Don't Miss This Classic Stephen King Film Before It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
The series It: Welcome to Derry is filled with nods to Stephen King's vast universe of narratives. Apart from the obvious ties to the original story, the show also features an explicit link to King's famous novel through the appearance of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Currently, as the story progresses, It: Welcome to Derry is integrating one more classic tale from King that deserves a revisit.
The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption
Although The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as horror, particularly compared to a lot of the author's additional writing, it remains a gripping story of a innocently imprisoned man sentenced to spend his remaining years inside a infamous prison. And it's that very penitentiary which is central here, since Shawshank State Prison holds considerable lore across King's fictional world — a pattern that continues in Welcome to Derry.
Among the tales which mention the prison include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Via these narratives, we learn regarding the terrible conditions inside Shawshank State Prison and some of those imprisoned within, including the partner of a of Pennywise's early victims, who was convicted of armed robbery.
So far, however, the majority we've learned concerning Shawshank was via the perspective of Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by the actor Tim Robbins in that 1994 movie. Andy winds up at the prison after his wrongful conviction, and experiences assaulted and raped by fellow inmates, while taken advantage of by those in authority figures for his financial knowledge. He requires him 28 years to dig an escape route of the prison, before crawling "through sewage" to take back his liberty.
Shawshank's Appearance in Welcome to Derry
Regarding the series, audiences first learned of Shawshank's involvement via an initial preview for the show, in which a prison bus was seen bearing the title displayed on its side. In episode 2, it is revealed which character is likely destined for Shawshank.
Although we know he was not responsible for the murders of children initially, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for the crimes. A teaser for episode 3, "the upcoming installment," reveals a guard telling Hank in his cell, "Do you know what they do to kiddie killers at that prison?"
The Consequences for the Character and Ronnie
Considering that the actual killer in Derry is a primordial entity originating elsewhere preying on and murdering kids, Hank's prospects of clearing his name do not look good. And even if he ends up to Shawshank and the audience do not see him there, understanding what we do regarding Shawshank makes it clear that his experience would not be pleasant.
More importantly, however, this development could threaten Ronnie. He acts as her protector. Terrible events are occurring in the town that nobody, child or adult, understands and Ronnie only has her new group circle of pals to rely on. She's going to need her father in the coming episodes, but if Shawshank has any say, she could be out of luck.
A single fact seems clear: Hank lacks 28 years to tunnel his way out.
It: Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are currently available via the streaming service. Additional installments are released each week each Sunday.