Hold Up, Mate! Why You *Actually* Need to Revisit The Shining Before Diving into It: Welcome to Derry
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Forget your *It* movie marathon! Polygon's Chris Hayner reveals that to truly appreciate *It: Welcome to Derry*, you need to re-watch *The Shining* first, as a young Dick Hallorann from the Overlook Hotel plays a pivotal, expanded role.
Right, so you've got *It: Welcome to Derry* brewing on the HBO horizon, and I bet your mental quest log is pinging with 'Re-watch *It* films' as priority number one, yeah? Well, brace yourselves, because Polygon's Chris Hayner just dropped a digital bombshell that's wilder than accidentally summoning a dimension-hopping imp. Turns out, the *real* prep for this frightful new series isn't what you'd expect. Fair dinkum, it’s not just about revisiting Pennywise’s greatest hits; it’s about a deep dive into another corner of Stephen King’s sprawling, terrifying universe.
Like many of you, my first thought was a fresh playthrough of Andy Muschietti’s *It* and *It: Chapter 2*. Makes sense, right? Direct prequels usually mean direct homework. But Hayner, with a level of insight that feels like he’s got a crystal ball hooked up to the King-verse mainframe, points us in a gloriously unexpected direction: *The Shining*.
Now, before you go thinking this is just some cheeky Easter egg hunt – a quick nod to a different haunted house – reckon again, mate. This is a full-blown narrative connection, a character crossover that’s more substantial than finding a hidden achievement. We’re talking about one of the show’s main characters: Dick Hallorann.
If that name makes a little bell ding in your brain, then you’ve probably spent some time wandering the snowy, eerie halls of the Overlook Hotel. Hallorann, as brilliantly portrayed by Scatman Crothers in Stanley Kubrick's iconic film (and in King's original novel, of course), is the wise, telepathic chef who introduces young Danny Torrance to the concept of “the Shining” – those potent psychic abilities they share. He’s the good guy trying to help, the beacon in a blizzard of madness. And in *Welcome to Derry*, Chris Chalk (from *Gotham*) steps into those very sizable shoes.
This isn't just a gimmick, like slapping a new texture pack onto an old character model. King, bless his wonderfully twisted mind, has always woven an intricate web of connections across his novels. Hallorann actually pops up in the *It* book, playing a minor role in Derry’s history through flashbacks. He even reappears in *Doctor Sleep*, King’s direct sequel to *The Shining*, which Mike Flanagan masterfully adapted into a film. So, while you might not have picked up on it, Hallorann has been a background NPC in the Derry lore for a while.
But here’s where *Welcome to Derry* gets properly interesting, like finding a legendary weapon in a forgotten dungeon. The creative team has taken King's original nod and expanded it, making young Hallorann an integral piece of the puzzle. We’ll meet him as a young army cook, still grappling with powers he doesn't fully understand. He's tasked by the military with tracking the terrifying entity known as It, pushing the very limits of his fledgling abilities. Imagine that, mate! The calm, knowing chef from *The Shining* – facing down pure cosmic evil as a rookie, years before he’s even heard of the Overlook Hotel. *The Shining* itself takes place roughly 44 years *after* this Derry tale, so we're essentially getting a prequel to a prequel, a lore deep-dive that’s as rich as it is unexpected.
It’s like King meticulously crafted a massive, interconnected RPG campaign across decades, dropping subtle hints and character backstories that only truly make sense when you view the entire saga. Watching *The Shining* first isn't just about spotting Easter eggs; it’s about understanding the stakes. It gives every scene with young Hallorann in *Welcome to Derry* a profound, almost tragic weight. You see the nascent stages of a power that will later try to save Danny Torrance, and you witness the raw fear of a man who can perceive horrors beyond normal comprehension, trembling before *It*.
We mostly know It for tormenting kids, but seeing a grown man with formidable psychic abilities like Hallorann shaking in his boots? That hits different, doesn't it? It elevates It's threat level significantly, making the primordial entity feel even more terrifying when it can rattle a powerful 'Shiner.' It’s like watching a high-level player struggle against an early-game boss; it makes you wonder what kind of Eldritch horrors are truly lurking in the shadows.
Now, Chris Hayner at Polygon does suggest skipping *It* and *It: Chapter 2* for your pre-Derry watch. And look, I get the focus on the Hallorann angle. But in my humble opinion, mate, it’s not really an either/or situation. Think of it more as an essential side-quest that adds layers to your main campaign. Watching *The Shining* first enhances the experience, gives you richer context for Hallorann's journey, and deepens the terror of It. You can absolutely still watch the *It* films for direct context on Pennywise and the Losers' Club – but add *The Shining* to your queue as well. It’s like finding a hidden lore document that makes the entire narrative hit harder. And for goodness sake, if you decide to go the *Shining* adaptation route, stick with Kubrick’s masterpiece. As Hayner rightly points out, the King-produced miniseries is… well, let's just say it's not exactly legendary loot.
So, before you dive headfirst into the new scares of *Welcome to Derry*, take a detour to the snow-bound, haunted halls of the Overlook. It’ll make young Hallorann’s battle against Derry’s ancient evil feel all the more impactful, and give you a proper appreciation for King’s brilliantly interconnected, terrifying universe. Happy viewing, and try not to float away!
Tags: Stephen King, Horror, Prequel, Lore, Character Study
Original article: Polygon