The Derry Chronicles May Have Unraveled a Lingering It Enigma
Pennywise's impact on the children of the Derry series molds them throughout their adult lives, twisting them into the very adults who keep the town's cycle of hatred alive. It preys most easily on kids from fractured households — youngsters who often grow up to repeat the identical behaviors as their guardians. But, the Hanlon household distinguishes itself as a rare example of a family unit that never splinters, which may explain why Mike Hanlon, even after choosing to stay in Derry, remains the only Loser who doesn't completely succumb under Pennywise's sway.
The Hanlon Family's Unique Resilience
In episode 4 of Welcome to Derry, Leroy Hanlon at last grows increasingly conscious of the supernatural forces surrounding the community, particularly when It begins tormenting his son, Will, during their angling excursion. The Hanlon family consists of some of the few adults who are aware that something is amiss with the municipality, especially Leroy, who was shown to be sensitive to psychic abilities when he was able to detect Dick Hallorann's employment of it in episode 3. Later, he spots one of the clown's trademark balloons outside his house. This gift, coupled with his inability to experience terror, combined with the base of his family, could be why he's capable of perceiving Pennywise's hauntings. But what if that psychic sensitivity is hereditary, and a key factor Mike is among the few adults in Derry who resisted succumbing to its cruelty?
Will is part of the collective of kids at his school being terrorized by Pennywise. His classmates hail from broken homes, with parents who refuse to accept they're being targeted. The reason he is being pursued is because of the cruelty of the town, combined with his potential sensitivity to shine, which makes him susceptible. The Hanlons are ultimately outsiders in the town during the early sixties, which lends itself towards the household feeling anomalies exist about the town from the beginning. Additionally, they possess a good foundation that remains unbroken, in contrast to the residents who come from the area, with bonds that have decayed internally.
Historical Context
Based on the It novel, we know the juvenile Will Hanlon will end up at the Black Spot, where the psychic will save him from a blaze that the town bigots of Derry will ignite. In the 2017 film, we observe that he has a boy named Mike and that the father ultimately dies in a fire, with his father surviving his own son and taking his grandson in. The official story in the motion picture is that Mike's parents were on substances, but now that we see Will in the series, that's difficult to accept. Maybe the timid youth, once he grew up, turned to alcohol to free himself of the torments, or perhaps the corrupt environment got to him first, with the KKK ultimately completing the job it began long before. Be it via the terror of the entity or via the cruelty of the town, seeded by It, the creature eventually achieves the last laugh on Will.
Leroy's Transformation
These occurrences would explain how the elder Hanlon changes so drastically from what we witness in the first film and Welcome to Derry. In his older age, Leroy seems resentful and much harsher with his discipline. Since he outlived his own offspring, it's comprehensible to see such a drastic change. However, his statements carry more weight since we are aware he's seen the clown's activities and the impacts they wrought upon his son. In the initial sequence of It, we see Mike pause to use a stunning device on a sheep at Leroy's farm. Leroy chastises him for delaying and provides an metaphor that results in a survival-of-the-fittest scenario.
“There are two places you can be in this world. You can be out here like we are, or you can be trapped inside,” Leroy states as he points to the creature. “You dawdle hemming and hawing, and another is going to decide for you. But you will be unaware it until you experience that bolt between your eyes.”
Looking back, this could be a bit of foreshadowing, a lesson he wishes he had told his own son. Perhaps he desires he had acted differently in his past, but for certain factors, he was unable to avoid the sickening allure of Derry.
