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The clown's influence on the children of the Derry series molds them throughout their adult lives, transforming them into the exact individuals who perpetuate the town's pattern of animosity alive. It preys most easily on kids from fractured households — children who frequently mature to replicate the same patterns as their guardians. But, the Hanlon household stands apart as a rare example of a family unit that remains intact, which may explain why Mike, even after electing to remain in Derry, persists as the sole member who doesn't completely succumb under Pennywise's sway.

Hanlon Household's Unique Resistance

In the fourth installment of the series, Leroy at last grows increasingly conscious of the supernatural forces surrounding the community, especially when the entity begins tormenting his son, Will Hanlon, during their fishing trip. The Hanlon clan consists of some of the few grown-ups who are cognizant that things are not right with the town, especially Leroy, who was revealed to be receptive to psychic abilities when he was able to detect Dick Hallorann's use of it in the third episode. Later, Leroy sees one of Pennywise's signature balloons outside his house. The ability, alongside his inability to feel fear, combined with the foundation of his family, may be why he's able to see Pennywise's hauntings. However, consider if that psychic sensitivity is generational, and a key factor Mike Hanlon is among the few individuals in Derry who didn't lose themselves to the town's malevolence?

The boy is a member of the group of kids at his educational institution being terrorized by Pennywise. All his school friends hail from dysfunctional families, with caregivers who don't believe they're being haunted. The reason he is being pursued is because of the cruelty of the town, combined with his likely receptiveness to shine, which makes him susceptible. The Hanlons are ultimately strangers in Derry during the early sixties, which lends itself towards the household feeling anomalies exist about the town from the onset. They also have a solid base that remains unbroken, unlike the folks who originate in the area, with bonds that have decayed within.

Historical Context

Drawing from the original book, we understand the juvenile Will will end up at the Black Spot, where Hallorann will save him from a blaze that the town bigots of Derry will cause. In the recent movie, we see that he has a boy named Mike and that Will eventually perishes in a configration, with his father surviving his own son and adopting his grandchild. The public account in the film is that the parents were on substances, but given our current view of Will in Welcome to Derry, that's difficult to accept. Maybe the timid youth, once he grew up, leaned into alcohol to rid himself of the torments, or perhaps the corrupt environment affected him initially, with the KKK ultimately completing the job it started years ago. Be it via the terror of Pennywise or through the cruelty of the town, seeded by It, It eventually achieves the last laugh on him.

Leroy's Transformation

These occurrences would clarify how Leroy transforms so drastically from what we witness in It: Chapter 1 and the prequel. In his later years, he seems bitter and much stricter with his parenting. Because he outlived his own son, it's comprehensible to observe such a drastic change. However, his statements carry more weight now that we know he's seen the clown's activities and the effects they wrought upon his child. In the opening scene of It, we observe Mike hesitate to use a bolt gun on a animal at the family property. Leroy reprimands him for delaying and offers an metaphor that results in a kill-or-be-killed scenario.

“You have two options you can be in this world. You can be in the open like us, or you can be trapped inside,” he states as he points to the creature. “You waste time hemming and hawing, and someone is going to decide for you. Except you will be unaware it until you feel that bolt in your head.”

Looking back, this could represent a piece of prediction, a lesson he regrets not imparting to his own son. Maybe he wishes he had acted differently in his past, but for some reason, he was unable to avoid the sickening attraction of Derry.