One Legendary Stephen King Film Prior to It: Welcome to Derry's Next Episode
HBO's It: Welcome to Derry is filled with connections to Stephen King's wide-ranging universe of narratives. Beyond the clear links to It, the series includes an explicit connection to The Shining through the appearance of the youthful future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the narrative unfolds, It: Welcome to Derry is weaving in another classic King story that deserves another look.
The Powerful Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
Although Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as horror, particularly in contrast with a lot of the author's additional work, it remains a gripping tale of a innocently imprisoned man sentenced to live his remaining years in a notorious penitentiary. It is this specific institution which is important here, since Shawshank State Prison possesses significant lore across King's stories — a tradition which persists within It: Welcome to Derry.
Some of the tales which mention Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Via these narratives, we learn about the awful conditions inside Shawshank State Prison plus several of those imprisoned there, including the partner of a of Pennywise's initial targets, who had been found guilty for robbery with a weapon.
So far, however, the most we have discovered concerning Shawshank was via the eyes of Andy Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in the 1994 movie. Andy ends up in Shawshank after his wrongful conviction, and experiences assaulted and abused by fellow inmates, while exploited by the authority figures for his financial knowledge. It takes nearly three decades to tunnel an escape route from Shawshank, before crawling "through sewage" to take back his freedom.
The Prison's Role in It: Welcome to Derry
In relation to It: Welcome to Derry, audiences first learned about the prison's inclusion via an early trailer for the show, where a correctional transport appeared bearing the title displayed on its side. In episode 2, it is revealed who is likely destined for the prison.
Though we know he did not commit the murders of children in the first episode, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for the crimes. A teaser for the next episode, "Now You See It," shows a guard telling a jailed Hank, "Are you aware what they do to kiddie killers at that prison?"
The Consequences for the Character and His Daughter
Considering that the actual murderer in the town is an ancient power from another world preying on and killing children, Hank's prospects of proving his innocence do not look good. And even if he ends up in the prison and the audience do not see him there, knowing what we do about that prison makes it clear that his time there would not be enjoyable.
Crucially, though, this situation could threaten his daughter. He acts as her protector. Horrible things are happening around Derry which no one, young or old, understands and she just has her new group circle of pals to depend on. She will require her father as the story progresses, however should the prison system plays a role, she could be out of luck.
One thing seems clear: Hank doesn’t have 28 years to dig to freedom.
Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are currently available via the streaming service. New episodes air weekly each Sunday.
