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HBO's It: Welcome to Derry contains numerous references to the author's extensive collection of tales. Apart from the obvious ties to the original story, the show also features an explicit link to King's famous novel via the appearance of a young future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Currently, as the story progresses, Welcome to Derry is weaving in another beloved tale from King that deserves another look.

The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption

Although The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as a horror film, particularly in contrast with much of the author's additional writing, it is a gripping story of a wrongfully convicted individual sentenced to live the rest of his life in a notorious penitentiary. And it's this specific institution that becomes central here, since Shawshank State Prison holds significant lore across King's stories — a tradition that continues within 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. Through these narratives, we discover about the terrible life inside Shawshank State Prison and some of those imprisoned there, including the partner of a of Pennywise's initial targets, who had been found guilty for robbery with a weapon.

So far, however, the most we've learned about the prison was via the perspective of Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in the 1994 film. The character Andy winds up at the prison after being wrongly convicted, and experiences beaten and raped by fellow inmates, and exploited by the officials in power due to his expertise in finance. It takes him 28 years to dig his way out from Shawshank, prior to making his way "through sewage" to reclaim his freedom.

The Prison's Appearance in Welcome to Derry

Regarding the series, viewers first learned of Shawshank's involvement via an early trailer for the show, in which a correctional transport was seen with the name displayed on its side. In episode 2, it is revealed who is probably headed to Shawshank.

Although it is known he was not commit the child deaths in the first episode, the character Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for those offenses. The preview for the next episode, "Now You See It," reveals a guard telling a jailed Hank, "Do you know what happens to kiddie killers at that prison?"

The Consequences for Hank and His Daughter

Considering that the real killer in Derry is a primordial entity from another world hunting and murdering kids, Hank's prospects of clearing his name do not look good. And even if he ends up in the prison and the audience don't follow him inside, knowing what we do regarding Shawshank indicates that his experience would not be enjoyable.

More importantly, however, this situation could threaten his daughter. He acts as her guardian. Terrible events are occurring in the town that nobody, young or old, understands and Ronnie only has her new group circle of pals to rely 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 dig to freedom.

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Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are streaming now via the streaming service. Additional installments air weekly each Sunday.