The Derry Chronicles Could Have Solved a Longstanding Pennywise Enigma

Pennywise's impact on the children of the Derry series molds them throughout their adult lives, twisting them into the very adults who perpetuate the town's pattern of animosity alive. It preys most easily on children from broken households — youngsters who often mature to repeat the same patterns as their guardians. But, the Hanlon family distinguishes itself as a rare example of a households that never splinters, which may explain why Mike, even after electing to remain in Derry, persists as the sole member who never fully falls under Pennywise's sway.

The Hanlon Family's Distinctive Resilience

In the fourth installment of Welcome to Derry, Leroy Hanlon at last grows more aware of the supernatural forces surrounding the neighborhood, especially when the entity begins tormenting his son, Will Hanlon, during their angling excursion. The Hanlon clan consists of a small number of grown-ups who are cognizant that something is amiss with the town, notably the father, who was shown to be receptive to psychic abilities when he was able to detect Dick Hallorann's employment of it in the third episode. Later, he sees one of Pennywise's signature inflated orbs outside his house. This gift, alongside his failure to experience terror, combined with the base of his household, could be why he's capable of perceiving Pennywise's hauntings. But what if that psychic sensitivity is generational, and one of the reasons Mike is one of the only individuals in Derry who didn't lose themselves to the town's malevolence?

The boy is part of the collective of kids at his school being tormented by the clown. His classmates hail from dysfunctional families, with caregivers who refuse to accept they're being haunted. The cause he is being pursued is because of the viciousness of the town, paired with his potential sensitivity to psychic abilities, which makes him susceptible. The Hanlons are fundamentally outsiders in the town during 1962, which contributes towards the household sensing anomalies exist about the town from the onset. They also have a solid base that isn't fractured, in contrast to the folks who originate in the town, with bonds that have deteriorated within.

Backstory Connections

Drawing from the It novel, we know the young Will will end up at the infamous nightclub, where Hallorann will rescue him from a blaze that the local KKK members of Derry will ignite. In the 2017 film, we observe that he has a son named Mike and that the father eventually perishes in a configration, with his father outliving his own son and adopting his grandchild. The official story in the motion picture is that the parents were on drugs, but now that we see him in the series, that's hard to believe. Maybe the shy boy, once he became an adult, turned to drink to free himself of the torments, or maybe the corrupt environment got to him first, with the KKK eventually finishing the job it began years ago. Be it via the fear of the entity or through the cruelty of the town, seeded by It, It 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 witness in the first film and Welcome to Derry. In his older age, he appears resentful and much harsher with his parenting. Since he outlived his own offspring, it's understandable to see such a profound shift. However, his statements hold greater significance now that we know he's seen Pennywise's hauntings and the impacts they wrought upon his child. In the opening scene of It, we observe Mike pause to use a stunning device on a animal at the family property. Leroy chastises him for hesitating and provides an analogy that results in a kill-or-be-killed situation.

“There are two places you can be in this world. You can be out here like us, or you can be in there,” he says as he points to the sheep. “You waste time hemming and hawing, and someone is going to make that choice. But you won't know it until you experience that projectile in your head.”

In hindsight, this could represent a bit of foreshadowing, something he wishes he had told his own child. Maybe he wishes he had acted differently in his youth, but for some reason, he couldn't resist the repellent allure of Derry.