Don't Miss One Classic Stephen King Cinematic Before the Series' Upcoming Installment
HBO's Welcome to Derry is packed with references to the author's vast collection of tales. Apart from the clear ties to It, the show also features a direct connection to The Shining via the appearance of the youthful future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the story unfolds, It: Welcome to Derry is weaving in one more classic King story which merits a revisit.
The Powerful Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
While Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as a horror film, especially in contrast with a lot of King's other writing, it remains a gripping story about an innocently imprisoned individual sentenced to live the rest of his life inside a infamous penitentiary. It is that very penitentiary which is important here, as the Shawshank facility possesses considerable lore throughout King's fictional world — a pattern that continues within Welcome to Derry.
Some of the stories that reference Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Through these stories, we learn about the terrible conditions inside the state penitentiary plus several of the inmates there, including the partner of a of Pennywise's early targets, who was found guilty for robbery with a weapon.
So 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 ends up at the prison following his wrongful conviction, then finds himself beaten and raped by fellow inmates, and exploited by the authority figures due to his financial knowledge. It takes nearly three decades to dig his way out from Shawshank, prior to crawling "through sewage" to take back his freedom.
The Prison's Role in It: Welcome to Derry
In relation to the series, audiences first learned of Shawshank's involvement via an early trailer for the show, in which a prison bus appeared with the name displayed on its side. During the second episode, we learn who is likely destined for the prison.
Though it is known he did not commit the child deaths initially, the character Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. A teaser for episode 3, "Now You See It," shows an officer telling a jailed Hank, "Are you aware what happens to kiddie killers in Shawshank?"
The Consequences for the Character and Ronnie
Given that the real murderer in the town is a primordial entity originating elsewhere preying on and killing kids, Hank's prospects of proving his innocence appear slim. And even if he ends up in the prison and viewers don't follow him there, knowing what is known about that prison indicates that his experience would not be pleasant.
Crucially, though, this situation could threaten his daughter. Hank is her protector. Terrible events are occurring around Derry which no one, child or adult, comprehends and Ronnie only has her recently formed of friends to depend on. She's going to need her dad as the story progresses, but if the prison system has any say, she may be out of luck.
One thing is apparent: Hank doesn’t have three decades to tunnel to freedom.
It: Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are streaming now via the streaming service. New episodes air weekly on Sundays.
