You Should Watch This Classic Stephen King Film Prior to It: Welcome to Derry's Next Episode
The series It: Welcome to Derry is packed with references to Stephen King's extensive universe of narratives. Beyond the obvious links to the original story, the series includes a direct link to The Shining via the appearance of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Now, as the story unfolds, It: Welcome to Derry is weaving in another classic tale from King which merits another look.
The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
Although Shawshank Redemption may not be classified as horror, especially in contrast with a lot of King's other writing, it remains a gripping tale of a wrongfully convicted man sentenced to live the rest of his life inside a infamous prison. It is that very institution that becomes central here, as the Shawshank facility possesses significant lore throughout King's fictional world — a tradition that continues in It: Welcome to Derry.
Some of the tales which mention Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Through these stories, we learn regarding the terrible life at Shawshank State Prison and some of those imprisoned there, such as the boyfriend of a of Pennywise's initial targets, who had been found guilty for robbery with a weapon.
So far, though, the majority we've learned concerning Shawshank was through the perspective of the protagonist from The Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in that 1994 movie. The character Andy winds up in Shawshank after being wrongly convicted, and finds himself beaten and abused by fellow inmates, and taken advantage of by those in officials in power due to his expertise in finance. It takes him 28 years to dig his way out of the prison, before making his way "through sewage" to take back his liberty.
Shawshank's Role in Welcome to Derry
Regarding the series, audiences first learned about the prison's involvement via an initial preview for the series, in which a prison bus was seen bearing the title displayed on its side. In episode 2, it is revealed which character is likely headed to the prison.
Although we know he did not commit the child deaths in the first episode, Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for the crimes. The preview for the next episode, "Now You See It," shows an officer telling a jailed Hank, "Do you know what happens to kiddie killers at that prison?"
The Implications for the Character and Ronnie
Considering that the actual murderer in Derry is an ancient power originating elsewhere preying on and murdering kids, Hank's chances of proving his innocence do not look good. Even should he does go in the prison and viewers don't follow him inside, knowing what is known about that prison makes it clear that his time there would be far from pleasant.
Crucially, though, this development could threaten his daughter. He acts as her guardian. Horrible things are happening around Derry which no one, child or adult, comprehends and Ronnie only has her new group circle of pals to rely on. She's going to need her father as the story progresses, but if Shawshank plays a role, she may be out of luck.
A single fact is apparent: Hank doesn’t have three decades to tunnel his way out.
It: Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are currently available via the streaming service. New episodes air weekly on Sundays.
