Don't Miss This Iconic Stephen King Cinematic Prior to It: Welcome to Derry's Next Episode
The series Welcome to Derry is packed with references to Stephen King's wide-ranging universe of narratives. Beyond the clear ties to It, the series includes an explicit link to The Shining via the cameo of the youthful future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the narrative progresses, Welcome to Derry is weaving in one more classic King story that deserves another look.
The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption
While Shawshank Redemption may not be considered horror, particularly compared to a lot of King's other work, it is a haunting tale about an wrongfully convicted individual condemned to spend his remaining years in a infamous penitentiary. It is this specific penitentiary that becomes central here, as the Shawshank facility possesses significant lore throughout King's stories — a pattern which persists within It: Welcome to Derry.
Among the tales which mention Shawshank include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Through these stories, we learn about the awful conditions at Shawshank State Prison plus several of those imprisoned within, including the boyfriend of one of Pennywise's initial targets, who had been found guilty for robbery with a weapon.
Thus far, however, the most we've learned about the prison has been through the perspective of Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in that 1994 film. The character Andy winds up at the prison following being wrongly convicted, and experiences assaulted and raped by fellow inmates, and taken advantage of by the authority figures due to his financial knowledge. It takes nearly three decades to dig his way out from Shawshank, before making his way "through sewage" to reclaim his freedom.
The Prison's Role in Welcome to Derry
In relation to the series, audiences initially discovered of Shawshank's inclusion from an initial preview for the series, in which a prison bus appeared with the name painted on the side. During the second episode, we learn who is probably headed to the prison.
Though it is known he did not commit the child deaths initially, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. A teaser for episode 3, "the upcoming installment," reveals a guard informing a jailed Hank, "Do you know what happens to child murderers in Shawshank?"
The Implications for the Character and Ronnie
Considering that the real murderer in the town is an ancient power from another world preying on and murdering kids, Hank's chances of proving his innocence do not look good. And even if he does go in the prison and the audience don't follow him inside, knowing what is known about that prison makes it clear that his experience would not be enjoyable.
More importantly, however, this development would endanger Ronnie. He acts as her guardian. Horrible things are occurring in the town which no one, young or old, comprehends and Ronnie only has her recently formed circle of pals to depend on. She's going to need her dad as the story progresses, however should Shawshank plays a role, she may be out of luck.
One thing is apparent: Hank doesn’t have three decades to tunnel to freedom.
Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are currently available on HBO Max. Additional installments air weekly each Sunday.
