Welcome to Derry May Have Unraveled a Lingering It Enigma
The clown's influence on the children of Welcome to Derry shapes them long into adulthood, twisting them into the very adults who perpetuate the town's pattern of hatred ongoing. The creature preys most easily on children from broken homes — youngsters who often grow up to replicate the same patterns as their parents. However, the Hanlon family distinguishes itself as one of the few households that never splinters, which may explain why Mike, even after choosing to stay in the town, remains the only Loser who doesn't completely succumb under the clown's influence.
The Hanlon Family's Distinctive Resistance
In episode 4 of Welcome to Derry, Leroy at last grows more aware of the paranormal entities enveloping the community, particularly when the entity starts haunting his child, Will Hanlon, during their fishing trip. The Hanlon clan consists of some of the few grown-ups who are aware that things are not right with the town, especially Leroy, who was shown to be sensitive to the Shining when he was able to detect a fellow psychic's use of it in the third episode. Subsequently, Leroy spots one of Pennywise's signature balloons outside his residence. This gift, alongside his failure to experience terror, combined with the foundation of his family, could be why he's capable of perceiving the entity's manifestations. However, consider if that shining is hereditary, and a key factor Mike is among the few individuals in the town who didn't lose themselves to the town's malevolence?
Will is part of the collective of children at his educational institution being tormented by Pennywise. His classmates come from dysfunctional families, with caregivers who refuse to accept they're being haunted. The cause Will is being pursued is due to the viciousness of the town, combined with his likely receptiveness to psychic abilities, which makes him susceptible. This family are ultimately outsiders in the town during the early sixties, which contributes towards the family sensing anomalies exist about the town from the beginning. Additionally, they possess a solid base that remains unbroken, unlike the folks who originate in the area, with relationships that have decayed within.
Backstory Connections
Based on the It novel, we understand the young Will Hanlon will find himself at the infamous nightclub, where Hallorann will save him from a fire that the local KKK members of Derry will cause. In the 2017 movie, we see that Will has a boy named Mike and that Will ultimately dies in a configration, with Leroy surviving his own son and taking his grandson in. The public account in the motion picture is that Mike's parents were on drugs, but now that we see him in the series, that's difficult to accept. Perhaps the timid boy, once he became an adult, turned to alcohol to free himself of the hauntings, or perhaps the corrupt environment affected him initially, with the hate group eventually finishing the job it started long before. Be it via the terror of Pennywise or through the cruelty of the community, seeded by It, It eventually achieves the last laugh on Will.
The Father's Evolution
These occurrences would explain how the elder Hanlon changes so radically from what we witness in the first film and the prequel. In his later years, he appears resentful and much harsher with his discipline. Since he outlived his own offspring, it's understandable to observe such a profound shift. However, his statements hold greater significance now that we know he's witnessed the clown's activities and the effects they had on his child. In the initial sequence of It, we observe Mike pause to use a stunning device on a animal at the family property. His grandfather reprimands him for hesitating and provides an metaphor that leads to a survival-of-the-fittest situation.
“You have two options you can be in this world. You can be out here like we are, or you can be trapped inside,” Leroy states as he gestures to the sheep. “You waste time hemming and hawing, and someone is going to make that choice. But you will be unaware it until you feel that projectile in your head.”
In hindsight, this could be a piece of foreshadowing, something he regrets not imparting to his own son. Maybe he desires he had done something in his past, but for some reason, he couldn't resist the sickening attraction of the town.
