Make Time For One Legendary Stephen King Movie Prior to It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
HBO's Welcome to Derry contains numerous references to the author's extensive collection of tales. Beyond the obvious ties to the original story, the show includes a direct connection to King's famous novel via the cameo of the youthful future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the story progresses, Welcome to Derry is weaving in one more classic King story which merits a revisit.
The Powerful Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
While The Shawshank Redemption may not be classified as horror, especially compared to much of King's other work, it is a gripping story about an wrongfully convicted individual condemned to live the rest of his life inside a notorious penitentiary. It is this specific penitentiary that becomes central here, as the Shawshank facility possesses significant lore across King's stories — a pattern which persists within It: Welcome to Derry.
Some of the tales that reference Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Through these stories, we learn regarding the awful conditions at Shawshank State Prison and several of those imprisoned within, including the boyfriend of a belonging to Pennywise's initial targets, who was convicted for robbery with a weapon.
Thus far, though, the most we've learned concerning Shawshank was through the perspective of Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in that 1994 film. The character Andy winds up at the prison following being wrongly convicted, and experiences beaten and abused by fellow inmates, and exploited by those in officials in power for his financial knowledge. It takes him 28 years to dig an escape route of the prison, prior to crawling "through sewage" to reclaim his liberty.
Shawshank's Role in It: Welcome to Derry
In relation to the series, audiences initially discovered about the prison's involvement via an initial preview for the show, where a prison bus was seen with the name painted on the side. During the second episode, it is revealed which character is likely destined for the prison.
Though we know he did not commit the murders of children initially, the character Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. A teaser for episode 3, "Now You See It," reveals a guard telling a jailed Hank, "Are you aware what happens to child murderers in Shawshank?"
The Consequences for Hank and Ronnie
Considering that the real murderer in the town is a primordial entity from another world hunting and murdering children, Hank's chances of clearing his name do not look good. And even if he does go to Shawshank and viewers do not see him inside, understanding what is known about that prison indicates that his experience would not be pleasant.
More importantly, though, this situation would endanger Ronnie. Hank is her protector. Horrible things are happening around Derry which no one, young or old, comprehends and she just has her new group circle of pals to depend on. She will require her dad as the story progresses, but if Shawshank has any say, she could be out of luck.
One thing is apparent: Hank lacks three decades to tunnel his way out.
Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are currently available on HBO Max. New episodes are released each week on Sundays.
