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The clown's impact on the young residents of Welcome to Derry shapes them long into adulthood, twisting them into the exact individuals who perpetuate the community's cycle of animosity ongoing. The creature finds easy targets on children from broken homes — children who frequently mature to repeat the same patterns as their parents. But, the Hanlon family distinguishes itself as one of the few family unit that remains intact, which could clarify why Mike Hanlon, even after choosing to stay in the town, remains the only Loser who never fully falls under the clown's influence.

The Hanlon Family's Unique Resilience

In episode 4 of Welcome to Derry, Leroy Hanlon at last grows increasingly conscious of the supernatural forces enveloping the community, especially when It starts haunting his child, Will Hanlon, during their angling excursion. The Hanlon family comprises a small number of adults who are aware that something is amiss with the town, notably the father, who was shown to be receptive to the Shining when he was able to detect a fellow psychic's use of it in the third episode. Subsequently, he spots one of the clown's trademark inflated orbs outside his residence. The ability, coupled with his inability to feel fear, along with the foundation of his household, could be why he's capable of perceiving Pennywise's hauntings. However, consider if that psychic sensitivity is generational, and a key factor Mike Hanlon is one of the only adults in Derry who resisted succumbing to the town's malevolence?

Will is a member of the collective of kids at his school being tormented by the clown. His classmates hail from broken homes, with caregivers who don't believe they're being targeted. The reason he is being haunted is due to the viciousness of the community, combined with his likely receptiveness to psychic abilities, which renders him vulnerable. The Hanlons are ultimately outsiders in the town during 1962, which contributes towards the household sensing something is off about the town from the beginning. They also have a solid base that isn't fractured, in contrast to the residents who originate in the town, with relationships that have decayed within.

Backstory Connections

Drawing from the original book, we understand the young Will will end up at the Black Spot, where Hallorann will save him from a blaze that the town bigots 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 configration, with Leroy outliving his own son and adopting his grandchild. The official story in the film is that the parents were on substances, but now that we see Will in Welcome to Derry, that's difficult to accept. Maybe the shy boy, once he grew up, turned to drink to rid himself of the hauntings, or perhaps the corrupt town got to him first, with the KKK eventually finishing the job it began years ago. Whether through the terror of Pennywise or via the cruelty of the town, seeded by It, the creature eventually gets the last laugh on Will.

The Father's Evolution

This chain of events would clarify how Leroy changes so radically from what we witness in the first film and Welcome to Derry. In his older age, he seems bitter and much stricter with his discipline. Because he outlived his own offspring, it's understandable to see such a profound shift. However, his statements carry more weight now that we know he's witnessed the clown's activities and the effects they wrought upon his child. In the initial sequence of It, we see Mike pause to use a stunning device on a animal at the family property. His grandfather reprimands him for delaying and offers an analogy that leads to a kill-or-be-killed scenario.

“You have two options you can be in this world. You can be in the open like we are, or you can be trapped inside,” he states as he points to the sheep. “You dawdle indecisive, and someone is going to decide for you. Except you won't know it until you experience that bolt in your head.”

In hindsight, this could be a bit of foreshadowing, a lesson he regrets not imparting to his own child. Maybe he wishes he had acted differently in his youth, but for some reason, he was unable to avoid the repellent allure of Derry.