Welcome To Derry Episode 3

Welcome to Derry is expanding the universe of Stephen King, and there’s one movie that is a must-watch before episode three arrives. The prequel series Welcome to Derry takes the audience 27 years before the events of Andy Muschietti’s It movie to explore one of It’s many murder sprees in Derry.

Set in 1962, Welcome to Derry follows a group of kids terrorized by It, which is taking never-before-seen forms to go after its new victims. Parallel to this is the storyline of the adults, who are dealing with social issues like racism, while the military uses Dick Hallorann’s (Chris Chalk) “shine” powers to locate It’s lair, with the purpose of weaponizing the creature.

So far, Welcome to Derry has been packed with Easter eggs and references to other Stephen King works, and the teaser for episode 3 shows even more Easter eggs – and one, in particular, shows that it’s time to watch one of the best Stephen King movies.

The Shawshank Redemption Is A Must-Watch Before It: Welcome To Derry Episode 3

Red and Andy in the Prison yard in The Shawshank Redemption

At the end of episode 2 of Welcome to Derry, there’s a teaser for episode 3. In it, the military is coming up with new ways of seizing Hallorann’s abilities, while Chief Bowers (Peter Outerbridge) taunts Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider) about what will happen to him at Shawshank State Prison.

In episode 2, Hank was unfairly arrested for the deaths of Teddy, Phil, and Susie, without any actual evidence linking him to them. Given the time setting and the social issues linked to it, Hank’s story is most likely about to get worse, and as he heads to Shawshank, this is the best moment to watch The Shawshank Redemption.

Based on King’s 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, and directed by Frank Darabont, The Shawshank Redemption is the story of banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), who is sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary. Dufresne is accused of the murders of his wife and her lover, but he claims to be innocent.

At Shawshank, Dufresne befriends fellow prisoner Ellis “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman), a contraband smuggler. Dufresne also uses his skills to gain privileges and becomes involved in a money laundering operation for a corrupt prison warden.

The Shawshank Redemption was a critical hit (though a box-office disappointment) and still ranks among the best movies of all time and one of the best Stephen King adaptations to date. Although it’s unclear if Welcome to Derry’s story could overlap with Dufresne’s, the movie gives a good look at how things operate at Shawshank.

Shawshank State Penitentiary Is A Key Location Throughout The Stephen King Universe

Shawshank State Penitentiary is located in Derry, and as the town is a recurrent location in Stephen King’s universe, Shawshank is also a key location. Shawshank first appeared in the above-mentioned novella, and it has since been mentioned in many other stories (and appeared in various episodes of Castle Rock).

The horrors of Shawshank have been explored in the Rita Hayworth novel, the movie, and Castle Rock in different ways, showing that it’s a place plagued by corruption, injustice, and inhuman treatment. Welcome to Derry will surely expand on these, perhaps with the presence of It to add more chaos and horror to an already difficult place.