You Should Watch One Legendary Stephen King Movie Prior to It: Welcome to Derry's Next Episode

The series Welcome to Derry is packed with references to the author's wide-ranging universe of narratives. Apart from the clear ties to the original story, the show includes a direct link to King's famous novel through the cameo of a young Dick Hallorann. Currently, as the story progresses, It: Welcome to Derry is integrating one more beloved King story which merits another look.

The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption

While Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as a horror film, particularly compared to a lot of the author's additional work, it is a gripping tale about an innocently imprisoned man sentenced to spend his remaining years in a infamous penitentiary. It is that very penitentiary which is important in this context, as the Shawshank facility possesses significant lore throughout King's stories — a tradition that continues within Welcome to Derry.

Some of the tales which mention Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Via these narratives, we discover regarding the awful life at the state penitentiary and several of those imprisoned there, such as the boyfriend of a of Pennywise's initial victims, who had been found guilty for robbery with a weapon.

So far, though, the majority we've learned about the prison was via the eyes of the protagonist in Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in that 1994 film. The character Andy ends up in Shawshank following his wrongful conviction, then finds himself assaulted and raped by other prisoners, while taken advantage of by the authority figures for his financial knowledge. He requires nearly three decades to tunnel his way out from Shawshank, before crawling "through a river of shit" to take back his freedom.

The Prison's Appearance in Welcome to Derry

Regarding It: Welcome to Derry, viewers initially discovered of Shawshank's inclusion via an initial preview for the series, in which a correctional transport was seen bearing the title painted on the side. In episode 2, it is revealed who is probably headed to the prison.

Though we know he was not responsible for the murders of children initially, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for the crimes. The preview for the next episode, "the upcoming installment," shows a guard informing a jailed Hank, "Are you aware what they do to child murderers at that prison?"

The Implications for the Character and His Daughter

Considering that the real murderer in Derry is an ancient power from another world hunting and murdering children, Hank's prospects of proving his innocence do not look good. And even if he ends up to Shawshank and viewers don't follow him inside, understanding what is known regarding Shawshank makes it clear that his experience would be far from pleasant.

More importantly, though, this development would endanger his daughter. He acts as her protector. Horrible things are happening in the town which no one, child or adult, understands and she only has her recently formed circle of pals to depend on. She's going to need her father in the coming episodes, however should the prison system has any say, she may be without help.

One thing seems clear: Hank doesn’t have three decades to dig to freedom.

It: Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are currently available on HBO Max. New episodes air weekly each Sunday.