Welcome to Derry Could Have Solved a Lingering It Enigma
Pennywise's influence on the children of Welcome to Derry molds them throughout their adult lives, twisting them into the very adults who keep the community's cycle of animosity alive. The creature preys most easily on kids from fractured households — youngsters who often grow up to replicate the identical behaviors as their parents. But, the Hanlon household distinguishes itself as one of the few family unit that remains intact, which may explain why Mike, even after choosing to stay in the town, persists as the only Loser who doesn't completely succumb under Pennywise's sway.
The Hanlon Family's Distinctive Resilience
In the fourth installment of Welcome to Derry, Leroy finally becomes increasingly conscious of the paranormal entities surrounding the neighborhood, particularly when the entity begins tormenting his son, Will Hanlon, during their fishing trip. The Hanlon clan consists of a small number of grown-ups who are aware that things are not right with the municipality, notably the father, who was shown to be receptive to the Shining when he was capable of sensing a fellow psychic's use of it in episode 3. Later, Leroy spots one of Pennywise's signature balloons outside his residence. The ability, coupled with his inability to feel fear, along with the foundation 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 Hanlon is among the few adults in the town who didn't lose themselves to the town's malevolence?
The boy is part of the group of children at his school being tormented by Pennywise. His classmates hail from dysfunctional families, with caregivers who don't believe they're being targeted. The cause he is being pursued is because of the cruelty of the community, paired with his potential sensitivity to shine, which makes him susceptible. This family are fundamentally strangers in Derry during the early sixties, which contributes towards the family sensing anomalies exist about the town from the onset. Additionally, they possess a solid base that isn't fractured, in contrast to the folks who originate in the area, with relationships that have decayed internally.
Backstory Connections
Based on the It novel, we know the young Will Hanlon will find himself at the Black Spot, where Hallorann will save him from a fire that the town bigots of the community will ignite. In the recent film, we see that Will has a son named Mike and that Will eventually perishes in a configration, with Leroy surviving his own son and adopting his grandchild. The public account in the film is that Mike's parents were on substances, but given our current view of him in Welcome to Derry, that's difficult to accept. Perhaps the shy boy, once he became an adult, leaned into drink to rid himself of the hauntings, or maybe the rotten town got to him first, with the hate group eventually completing the task it started long before. Be it via the terror of Pennywise or through the malice of the community, instigated by It, the creature eventually achieves the last laugh on him.
The Father's Evolution
This chain of events would clarify how the elder Hanlon transforms so radically from what we see in It: Chapter 1 and the prequel. In his older age, Leroy appears resentful and much harsher with his discipline. Since he survived his own son, it's comprehensible to observe such a profound shift. However, his statements carry more weight now that we know he's seen Pennywise's hauntings and the impacts they wrought upon his child. In the initial sequence of It, we see Mike pause to use a bolt gun on a animal at the family property. His grandfather reprimands him for hesitating and provides an metaphor that leads to a kill-or-be-killed situation.
“You have two options you can be in this existence. You can be out here like us, or you can be trapped inside,” he states as he gestures to the sheep. “You dawdle indecisive, and another is going to decide for you. But you will be unaware it until you feel that bolt between your eyes.”
Looking back, this could represent a piece of prediction, a lesson he wishes he had told his own son. Maybe he desires he had done something in his past, but for certain factors, he was unable to avoid the repellent attraction of the town.
