Make Time For One Legendary Stephen King Cinematic Prior to the Series' Next Episode
HBO's Welcome to Derry is filled with connections to the author's vast library of stories. Apart from the clear links to the original story, the show includes an explicit connection to The Shining through the cameo of a young Dick Hallorann. Now, as the story unfolds, Welcome to Derry is integrating one more classic King story which merits another look.
The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
Although The Shawshank Redemption may not be considered horror, especially compared to a lot of the author's additional writing, it remains a haunting story about an innocently imprisoned man condemned to spend his remaining years in a notorious prison. It is that very institution which is important here, since Shawshank State Prison possesses significant history across King's stories — a pattern that continues within Welcome to Derry.
Some of the tales which mention the prison are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Via these stories, we learn about the terrible life inside the state penitentiary and several of those imprisoned within, including the boyfriend of a belonging to Pennywise's initial targets, who was found guilty for robbery with a weapon.
Thus far, however, the most we have discovered concerning Shawshank has been via the perspective of Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by Tim Robbins in that 1994 film. Andy ends up in Shawshank after being wrongly convicted, then experiences assaulted and raped by fellow inmates, and taken advantage of by those in authority figures due to his financial knowledge. He requires nearly three decades to tunnel an escape route of the prison, before crawling "through a river of shit" to take back his freedom.
Shawshank's Appearance in It: Welcome to Derry
In relation to the series, audiences initially discovered about the prison's inclusion from an early trailer for the series, where a prison bus was seen with the name painted on the side. During the second episode, we learn who is likely destined for Shawshank.
Although it is known he did not responsible for the child deaths initially, the character Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. A teaser for episode 3, "the upcoming installment," shows a guard telling Hank in his cell, "Are you aware what they do to child murderers in Shawshank?"
The Consequences for the Character and Ronnie
Given that the actual killer in the town is an ancient power from another world hunting and killing children, Hank's prospects of proving his innocence do not look good. And even if he does go to Shawshank and viewers don't follow him there, knowing what is known about that prison indicates that his experience would be far from pleasant.
More importantly, however, this development could threaten his daughter. Hank is her protector. Horrible things are happening in the town which no one, young or old, understands and Ronnie only has her recently formed of friends to rely on. She's going to need her father in the coming episodes, but if the prison system plays a role, she could be without help.
One thing seems clear: Hank lacks three decades to dig his way out.
It: Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are streaming now on HBO Max. Additional installments air weekly each Sunday.
