🔗 Share this article

The clown's influence on the young residents of the Derry series shapes them throughout their adult lives, twisting them into the very adults who keep the community's pattern of hatred alive. It preys most easily on kids from broken households — youngsters who often grow up to repeat the identical behaviors as their guardians. But, the Hanlon family distinguishes itself as one of the few households that remains intact, which could clarify why Mike Hanlon, even after electing to remain in the town, remains the sole member who doesn't completely succumb under the clown's influence.

The Hanlon Family's Distinctive Resistance

In episode 4 of the series, Leroy finally becomes more aware of the supernatural forces surrounding the community, especially when the entity starts haunting his child, Will Hanlon, during their fishing trip. The Hanlon clan consists of some of the few adults who are aware that something is amiss with the municipality, notably Leroy, who was shown to be receptive to psychic abilities when he was capable of sensing a fellow psychic's employment of it in episode 3. Subsequently, Leroy spots one of Pennywise's signature balloons outside his residence. The ability, alongside his failure to experience terror, along with the foundation of his household, may be why he's capable of perceiving Pennywise's hauntings. However, consider if that shining is hereditary, and a key factor Mike is one of the only adults in Derry who didn't lose themselves to its cruelty?

Will is part of the collective of children at his educational institution being terrorized by Pennywise. His classmates come from broken homes, with parents who don't believe they're being haunted. The reason Will is being pursued is because of the viciousness of the community, combined with his potential sensitivity to shine, which makes him susceptible. The Hanlons are ultimately strangers in Derry during 1962, which lends itself towards the household sensing something is off about the town from the onset. They also have a good foundation that remains unbroken, in contrast to the residents who originate in the area, with relationships that have decayed internally.

Historical Context

Drawing from the It novel, we know the young Will will find himself at the infamous nightclub, where Hallorann will save him from a fire that the local KKK members of Derry will ignite. In the 2017 movie, we observe that Will has a boy named Mike and that the father eventually perishes in a fire, with Leroy outliving his own son and adopting his grandchild. The official story in the motion picture is that the parents were on drugs, but given our current view of Will in the series, that's difficult to accept. Perhaps the shy youth, once he grew up, leaned into drink to free himself of the hauntings, or maybe the rotten town affected him initially, with the KKK ultimately finishing the task it began long before. Whether through the terror of the entity or via the cruelty of the community, instigated by It, the creature in the end gets the final victory on him.

The Father's Evolution

These occurrences would clarify how the elder Hanlon transforms so radically from what we witness in the first film and the prequel. In his later years, Leroy seems resentful and much harsher with his parenting. Because he survived his own offspring, it's understandable to observe such a drastic change. However, his words hold greater significance now that we know he's witnessed the clown's activities and the effects they wrought upon his child. In the opening scene of the movie, we see Mike hesitate to use a stunning device on a sheep at Leroy's farm. Leroy reprimands him for hesitating and offers an metaphor that results in a survival-of-the-fittest scenario.

“You have two options you can be in this existence. You can be out here like we are, or you can be trapped inside,” he states as he points to the creature. “You waste time indecisive, and another is going to make that choice. Except you won't know it until you feel that projectile between your eyes.”

In hindsight, this could represent a piece of foreshadowing, something he wishes he had told his own child. Perhaps he wishes he had done something in his youth, but for some reason, he was unable to avoid the repellent allure of Derry.