The series It: Welcome to Derry contains numerous connections to the author's extensive collection of tales. Beyond the obvious ties to It, the series showcases an explicit connection to The Shining through the cameo of a young Dick Hallorann. Now, as the narrative unfolds, It: Welcome to Derry is weaving in one more classic King story that deserves a revisit.
While Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as horror, especially in contrast with much of King's other writing, it is a gripping tale of a wrongfully convicted man sentenced to spend his remaining years inside a notorious prison. And it's that very penitentiary which is central in this context, since the Shawshank facility holds significant history throughout King's fictional world — a tradition that continues in It: Welcome to Derry.
Some of the stories which mention the prison are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Through these stories, we discover about the terrible life at Shawshank State Prison plus some of the inmates within, including the boyfriend of a belonging to Pennywise's initial victims, who had been convicted for robbery with a weapon.
Thus far, though, the majority we have discovered concerning Shawshank has been through the perspective of Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in that 1994 movie. The character Andy winds up at the prison after his wrongful conviction, and experiences beaten and abused by fellow inmates, and taken advantage of by the officials in power due to his financial knowledge. He requires him 28 years to dig an escape route from Shawshank, before making his way "through a river of shit" to reclaim his liberty.
Regarding the series, viewers initially discovered of Shawshank's inclusion from an initial preview for the series, in which a correctional transport was seen with the name painted on the side. During the second episode, we learn who is probably headed to the prison.
Although we know he did not commit the child deaths in the first episode, Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for those offenses. The preview for episode 3, "Now You See It," reveals a guard telling Hank in his cell, "Do you know what happens to child murderers in Shawshank?"
Considering that the real killer in the town is an ancient power from another world hunting and killing children, Hank's prospects of clearing his name appear slim. Even should he does go to Shawshank and viewers don't follow him inside, knowing what we do regarding Shawshank makes it clear that his experience would be far from enjoyable.
More importantly, though, this development could threaten his daughter. Hank is her guardian. Horrible things are happening in the town that nobody, child or adult, understands and she just has her recently formed circle of pals to depend on. She will require her father as the story progresses, however should 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 to freedom.
Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are currently available via the streaming service. Additional installments are released each week each Sunday.
