Don't Miss This Iconic Stephen King Movie Before It: Welcome to Derry's Next Episode
The series Welcome to Derry is packed with references to the author's extensive library of stories. Beyond the obvious links to the original story, the series showcases an explicit link to The Shining through the cameo of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Now, as the narrative progresses, It: Welcome to Derry is weaving in one more classic tale from King that deserves another look.
The Powerful Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
Although The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically considered horror, particularly compared to much of King's other writing, it is a gripping story of a wrongfully convicted man sentenced to live the rest of his life inside a notorious prison. It is that very penitentiary which is central here, since Shawshank State Prison possesses significant lore across King's fictional world — a tradition which persists within It: Welcome to Derry.
Among the stories which mention the prison include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Via these stories, we learn regarding the terrible conditions inside the state penitentiary plus several of those imprisoned there, including the boyfriend of one of Pennywise's initial targets, who had been found guilty of armed robbery.
Thus far, however, the most we've learned about the prison has been through the eyes of the protagonist from Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in the 1994 movie. The character Andy winds up in Shawshank following being wrongly convicted, then finds himself beaten and raped by other prisoners, and taken advantage of by those in officials in power for his financial knowledge. He requires nearly three decades to tunnel his way out from Shawshank, before crawling "through sewage" to take back his freedom.
Shawshank's Role in Welcome to Derry
Regarding the series, audiences first learned about the prison's involvement via an early trailer for the series, in which a prison bus appeared bearing the title displayed on its side. During the second episode, we learn who is likely headed to Shawshank.
Although it is known he was not responsible for the murders of children in the first episode, the character Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for the crimes. The preview for the next episode, "Now You See It," shows a guard informing a jailed Hank, "Do you know what happens to kiddie killers at that prison?"
The Consequences for Hank and Ronnie
Considering that the real killer in the town is a primordial entity from another world preying on and murdering kids, Hank's prospects of clearing his name do not look good. Even should he does go to Shawshank and viewers do not see him inside, knowing what we do about that prison indicates that his time there would be far from enjoyable.
More importantly, however, this situation would endanger his daughter. He acts as her protector. Horrible things are occurring in the town that nobody, child or adult, understands and Ronnie just has her recently formed of friends to depend on. She's going to need her father as the story progresses, but if Shawshank plays a role, she may be without help.
A single fact is apparent: Hank lacks 28 years to dig to freedom.
It: Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are streaming now via the streaming service. Additional installments are released each week on Sundays.
