You Should Watch One Legendary Stephen King Movie Prior to It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
The series Welcome to Derry is filled with references to Stephen King's vast universe of narratives. Apart from the clear ties to the original story, the show includes a direct link to King's famous novel via the cameo of the youthful future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the story progresses, It: Welcome to Derry is weaving in another classic King story which merits a revisit.
The Powerful Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
While The Shawshank Redemption may not be classified as a horror film, particularly in contrast with a lot of King's other work, it remains a haunting tale of a wrongfully convicted man condemned to live the rest of his life in a notorious prison. It is that very institution which is important here, since Shawshank State Prison holds significant lore across King's stories — a pattern which persists in It: Welcome to Derry.
Among the stories that reference the prison include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Through these stories, we learn about the awful conditions inside the state penitentiary plus several of those imprisoned there, including the boyfriend of a of Pennywise's early victims, who was convicted for robbery with a weapon.
Thus far, though, the most we've learned about the prison has been via the perspective of the protagonist in The Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in that 1994 movie. Andy ends up in Shawshank following being wrongly convicted, and finds himself beaten and raped by other prisoners, and taken advantage of by the officials in power for his expertise in finance. It takes nearly three decades to tunnel an escape route of the prison, prior to crawling "through a river of shit" to take back his freedom.
The Prison's Role in Welcome to Derry
In relation to It: Welcome to Derry, audiences first learned about the prison's inclusion from an initial preview for the show, in which a correctional transport appeared bearing the title displayed on its side. During the second episode, we learn who is probably destined for the prison.
Though we know he was not commit the murders of children in the first episode, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for the crimes. A teaser for the next episode, "Now You See It," shows a guard telling a jailed Hank, "Do you know what they do to kiddie killers in Shawshank?"
The Consequences for the Character and His Daughter
Considering that the real killer in the town is a primordial entity originating elsewhere preying on and murdering kids, Hank's prospects of clearing his name appear slim. Even should he does go in the prison and the audience do not see him there, knowing what is known regarding Shawshank indicates that his experience would not be enjoyable.
More importantly, however, this situation would endanger Ronnie. Hank is her guardian. Terrible events are occurring in the town that nobody, young or old, comprehends and Ronnie only has her new group of friends to rely on. She will require her father 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 dig his way out.
It: Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are currently available on HBO Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays.
