Make Time For One Iconic Stephen King Cinematic Prior to It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
HBO's It: Welcome to Derry is packed with nods to Stephen King's wide-ranging library of stories. Beyond the obvious links to the original story, the show also features an explicit link to The Shining through the cameo of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Now, as the story progresses, It: Welcome to Derry is integrating one more beloved tale from King which merits a revisit.
The Powerful Story of The Shawshank Redemption
Although Shawshank Redemption may not be classified as a horror film, particularly compared to much of the author's additional work, it is a haunting tale of a innocently imprisoned individual condemned to live his remaining years inside a notorious prison. And it's this specific institution which is central here, as the Shawshank facility holds considerable history throughout King's stories — a tradition which persists within It: Welcome to Derry.
Some of the stories which mention Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Via these narratives, we learn about the terrible conditions inside the state penitentiary and several of the inmates there, such as the partner of one belonging to Pennywise's early targets, who was convicted of armed robbery.
Thus far, however, the majority we have discovered about the prison was via the perspective of the protagonist in The Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in that 1994 film. Andy ends up at the prison after being wrongly convicted, then finds himself assaulted and raped by fellow inmates, and taken advantage of by those in officials in power for his expertise in finance. He requires him 28 years to tunnel an escape route from Shawshank, before 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 of Shawshank's inclusion via an initial preview for the series, in which a prison bus was seen with the name painted on the side. During the second episode, we learn which character is probably headed to Shawshank.
Though it is known he did not commit the child deaths in the first episode, Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for the crimes. The preview for episode 3, "Now You See It," shows a guard informing a jailed Hank, "Do you know what happens to kiddie killers at that prison?"
The Consequences for the Character and His Daughter
Considering that the real killer in the town is an ancient power from another world preying on and murdering children, Hank's prospects of clearing his name do not look good. Even should he does go in the prison and viewers do not see him there, knowing what we do about that prison indicates that his experience would not be pleasant.
More importantly, however, this development would endanger Ronnie. He acts as her guardian. Terrible events are happening in the town which no one, child or adult, comprehends and she only has her new group of friends to rely on. She will require her father as the story progresses, however should the prison system plays a role, she may be out of luck.
A single fact seems clear: Hank lacks three decades to dig to freedom.
It: Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are streaming now on HBO Max. Additional installments air weekly on Sundays.