Don't Miss One Legendary Stephen King Film Before the Series' Next Episode
The series It: Welcome to Derry contains numerous nods to the author's extensive collection of tales. Beyond the obvious links to the original story, the show also features a direct connection to The Shining through the appearance of the youthful future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the story unfolds, Welcome to Derry is integrating another classic King story which merits another look.
The Powerful Story of The Shawshank Redemption
While The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as horror, especially in contrast with much of King's other writing, it is a gripping tale about an wrongfully convicted individual sentenced to spend the rest of his life in a notorious prison. And it's that very institution which is important here, as the Shawshank facility holds considerable history across King's fictional world â a pattern which persists in 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. Via these narratives, we learn regarding the awful life inside the state penitentiary plus several of those imprisoned within, such as the boyfriend of a belonging to Pennywise's early victims, who was convicted for robbery with a weapon.
So far, though, the majority we have discovered about the prison was via the eyes of the protagonist in Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by the actor Tim Robbins in that 1994 movie. The character Andy winds up in Shawshank following his wrongful conviction, then experiences beaten and abused by fellow inmates, and exploited by those in authority figures due to his financial knowledge. It takes him 28 years to dig 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 about the prison's involvement from an early trailer for the series, in which a prison bus was seen with the name painted on the side. During the second episode, it is revealed who is probably destined for Shawshank.
Although it is known he did not responsible for the child deaths initially, the character Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for those offenses. The preview for episode 3, "the upcoming installment," shows a guard informing Hank in his cell, "Are you aware what happens to child murderers at that prison?"
The Implications for the Character and His Daughter
Given that the actual murderer in the town is an ancient power from another world preying on and murdering kids, Hank's chances of proving his innocence appear slim. Even should he ends up to Shawshank and viewers do not see him there, understanding what we do regarding Shawshank makes it clear that his time there would be far from enjoyable.
More importantly, though, this development could threaten his daughter. He acts as her guardian. Terrible events are occurring in the town that nobody, child or adult, understands and she only has her recently formed circle of pals to depend on. She will require her dad as the story progresses, however should the prison system has any say, she could be out of luck.
A single fact seems clear: Hank lacks 28 years to dig his way out.
It: Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are currently available via the streaming service. Additional installments are released each week each Sunday.
