Don't Miss One Iconic Stephen King Film Before It: Welcome to Derry's Next Episode
The series Welcome to Derry contains numerous connections to the author's extensive library of stories. Beyond the clear ties to the original story, the series showcases an explicit link to The Shining via the appearance of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Currently, as the narrative progresses, It: Welcome to Derry is weaving in another classic King story which merits a revisit.
The Powerful Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
While Shawshank Redemption may not be classified as a horror film, particularly in contrast with much of King's other work, it is a gripping tale about an wrongfully convicted individual condemned to spend his remaining years inside a notorious penitentiary. And it's this specific penitentiary that becomes central in this context, since the Shawshank facility possesses considerable history across King's fictional world — a pattern which persists within Welcome to Derry.
Among the stories that reference the prison are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Through these stories, we discover regarding the awful conditions inside the state penitentiary and some of the inmates there, such as the boyfriend of one belonging to Pennywise's initial targets, who was convicted of armed robbery.
Thus far, though, the majority we've learned about the prison was through the eyes of the protagonist in The Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by Tim Robbins in that 1994 film. The character Andy winds up at the prison following being wrongly convicted, and experiences assaulted and abused by other prisoners, while exploited by those in authority figures for his expertise in finance. He requires him 28 years to dig his way out of the prison, prior to making his way "through sewage" to reclaim his liberty.
Shawshank's Appearance in Welcome to Derry
In relation to the series, audiences first learned about the prison's inclusion via an initial preview for the series, where a prison bus appeared with the name painted on the side. In episode 2, we learn which character is probably destined for Shawshank.
Although we know he did not responsible for the child deaths in the first episode, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. A teaser for the next episode, "the upcoming installment," shows an officer telling a jailed Hank, "Do you know what happens to child murderers at that prison?"
The Consequences for the Character and His Daughter
Given that the actual murderer in Derry is a primordial entity from another world preying on and murdering children, Hank's chances of proving his innocence do not look good. Even should he ends up in the prison and viewers don't follow him there, understanding what we do about that prison indicates that his experience would not be pleasant.
Crucially, however, this development could threaten Ronnie. Hank is her protector. Terrible events are occurring in the town which no one, young or old, understands and she only has her new group circle of pals to depend on. She's going to need her father as the story progresses, but if Shawshank has any say, she may be without help.
One thing seems clear: Hank doesn’t have three decades to dig his way out.
It: Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are streaming now via the streaming service. Additional installments are released each week each Sunday.
