Make Time For This Classic Stephen King Movie Before It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
HBO's Welcome to Derry is packed with connections to Stephen King's wide-ranging collection of tales. Apart from the clear links to the original story, the series showcases an explicit link to King's famous novel through the appearance of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Currently, as the story progresses, Welcome to Derry is weaving in another beloved tale from King that deserves a revisit.
The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption
Although Shawshank Redemption may not be considered horror, especially in contrast with much of the author's additional writing, it remains a gripping tale of a wrongfully convicted man condemned to spend the rest of his life inside a infamous prison. And it's this specific institution which is central in this context, since the Shawshank facility holds considerable lore throughout King's fictional world — a pattern which persists within Welcome to Derry.
Some of the tales which mention the prison are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Through these stories, we learn about the terrible conditions at Shawshank State Prison plus several of those imprisoned there, such as the partner of a belonging to Pennywise's initial victims, who had been convicted for robbery with a weapon.
So far, however, the most we've learned about the prison has been through the eyes of the protagonist from Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by the actor Tim Robbins in the 1994 film. The character Andy ends up in Shawshank after being wrongly convicted, and experiences assaulted and abused by fellow inmates, while taken advantage of by those in authority figures due to his financial knowledge. It takes him 28 years to tunnel his way out of the prison, before crawling "through a river of shit" to take back his freedom.
Shawshank's Role in It: Welcome to Derry
In relation to It: Welcome to Derry, audiences first learned about the prison's involvement via an early trailer for the show, where a correctional transport appeared bearing the title displayed on its side. During the second episode, we learn which character is probably headed to Shawshank.
Although it is known he did not responsible for the murders of children initially, the character Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for those offenses. The preview for episode 3, "the upcoming installment," reveals a guard telling Hank in his cell, "Are you aware what happens to child murderers at that prison?"
The Consequences for Hank and Ronnie
Given that the actual murderer in Derry is an ancient power originating elsewhere hunting and killing kids, Hank's prospects of clearing his name appear slim. And even if he does go in the prison and the audience don't follow him inside, understanding what is known about that prison makes it clear that his experience would be far from pleasant.
Crucially, however, this development would endanger his daughter. He acts as her guardian. Terrible events are happening around Derry that nobody, young or old, comprehends and Ronnie only has her new group of friends to rely on. She's going to need her father in the coming episodes, but if Shawshank has any say, she may be without help.
One thing is apparent: Hank doesn’t have three decades to tunnel to freedom.
Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are streaming now via the streaming service. New episodes air weekly on Sundays.