The Derry Chronicles May Have Unraveled a Longstanding It Enigma
Pennywise's influence on the young residents of Welcome to Derry shapes them long into adulthood, twisting them into the exact individuals who keep the town's pattern of hatred alive. It preys most easily on children from fractured households — youngsters who often mature to replicate the same patterns as their guardians. But, the Hanlon family distinguishes itself as one of the few households that remains intact, which could clarify why Mike, even after electing to remain in the town, persists as the only Loser who doesn't completely succumb under the clown's influence.
The Hanlon Family's Unique Resistance
In episode 4 of the series, Leroy finally becomes more aware of the paranormal entities surrounding the community, especially when the entity begins tormenting his son, Will, during their angling excursion. The Hanlon family comprises a small number of grown-ups who are cognizant that things are not right with the municipality, notably the father, who was shown to be sensitive to the Shining when he was capable of sensing Dick Hallorann's use of it in episode 3. Subsequently, he spots one of Pennywise's signature inflated orbs outside his house. This gift, alongside his failure to feel fear, combined with the base of his household, could be why he's able to see Pennywise's hauntings. However, consider if that shining is generational, and one of the reasons Mike Hanlon is among the few individuals in the town who didn't lose themselves to the town's malevolence?
The boy is a member of the collective of children at his school being terrorized by the clown. All his school friends come from dysfunctional families, with parents who don't believe they're being targeted. The reason he is being haunted is because of the viciousness of the community, paired with his potential sensitivity to shine, which makes him susceptible. This family are ultimately strangers in the town during 1962, which contributes towards the family sensing something is off about the locality from the onset. Additionally, they possess a good foundation that isn't fractured, in contrast to the residents who originate in the area, with bonds that have deteriorated internally.
Backstory Connections
Based on the original book, we know the juvenile Will will end up at the infamous nightclub, where the psychic will rescue him from a fire that the local KKK members of Derry will ignite. In the recent film, we observe that he has a son named Mike and that the father eventually perishes in a configration, with his father outliving his own child and taking his grandson in. The public account in the film is that Mike's parents were on substances, but now that we see him in the series, that's hard to believe. Maybe the timid youth, once he grew up, turned to alcohol to rid himself of the torments, or perhaps the corrupt environment got to him first, with the KKK eventually finishing the task it began long before. Be it via the fear of the entity or through the malice of the community, instigated by It, It eventually gets the last laugh on him.
The Father's Evolution
These occurrences would clarify how the elder Hanlon transforms so radically from what we witness in It: Chapter 1 and the prequel. In his later years, Leroy seems resentful and much stricter with his parenting. Because he survived his own offspring, it's understandable to observe such a drastic change. Nonetheless, his words hold greater significance now that we know he's seen Pennywise's hauntings and the effects they wrought upon his child. In the initial sequence of It, we observe the boy hesitate to use a bolt gun on a animal at the family property. His grandfather reprimands him for delaying and provides an metaphor that leads to a kill-or-be-killed situation.
“There are two places you can be in this world. You can be out here like us, or you can be trapped inside,” he states as he gestures to the creature. “You dawdle hemming and hawing, and another is going to decide for you. But you won't know it until you feel that bolt in your head.”
Looking back, this could be a piece of foreshadowing, a lesson he regrets not imparting to his own son. Perhaps he desires he had done something in his past, but for some reason, he was unable to avoid the repellent attraction of the town.
