🔗 Share this article The Derry Chronicles May Have Solved a Longstanding Pennywise Enigma The clown's influence on the children of the Derry series shapes them long into adulthood, twisting them into the very adults who perpetuate the town's cycle of hatred alive. It finds easy targets on kids from broken homes — youngsters who frequently grow up to repeat the identical behaviors as their parents. But, the Hanlon family distinguishes itself as a rare example of a households that never splinters, which may explain why Mike Hanlon, even after choosing to stay in Derry, persists as the sole member who doesn't completely succumb under Pennywise's sway. The Hanlon Family's Distinctive Resistance In episode 4 of the series, Leroy at last grows increasingly conscious of the supernatural forces enveloping the neighborhood, particularly when It 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 something is amiss with the municipality, especially Leroy, who was shown to be receptive to the Shining when he was capable of sensing a fellow psychic's employment of it in the third episode. Later, Leroy spots one of the clown's trademark balloons outside his residence. This gift, coupled with his inability to feel fear, combined with the foundation of his family, may be why he's able to see the entity's manifestations. However, consider if that psychic sensitivity is generational, and a key factor Mike is one of the only adults in the town who didn't lose themselves to its cruelty? Will is a member of the group of children at his school being tormented by Pennywise. All his school friends hail from broken homes, with parents who don't believe they're being haunted. The cause Will is being pursued is because of the cruelty of the town, combined with his likely receptiveness to psychic abilities, which makes him susceptible. This family are fundamentally strangers in the town during 1962, which contributes towards the household sensing something is off about the locality from the beginning. They also have a good foundation that remains unbroken, unlike the residents who come from the area, with relationships that have decayed within. Historical Context Drawing from the It novel, we understand the juvenile Will will end up at the Black Spot, where Hallorann will rescue him from a blaze that the local KKK members of Derry will cause. In the 2017 movie, we see that Will has a boy named Mike and that Will eventually perishes in a fire, with Leroy outliving his own child and taking his grandson in. 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 hard to believe. Perhaps the timid youth, once he grew up, turned to alcohol to free himself of the hauntings, or maybe the corrupt town affected him initially, with the hate group eventually finishing the task it started years ago. Whether through the fear of the entity or via the malice of the town, seeded by It, It eventually gets the final victory on Will. The Father's Evolution These occurrences would clarify how Leroy transforms so radically from what we see in It: Chapter 1 and Welcome to Derry. In his older age, he appears bitter and much harsher with his parenting. Because he outlived his own offspring, it's understandable to observe such a drastic change. However, his words carry more weight now that we know he's seen the clown's activities and the effects they had on his child. In the initial sequence of the movie, we observe the boy pause to use a stunning device on a animal at the family property. His grandfather chastises him for delaying and provides an metaphor that results in a kill-or-be-killed situation. “You have two options you can be in this world. You can be in the open like us, or you can be in there,” Leroy says as he points to the creature. “You dawdle indecisive, and another is going to make that choice. Except you will be unaware it until you experience that projectile in your head.” In hindsight, this could represent a piece of prediction, a lesson he regrets not imparting to his own son. Maybe he wishes he had done something in his youth, but for some reason, he was unable to avoid the repellent allure of Derry.