🔗 Share this article

HBO's It: Welcome to Derry is packed with connections to the author's vast universe of narratives. Beyond the clear links to the original story, the series showcases an explicit link to The Shining via the cameo of a young future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the story unfolds, It: Welcome to Derry is integrating one more classic King story which merits another look.

The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption

Although The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically considered a horror film, particularly compared to a lot of King's other work, it remains a gripping tale of a wrongfully convicted man condemned to spend the rest of his life in a notorious prison. And it's this specific institution which is important in this context, since the Shawshank facility holds considerable history across King's fictional world — a tradition which persists within It: Welcome to Derry.

Some of the stories that reference the prison are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Through these stories, we learn regarding the terrible conditions inside the state penitentiary and some of those imprisoned within, such as the boyfriend of one belonging to Pennywise's initial targets, who had been convicted for robbery with a weapon.

Thus far, however, the most we have discovered about the prison was via the perspective of Andy Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by the actor Tim Robbins in that 1994 film. Andy ends up in Shawshank following being wrongly convicted, and finds himself assaulted and abused by other prisoners, and taken advantage of by those in officials in power due to his expertise in finance. It takes nearly three decades to dig an escape route of the prison, before making his way "through a river of shit" to reclaim his freedom.

Shawshank's Appearance in Welcome to Derry

Regarding the series, viewers initially discovered of Shawshank's inclusion from an early trailer for the show, in which a prison bus appeared bearing the title painted on the side. In episode 2, it is revealed who is probably destined for the prison.

Though we know he did not responsible for the child deaths in the first episode, the character Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for the crimes. A teaser for episode 3, "the upcoming installment," shows an officer informing Hank in his cell, "Do you know what they do to child murderers at that prison?"

The Consequences for Hank and His Daughter

Considering that the actual killer in Derry is a primordial entity from another world preying on and murdering children, Hank's chances of proving his innocence appear slim. And even if he does go in the prison and viewers don't follow him inside, knowing what is known about that prison indicates that his time there would not be pleasant.

More importantly, though, this situation could threaten his daughter. Hank is her guardian. Terrible events are occurring in the town that nobody, young or old, comprehends and Ronnie just has her recently formed of friends to rely on. She will require her father in the coming episodes, but if Shawshank plays a role, she may be without help.

A single fact seems clear: Hank doesn’t have three decades to tunnel his way out.

---

It: Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are currently available via the streaming service. Additional installments are released each week on Sundays.