You Should Watch This Legendary Stephen King Film Prior to the Series' Next Episode
The series Welcome to Derry contains numerous nods to Stephen King's wide-ranging library of stories. Apart from the clear links to the original story, the show includes a direct connection to King's famous novel via the cameo of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Now, as the story progresses, It: Welcome to Derry is weaving in another classic King story that deserves another look.
The Powerful Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
While The Shawshank Redemption may not be classified as a horror film, especially compared to much of the author's additional writing, it remains a haunting story of a wrongfully convicted individual condemned to live his remaining years inside a notorious prison. And it's this specific penitentiary which is central in this context, since the Shawshank facility holds considerable history across King's stories — a pattern which persists in It: Welcome to Derry.
Among the tales which mention the prison include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Via these stories, we learn regarding the awful life at the state penitentiary and some of the inmates there, including the boyfriend of one belonging to Pennywise's early targets, who was convicted of armed robbery.
Thus far, however, the most we've learned about the prison was via the perspective of the protagonist from Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in that 1994 movie. The character Andy winds up in Shawshank after being wrongly convicted, and experiences beaten and abused by other prisoners, and exploited by the officials in power due to his expertise in finance. He requires him 28 years to tunnel his way out of the prison, prior to making his way "through a river of shit" to reclaim his liberty.
Shawshank's Role in It: Welcome to Derry
In relation to the series, audiences first learned of Shawshank's inclusion from an early trailer for the show, where a correctional transport appeared with the name displayed on its side. In episode 2, we learn who is likely headed to the prison.
Though it is known he did not commit the murders of children in the first episode, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. The preview for the next episode, "the upcoming installment," shows a guard telling a jailed Hank, "Do you know what happens to kiddie killers at that prison?"
The Implications for Hank and Ronnie
Given that the real murderer in the town is a primordial entity originating elsewhere preying on and killing children, Hank's prospects of clearing his name do not look good. And even if he ends up in the prison and the audience do not see him inside, understanding what is known about that prison makes it clear that his time there would not be pleasant.
More importantly, however, this development could threaten his daughter. He acts as her guardian. Horrible things are occurring in the town that nobody, child or adult, comprehends and she only has her recently formed of friends to depend on. She will require her father in the coming episodes, however should Shawshank has any say, she could be without help.
A single fact seems clear: Hank lacks three decades to dig his way out.
It: Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are currently available via the streaming service. Additional installments are released each week on Sundays.
