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The clown's impact on the young residents of Welcome to Derry molds them throughout their adult lives, transforming them into the exact individuals who perpetuate the community's pattern of animosity alive. The creature finds easy targets on kids from fractured homes — youngsters who often grow up to replicate the same patterns as their guardians. But, the Hanlon family distinguishes itself as one of the few households that remains intact, which could clarify why Mike, even after electing to remain in Derry, persists as the sole member who doesn't completely succumb under Pennywise's sway.

Hanlon Household's Unique Resistance

In episode 4 of Welcome to Derry, Leroy Hanlon at last grows increasingly conscious of the supernatural forces enveloping the neighborhood, especially when It starts haunting his child, Will, during their angling excursion. The Hanlon clan consists of some of the few grown-ups who are aware that things are not right with the municipality, especially the father, who was revealed to be receptive to the Shining when he was capable of sensing a fellow psychic's employment of it in the third episode. Later, he spots one of the clown's trademark balloons outside his house. The ability, alongside his inability to experience terror, along with the foundation of his household, may 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 the town who resisted succumbing to its cruelty?

Will is a member of the group of children at his educational institution being terrorized by Pennywise. His classmates come from dysfunctional families, with parents who don't believe they're being haunted. The reason he is being haunted is due to the viciousness of the community, combined with his potential sensitivity to shine, which makes him susceptible. This family are fundamentally outsiders in Derry during 1962, which lends itself towards the family feeling anomalies exist about the locality from the onset. Additionally, they possess a good foundation that isn't fractured, unlike the folks who come from the area, with bonds that have deteriorated internally.

Backstory Connections

Drawing from the original book, we understand 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 boy named Mike and that the father eventually perishes in a fire, with Leroy surviving his own son and taking his grandson in. The official story in the film is that Mike's parents were on drugs, but now that we see him in Welcome to Derry, that's difficult to accept. Maybe the shy youth, once he grew up, turned to drink to free himself of the torments, or perhaps the rotten town got to him first, with the KKK ultimately completing the task it started long before. Whether through the fear of Pennywise or via the malice of the community, seeded by Pennywise, the creature in the end achieves the final victory on him.

Leroy's Transformation

These occurrences would clarify how the elder Hanlon changes so drastically from what we see in the first film and the prequel. In his older age, Leroy seems bitter 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 witnessed the clown's activities and the impacts they had on his son. In the initial sequence of the movie, we observe the boy hesitate to use a stunning device on a sheep at the family property. His grandfather reprimands him for delaying and offers an metaphor that leads to a kill-or-be-killed scenario.

“You have two options you can be in this existence. You can be out here like we are, or you can be trapped inside,” he states as he gestures to the creature. “You waste time hemming and hawing, and someone is going to decide for you. Except you will be unaware it until you feel that projectile between your eyes.”

In hindsight, this could represent a bit of foreshadowing, a lesson he wishes he had told his own son. Perhaps he wishes he had acted differently in his past, but for certain factors, he couldn't resist the repellent allure of the town.