You Should Watch One Classic Stephen King Film Before It: Welcome to Derry's Next Episode
HBO's Welcome to Derry contains numerous connections to the author's wide-ranging collection of tales. Apart from the obvious ties to the original story, the series showcases a direct link to King's famous novel via the appearance of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Now, as the narrative unfolds, Welcome to Derry is integrating another beloved King story that deserves another look.
The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
While The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as a horror film, particularly in contrast with much of the author's additional writing, it remains a gripping tale about an wrongfully convicted individual sentenced to spend his remaining years inside a infamous prison. And it's this specific penitentiary that becomes important here, as Shawshank State Prison possesses considerable history across King's fictional world — a pattern that continues within It: Welcome to Derry.
Some of the stories that reference the prison include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Through these narratives, we discover regarding the terrible conditions at Shawshank State Prison plus several of those imprisoned within, such as the boyfriend of a belonging to Pennywise's initial victims, who had been convicted of armed robbery.
Thus far, however, the most we've learned concerning Shawshank was through the eyes of Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by the actor Tim Robbins in that 1994 film. The character Andy winds up at the prison after being wrongly convicted, and experiences beaten and abused by fellow inmates, while exploited by those in officials in power due to his financial knowledge. He requires nearly three decades to dig an escape route of the prison, before making his way "through a river of shit" to take back his liberty.
Shawshank's Appearance in Welcome to Derry
Regarding the series, viewers first learned of Shawshank's involvement via an initial preview for the show, in which a correctional transport was seen bearing the title painted on the side. In episode 2, we learn who is likely destined for Shawshank.
Although we know he did not responsible for the child deaths in the first episode, the character Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for the crimes. The preview for the next episode, "the upcoming installment," reveals a guard telling Hank in his cell, "Do you know what happens to kiddie killers in Shawshank?"
The Consequences for the Character and His Daughter
Given that the real killer in Derry is an ancient power from another world hunting and killing children, Hank's chances of clearing his name appear slim. And even if he does go to Shawshank and viewers don't follow him there, knowing what is known about that prison makes it clear that his time there would not be enjoyable.
Crucially, though, this situation would endanger Ronnie. He acts as her protector. Terrible events are happening in the town that nobody, young or old, understands and she only has her new group of friends to depend on. She's going to need her father in the coming episodes, but if the prison system has any say, she may be out of luck.
A single fact is apparent: Hank doesn’t have three decades to tunnel his way out.
Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are currently available on HBO Max. New episodes air weekly each Sunday.
