Welcome to Derry May Have Solved a Longstanding Pennywise Enigma
Pennywise's impact on the children of the Derry series shapes them throughout their adult lives, transforming them into the very adults who perpetuate the town's pattern of hatred alive. The creature preys most easily on kids from broken households — youngsters who often mature to replicate the identical behaviors as their parents. However, the Hanlon household distinguishes itself as one of the few family unit that never splinters, which may explain why Mike, even after choosing to stay in the town, persists as the sole member who doesn't completely succumb under Pennywise's sway.
The Hanlon Family's Distinctive Resilience
In episode 4 of the series, Leroy Hanlon at last grows more aware of the paranormal entities surrounding the community, especially when It begins tormenting his child, Will, during their angling excursion. The Hanlon clan consists of a small number of adults who are aware that something is amiss with the municipality, especially Leroy, who was revealed to be receptive to psychic abilities when he was able to detect Dick Hallorann's use of it in episode 3. Later, he sees one of Pennywise's signature inflated orbs outside his house. The ability, coupled with his failure to feel fear, combined with the base of his family, may be why he's able to see the entity's manifestations. But what if that shining is hereditary, and a key factor Mike Hanlon is among the few individuals in Derry who resisted succumbing to its cruelty?
The boy is a member of the collective of kids at his school being terrorized by Pennywise. All his school friends come from dysfunctional families, with parents who refuse to accept they're being haunted. The cause Will is being pursued is due to the viciousness of the community, paired with his likely receptiveness to shine, which makes him susceptible. This family are fundamentally outsiders in Derry during the early sixties, which lends itself towards the family sensing anomalies exist about the locality from the onset. They also have a good foundation that isn't fractured, in contrast to the folks who come from the town, with relationships that have decayed internally.
Historical Context
Based on the original book, 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 the community will ignite. In the 2017 film, we observe that Will has a son named Mike and that Will ultimately dies in a fire, with his father surviving his own child and adopting his grandchild. The public account in the film is that Mike's parents were on substances, but given our current view of Will in the series, that's hard to believe. Maybe the timid boy, once he grew up, turned to drink to rid himself of the torments, or perhaps the corrupt town affected him initially, with the KKK ultimately finishing the task it began years ago. Be it via the fear of Pennywise or via the malice of the community, seeded by It, the creature in the end achieves the final victory on him.
Leroy's Transformation
These occurrences would explain how the elder Hanlon changes so drastically from what we see in the first film and the prequel. In his older age, Leroy seems resentful and much harsher with his parenting. Because he survived his own son, it's understandable to see such a drastic change. Nonetheless, his statements carry more weight since we are aware he's witnessed the clown's activities and the impacts they wrought upon his son. In the initial sequence of the movie, we see Mike pause to use a bolt gun on a animal at the family property. His grandfather reprimands him for hesitating and offers an metaphor that leads to a survival-of-the-fittest situation.
“There are two places you can be in this existence. You can be out here like us, or you can be trapped inside,” he states as he points to the sheep. “You dawdle indecisive, and someone is going to make that choice. But you won't know it until you feel that projectile in your head.”
Looking back, this could represent a piece of foreshadowing, something he wishes he had told his own son. Maybe he desires he had acted differently in his youth, but for some reason, he couldn't resist the repellent attraction of the town.
