You Should Watch This Classic Stephen King Cinematic Before the Series' Next Episode
The series It: Welcome to Derry is filled with nods to Stephen King's extensive collection of tales. Apart from the clear ties to It, the show showcases a direct link to King's famous novel through the cameo of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Now, as the story unfolds, It: Welcome to Derry is weaving in one more classic King story which merits a revisit.
The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption
Although Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as horror, especially compared to much of King's other writing, it remains a haunting tale of a innocently imprisoned individual sentenced to live his remaining years in a infamous penitentiary. And it's this specific institution that becomes central in this context, as Shawshank State Prison holds considerable lore across King's fictional world — a tradition that continues in Welcome to Derry.
Some of the tales which mention the prison are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Through these stories, we learn regarding the terrible conditions inside Shawshank State Prison and some of the inmates there, including the boyfriend of a of Pennywise's early victims, who had been found guilty of armed robbery.
Thus far, though, the most we've learned about the prison has been via the eyes of Andy Dufresne from Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by Tim Robbins in that 1994 film. Andy winds up in Shawshank after being wrongly convicted, then finds himself beaten and raped by other prisoners, and taken advantage of by those in officials in power for his expertise in finance. It takes him 28 years to dig an escape route of the prison, prior to making his way "through sewage" to take back his freedom.
The Prison's Appearance in It: Welcome to Derry
In relation to It: Welcome to Derry, viewers first learned about the prison's inclusion from an early trailer for the series, where a correctional transport appeared with the name displayed on its side. During the second episode, we learn which character is likely headed to Shawshank.
Although we know he was not commit the child deaths in the first episode, Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for those offenses. A teaser for episode 3, "the upcoming installment," reveals a guard telling a jailed Hank, "Do you know what they do to kiddie killers in Shawshank?"
The Implications for Hank and Ronnie
Considering that the actual murderer in Derry is an ancient power from another world preying on and murdering children, Hank's chances of proving his innocence do not look good. Even should he ends up to Shawshank and viewers don't follow him inside, knowing what we do about that prison indicates that his time there would be far from pleasant.
More importantly, though, this situation could threaten Ronnie. He acts as her protector. Horrible things are happening in the town that nobody, young or old, comprehends and Ronnie only has her new group of friends to rely on. She's going to need her father as the story progresses, but if the prison system has any say, she may be without help.
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 on HBO Max. Additional installments are released each week each Sunday.
