Welcome to Derry May Have Unraveled a Lingering Pennywise Enigma
The clown's influence on the children of the Derry series molds them long into adulthood, twisting them into the very adults who perpetuate the town's pattern of animosity ongoing. It preys most easily on kids from broken homes — youngsters who often mature to repeat the identical behaviors as their parents. However, the Hanlon household stands apart as a rare example of a family unit that never splinters, which may explain why Mike Hanlon, even after choosing to stay in the town, persists as the sole member who doesn't completely succumb under Pennywise's sway.
Hanlon Household's Distinctive Resilience
In the fourth installment of the series, Leroy Hanlon at last grows more aware of the paranormal entities surrounding the community, particularly when It begins tormenting his son, Will, during their fishing trip. The Hanlon clan comprises some of the few grown-ups who are aware that things are not right with the town, notably the father, who was revealed to be sensitive to the Shining when he was capable of sensing Dick Hallorann's use of it in episode 3. Subsequently, he spots one of Pennywise's signature balloons outside his house. The ability, alongside his failure to experience terror, combined with the base of his household, could be why he's able to see Pennywise's hauntings. However, consider if that shining is generational, and a key factor Mike Hanlon is among the few individuals in the town who resisted succumbing to the town's malevolence?
The boy is part of the group of children at his school being tormented by Pennywise. His classmates hail from dysfunctional families, with parents who refuse to accept they're being haunted. The cause Will is being pursued is because of the viciousness of the town, combined with his likely receptiveness to psychic abilities, which makes him susceptible. The Hanlons are ultimately strangers in the town during 1962, which contributes towards the family feeling anomalies exist about the locality from the onset. They also have a good foundation that remains unbroken, in contrast to the residents who originate in the town, with bonds that have decayed within.
Backstory Connections
Based on the It novel, we understand the young Will will find himself at the Black Spot, where the psychic will save him from a blaze that the town bigots of the community will ignite. In the 2017 movie, we see that Will has a son named Mike and that the father eventually perishes in a configration, with Leroy outliving his own child and adopting his grandchild. The public account in the film is that Mike's parents were on drugs, but given our current view of Will in the series, that's difficult to accept. Maybe the timid youth, once he became an adult, turned to drink to rid himself of the hauntings, or maybe the corrupt town affected him initially, with the KKK ultimately completing the job it began years ago. Be it via the fear of the entity or via the malice of the town, instigated by It, the creature eventually gets the final victory on Will.
The Father's Evolution
This chain of events would explain how the elder Hanlon transforms so drastically from what we witness in It: Chapter 1 and Welcome to Derry. In his older age, Leroy appears bitter and much harsher with his discipline. Because he survived his own offspring, it's understandable to see such a profound shift. However, his statements carry more weight now that we know he's seen the clown's activities and the effects they wrought upon his child. In the opening scene of the movie, we see Mike hesitate to use a stunning device on a sheep at Leroy's farm. Leroy chastises him for hesitating and provides an metaphor that leads to a survival-of-the-fittest situation.
“There are two places you can be in this world. You can be out here like we are, or you can be in there,” Leroy states as he points to the sheep. “You dawdle indecisive, and someone is going to make that choice. Except you won't know it until you experience that bolt in your head.”
Looking back, this could represent a piece of prediction, something he regrets not imparting to his own child. Perhaps he desires he had acted differently in his past, but for some reason, he couldn't resist the repellent attraction of Derry.
