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Pennywise's impact on the children of the Derry series shapes them long into adulthood, transforming them into the very adults who perpetuate the community's cycle of hatred alive. The creature finds easy targets on kids from broken households — children who frequently mature to replicate the identical behaviors as their parents. But, the Hanlon family distinguishes itself as one of the few family unit that never splinters, which may explain why Mike, even after choosing to stay in Derry, remains the only Loser who never fully falls under Pennywise's sway.

The Hanlon Family's Unique Resistance

In episode 4 of the series, Leroy Hanlon at last grows more aware of the paranormal entities surrounding the community, especially when the entity starts haunting his child, Will, during their angling excursion. The Hanlon family comprises a small number of adults who are aware that things are not right with the municipality, especially the father, who was revealed to be receptive to the Shining when he was able to detect Dick Hallorann's employment of it in episode 3. Later, Leroy spots one of Pennywise's signature balloons outside his house. The ability, alongside his inability to feel fear, combined with the base of his family, could be why he's capable of perceiving the entity's manifestations. But what if that psychic sensitivity is hereditary, and one of the reasons Mike Hanlon is among the few individuals in the town who resisted succumbing to the town's malevolence?

The boy is a member of the collective of children at his educational institution being terrorized by the clown. His classmates hail from broken homes, with parents who refuse to accept they're being targeted. The reason Will is being haunted is because of the viciousness of the town, combined with his potential sensitivity to shine, which renders him vulnerable. The Hanlons are fundamentally strangers in Derry during the early sixties, which contributes towards the family sensing something is off about the town from the onset. They also have a good foundation that remains unbroken, in contrast to the folks who originate in the area, with relationships that have deteriorated within.

Backstory Connections

Based on the original book, we know the young Will will end up at the infamous nightclub, where Hallorann will save him from a fire that the town bigots of Derry will cause. In the recent movie, we see that he has a son named Mike and that Will eventually perishes in a fire, with Leroy surviving his own child and taking his grandson in. The official story in the film is that Mike's parents were on substances, but now that we see him in Welcome to Derry, that's difficult to accept. Perhaps the shy boy, once he grew up, leaned into alcohol to rid himself of the torments, or maybe the corrupt environment got to him first, with the hate group ultimately completing the task it started years ago. Whether through the terror of Pennywise or through the cruelty of the town, seeded by Pennywise, the creature in the end gets the last laugh on him.

The Father's Evolution

This chain of events would clarify how the elder Hanlon changes so drastically from what we see in It: Chapter 1 and the prequel. In his later years, he seems bitter and much harsher with his discipline. Because he survived his own son, it's understandable to see such a profound shift. Nonetheless, his statements hold greater significance since we are aware he's witnessed Pennywise's hauntings and the effects they wrought upon his child. In the opening scene of the movie, we see the boy pause to use a stunning device on a sheep at Leroy's farm. Leroy reprimands him for delaying and provides an metaphor that results in a kill-or-be-killed situation.

“There are two places you can be in this existence. You can be in the open like us, or you can be in there,” Leroy states as he gestures to the creature. “You dawdle indecisive, and another is going to decide for you. But you will be unaware it until you feel that bolt between your eyes.”

In hindsight, this could be a bit of prediction, something he regrets not imparting to his own child. Perhaps he wishes he had acted differently in his past, but for some reason, he couldn't resist the repellent allure of the town.