The Derry Chronicles May Have Unraveled a Lingering It Mystery

Pennywise's influence on the children of Welcome to Derry shapes them long into adulthood, twisting them into the exact individuals who perpetuate the town's cycle of hatred ongoing. The creature preys most easily on children from broken homes — youngsters who frequently grow up to replicate the identical behaviors as their guardians. However, the Hanlon household distinguishes itself as a rare example of a households that never splinters, which may explain why Mike Hanlon, even after choosing to stay in the town, remains the only Loser who never fully falls under Pennywise's sway.

Hanlon Household's Unique Resistance

In episode 4 of the series, Leroy Hanlon finally becomes increasingly conscious of the paranormal entities enveloping the neighborhood, especially when It begins tormenting his son, Will, during their fishing trip. The Hanlon clan comprises some of the few grown-ups who are aware that something is amiss with the municipality, notably Leroy, who was revealed to be receptive to the Shining when he was able to detect Dick Hallorann's employment of it in the third episode. Later, he sees one of Pennywise's signature balloons outside his residence. The ability, coupled with his inability to experience terror, combined with the base of his family, may be why he's capable of perceiving the entity's manifestations. However, consider if that shining is generational, and a key factor Mike Hanlon is among the few individuals in Derry who resisted succumbing to its cruelty?

Will is part of the collective of kids at his educational institution being terrorized by the clown. His classmates come from dysfunctional families, with caregivers who refuse to accept they're being targeted. The cause Will is being haunted is due to the viciousness of the community, combined with his potential sensitivity to shine, which renders him vulnerable. This family are fundamentally strangers in Derry during the early sixties, which lends itself towards the family feeling something is off about the town from the onset. They also have a good foundation that isn't fractured, unlike the folks who originate in the town, with bonds that have deteriorated within.

Backstory Connections

Based on the It novel, we understand the juvenile Will Hanlon will end up at the Black Spot, where Hallorann will rescue him from a fire that the town bigots of Derry will cause. In the recent film, we see that he has a son named Mike and that the father ultimately dies in a fire, 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 drugs, but now that we see him in Welcome to Derry, that's difficult to accept. Perhaps the timid youth, once he became an adult, leaned into alcohol to rid himself of the torments, or maybe the corrupt town affected him initially, with the hate group eventually finishing the task it started long before. Be it via the terror of Pennywise or via the malice of the community, seeded by Pennywise, It eventually achieves the last laugh on him.

The Father's Evolution

These occurrences would clarify how Leroy changes so drastically from what we see in It: Chapter 1 and the prequel. In his older age, Leroy seems resentful and much harsher with his parenting. Since he survived his own offspring, it's understandable to see such a drastic change. However, his words hold greater significance now that we know he's seen Pennywise's hauntings and the impacts they wrought upon his child. In the initial sequence of the movie, we observe the boy hesitate to use a bolt gun on a sheep at the family property. Leroy reprimands him for delaying and provides an analogy 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 says as he points to the sheep. “You waste time hemming and hawing, and another is going to decide for you. But you won't know it until you feel that bolt between your eyes.”

Looking back, this could represent a bit 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 allure of Derry.