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Pennywise's impact on the children of the Derry series shapes them long into adulthood, twisting them into the exact individuals who perpetuate the community's cycle of hatred ongoing. It preys most easily on children from fractured households — children who often mature to repeat the identical behaviors as their guardians. But, the Hanlon household stands apart as a rare example of a households that remains intact, which could clarify why Mike Hanlon, even after electing to remain in Derry, remains the sole member who never fully falls under the clown's influence.

The Hanlon Family's Distinctive Resilience

In episode 4 of Welcome to Derry, Leroy Hanlon finally becomes more aware of the paranormal entities surrounding the neighborhood, particularly when It starts haunting his son, Will, during their fishing trip. The Hanlon family consists of some of the few grown-ups who are aware that things are not right with the town, especially Leroy, who was revealed to be sensitive to psychic abilities when he was capable of sensing a fellow psychic's use of it in episode 3. Later, Leroy sees one of Pennywise's signature balloons outside his residence. The ability, coupled with his inability to feel fear, combined with the foundation of his household, could be why he's able to see Pennywise's hauntings. But what if that shining is generational, and a key factor Mike Hanlon is among the few adults in the town who didn't lose themselves to its cruelty?

The boy is part of the group of kids at his school being terrorized by the clown. All his school friends come from dysfunctional families, with caregivers who don't believe they're being targeted. The reason he is being pursued is because of the viciousness of the town, combined with his likely receptiveness to psychic abilities, which renders him vulnerable. The Hanlons are fundamentally strangers in Derry during 1962, which lends itself towards the family feeling anomalies exist about the locality from the onset. Additionally, they possess a good foundation that remains unbroken, unlike the folks who originate in the town, with relationships that have deteriorated within.

Historical Context

Drawing from the original book, we understand the young Will will end up at the Black Spot, where the psychic will rescue him from a blaze that the town bigots of Derry will cause. In the recent movie, we see that he has a boy named Mike and that Will ultimately dies in a configration, with Leroy surviving his own son and adopting his grandchild. The public account in the motion picture is that the parents were on substances, but now that we see him in the series, that's difficult to accept. Perhaps the shy youth, once he became an adult, turned to drink to rid himself of the torments, or maybe the corrupt town got to him initially, with the KKK eventually completing the task it began long before. Whether through the fear of Pennywise or through the cruelty of the community, instigated by Pennywise, the creature eventually gets the last laugh on Will.

The Father's Evolution

These occurrences would explain how the elder Hanlon transforms so radically from what we witness in It: Chapter 1 and Welcome to Derry. In his later years, Leroy appears resentful and much stricter with his parenting. Since he outlived his own son, it's understandable to see such a profound shift. However, his statements hold greater significance now that we know he's witnessed Pennywise's hauntings and the effects they wrought upon his son. In the opening scene of It, we observe the boy hesitate to use a bolt gun on a sheep at Leroy's farm. Leroy reprimands him for delaying and provides an metaphor that results in a survival-of-the-fittest situation.

“There are two places you can be in this existence. You can be in the open like we are, or you can be trapped inside,” he states as he gestures to the sheep. “You waste time hemming and hawing, and another is going to decide for you. But you won't know it until you experience that bolt in your head.”

Looking back, this could be a bit of prediction, something he wishes he had told his own child. Maybe he wishes he had done something in his youth, but for some reason, he couldn't resist the repellent attraction of Derry.