The series It: Welcome to Derry contains numerous references to the author's extensive collection of tales. Apart from the clear links to the original story, the show also features a direct connection to King's famous novel via the cameo of a young future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Currently, as the story unfolds, It: Welcome to Derry is integrating another classic King story that deserves another look.
The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
Although Shawshank Redemption may not be considered horror, particularly compared to much of the author's additional work, it is a gripping tale of a innocently imprisoned individual condemned to spend his remaining years in a infamous prison. And it's this specific institution which is important in this context, as the Shawshank facility holds considerable lore across King's fictional world — a pattern that continues in It: Welcome to Derry.
Among the tales which mention the prison include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Via these narratives, we learn regarding the terrible life at Shawshank State Prison and some of the inmates there, including the partner of one belonging to Pennywise's early targets, who had been convicted for robbery with a weapon.
Thus far, though, the most we've learned concerning Shawshank has been through the perspective of the protagonist from The Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by Tim Robbins in the 1994 movie. Andy winds up at the prison after being wrongly convicted, and finds himself beaten and abused by fellow inmates, while taken advantage of by those in officials in power for his expertise in finance. He requires him 28 years to tunnel an escape route from Shawshank, before crawling "through sewage" to reclaim his liberty.
Shawshank's Role in Welcome to Derry
In relation to It: Welcome to Derry, audiences first learned of Shawshank's inclusion from an early trailer for the show, in which a prison bus appeared bearing the title displayed on its side. In episode 2, it is revealed who is probably headed to the prison.
Though we know he was not commit the child deaths in the first episode, the character Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for the crimes. A teaser for episode 3, "the upcoming installment," reveals a guard telling a jailed Hank, "Do you know what happens to child murderers in Shawshank?"
The Implications for Hank and His Daughter
Considering that the real killer in the town is an ancient power from another world hunting and killing children, Hank's prospects of proving his innocence appear slim. And even if he ends up to Shawshank and the audience do not see him inside, understanding what we do about that prison makes it clear that his time there would be far from pleasant.
More importantly, however, this situation could threaten Ronnie. He acts as her protector. Horrible things are occurring in the town that nobody, young or old, understands and Ronnie just has her recently formed of friends to depend on. She will require her father in the coming episodes, but if the prison system has any say, she could be out of luck.
One thing is apparent: 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.
