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HBO's Welcome to Derry contains numerous connections to the author's extensive library of stories. Apart from the clear ties to the original story, the series includes an explicit link to The Shining through the cameo of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Currently, as the narrative unfolds, Welcome to Derry is integrating another classic tale from King that deserves a revisit.

The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption

While The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as a horror film, especially in contrast with much of the author's additional work, it remains a haunting tale about an wrongfully convicted man condemned to spend the rest of his life inside a infamous prison. And it's this specific institution which is central in this context, as Shawshank State Prison holds significant lore throughout King's fictional world — a pattern which persists within Welcome to Derry.

Among the tales that reference Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Via these stories, we discover about the terrible conditions inside the state penitentiary plus some of the inmates there, including the partner of one belonging to Pennywise's early targets, who had been found guilty of armed robbery.

So far, however, the most we have discovered concerning Shawshank was through the eyes of Andy Dufresne from Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in the 1994 film. The character Andy winds up at the prison following his wrongful conviction, and experiences beaten and raped by fellow inmates, while taken advantage of by the officials in power due to his expertise in finance. He requires nearly three decades to tunnel an escape route from Shawshank, before crawling "through sewage" to reclaim his liberty.

Shawshank's Role in It: Welcome to Derry

Regarding It: Welcome to Derry, viewers initially discovered of Shawshank's involvement from an early trailer for the show, in which a prison bus was seen bearing the title displayed on its side. In episode 2, it is revealed who is probably headed to Shawshank.

Though it is known he did not commit the child deaths in the first episode, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. The preview for the next episode, "Now You See It," shows an officer telling a jailed Hank, "Do you know what they do to child murderers at that prison?"

The Consequences for the Character and Ronnie

Considering that the real murderer in the town is an ancient power from another world preying on and murdering kids, Hank's prospects of clearing his name appear slim. And even if he ends up in the prison and viewers don't follow him there, understanding what we do about that prison indicates that his experience would not be pleasant.

Crucially, though, this development could threaten his daughter. He acts as her protector. Terrible events are happening in the town which no one, young or old, comprehends and Ronnie only has her new group circle of pals to rely on. She's going to need her dad as the story progresses, but if the prison system has any say, she may be without help.

A single fact seems clear: Hank lacks 28 years to dig his way out.

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Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are currently available on HBO Max. Additional installments are released each week each Sunday.