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The clown's influence on the children of the Derry series shapes them long into adulthood, transforming them into the exact individuals who perpetuate the town's cycle of hatred ongoing. It preys most easily on kids from fractured households — children who often grow up to replicate the same patterns as their parents. But, the Hanlon household distinguishes itself as a rare example of a family unit that never splinters, which may explain why Mike Hanlon, even after choosing to stay in Derry, remains the sole member who never fully falls under the clown's influence.

Hanlon Household's Unique Resilience

In the fourth installment of the series, Leroy at last grows more aware of the supernatural forces surrounding the neighborhood, especially when the entity starts haunting his son, Will, during their fishing trip. The Hanlon family comprises a small number of grown-ups who are aware that something is amiss with the municipality, notably the father, who was revealed to be sensitive to the Shining when he was able to detect Dick Hallorann's use of it in episode 3. Subsequently, Leroy sees one of Pennywise's signature inflated orbs outside his residence. This gift, alongside his inability to feel fear, combined with the base of his family, could be why he's capable of perceiving the entity's manifestations. However, consider if that shining is generational, and a key factor Mike is one of the only individuals in the town who didn't lose themselves to its cruelty?

Will is part of the group of kids at his educational institution being terrorized by the clown. His classmates hail from dysfunctional families, with caregivers who don't believe they're being haunted. The cause Will is being pursued is due to the cruelty of the town, combined with his potential sensitivity to shine, which renders him vulnerable. This family are fundamentally outsiders in Derry during the early sixties, which lends itself towards the household sensing anomalies exist about the locality from the onset. Additionally, they possess a good foundation that remains unbroken, in contrast to the residents who come from the town, with bonds that have decayed within.

Historical Context

Based on the It novel, we understand the juvenile Will Hanlon will end up at the Black Spot, where the psychic will save him from a fire that the town bigots of the community will ignite. In the 2017 movie, we observe that he has a boy named Mike and that Will ultimately dies in a fire, with Leroy outliving his own child and adopting his grandchild. The official story in the film is that the parents were on drugs, but given our current view of him in the series, that's difficult to accept. Maybe the timid youth, once he became an adult, turned to drink to free himself of the torments, or perhaps the corrupt town affected him first, with the hate group eventually finishing the job it began years ago. Whether through the terror of the entity or via the cruelty of the town, instigated by Pennywise, It eventually achieves the last laugh on him.

The Father's Evolution

These occurrences would explain how the elder Hanlon changes so radically from what we see in It: Chapter 1 and Welcome to Derry. In his later years, Leroy seems resentful and much stricter with his parenting. Since he survived his own son, it's understandable to observe such a drastic change. Nonetheless, his words hold greater significance since we are aware he's witnessed Pennywise's hauntings and the effects they had on his child. In the opening scene of the movie, we see the boy pause to use a bolt gun on a sheep at the family property. His grandfather chastises 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 we are, or you can be trapped inside,” he says as he points to the creature. “You waste time hemming and hawing, and another is going to make that choice. Except you will be unaware it until you feel that bolt in your head.”

Looking back, this could be a bit of foreshadowing, something he regrets not imparting to his own son. Maybe he desires he had done something in his youth, but for some reason, he was unable to avoid the repellent allure of the town.