Pennywise's influence on the children of the Derry series molds them long into adulthood, twisting them into the exact individuals who perpetuate the community's cycle of hatred alive. It preys most easily on kids from fractured households — youngsters who frequently mature to repeat the identical behaviors as their parents. But, the Hanlon family distinguishes itself as one of the few family unit that remains intact, which could clarify why Mike, even after choosing to stay in the town, remains the sole member who never fully falls under Pennywise's sway.
Hanlon Household's Unique Resistance
In episode 4 of Welcome to Derry, Leroy at last grows increasingly conscious of the paranormal entities enveloping the neighborhood, particularly when It begins tormenting his son, Will Hanlon, during their fishing trip. The Hanlon family comprises some of the few grown-ups who are aware that something is amiss with the town, especially Leroy, who was shown to be receptive to psychic abilities when he was capable of sensing Dick Hallorann's employment of it in the third episode. Later, he sees one of Pennywise's signature inflated orbs outside his house. The ability, coupled with his inability to feel fear, along with the base of his household, could be why he's capable of perceiving Pennywise's hauntings. However, consider if that shining is generational, and one of the reasons Mike is among the few individuals in Derry who didn't lose themselves to its cruelty?
Will is part of the collective of kids at his educational institution being terrorized by Pennywise. His classmates hail from broken homes, with parents who refuse to accept they're being targeted. The cause he is being pursued is due to the cruelty of the town, paired with his likely receptiveness to shine, which makes him susceptible. The Hanlons are ultimately strangers in the town during 1962, which contributes towards the family feeling anomalies exist about the locality from the onset. Additionally, they possess a good foundation that isn't fractured, unlike the residents who come from the town, with bonds that have decayed within.
Historical Context
Based on the It novel, we know the juvenile Will will find himself at the infamous nightclub, where the psychic will save him from a blaze that the town bigots of the community will ignite. In the 2017 movie, we observe that he has a son named Mike and that the father ultimately dies in a configration, with his father surviving his own son and adopting his grandchild. The public account in the motion picture is that Mike's parents were on substances, but given our current view of him in the series, that's hard to believe. Perhaps the shy boy, once he became an adult, leaned into alcohol to rid himself of the torments, or maybe the rotten environment affected him initially, with the KKK eventually finishing the job it started years ago. Whether through the terror of Pennywise or through the malice of the town, seeded by It, It eventually achieves the final victory on him.
The Father's Evolution
These occurrences would explain how Leroy transforms so radically from what we see in the first film and Welcome to Derry. In his later years, Leroy seems bitter and much stricter with his discipline. Because he outlived his own offspring, it's understandable to see such a profound shift. Nonetheless, his statements hold greater significance since we are aware he's witnessed the clown's activities and the impacts they wrought upon his son. In the opening scene of the movie, we observe the boy pause to use a stunning device on a animal at the family property. His grandfather reprimands him for delaying and provides an metaphor that leads to a survival-of-the-fittest situation.
“There are two places you can be in this existence. You can be in the open like us, 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 make that choice. But you won't know it until you feel that bolt between your eyes.”
In hindsight, this could be a bit of prediction, a lesson he wishes he had told his own child. Maybe he wishes he had done something in his past, but for some reason, he was unable to avoid the repellent attraction of the town.
