The Derry Chronicles Could Have Unraveled a Longstanding Pennywise Mystery
Pennywise's impact on the young residents of the Derry series shapes them long into adulthood, transforming them into the exact individuals who keep the town's pattern of hatred ongoing. The creature finds easy targets on kids from fractured households — youngsters who often mature to repeat the same patterns as their parents. However, the Hanlon household distinguishes itself as one of the few family unit that remains intact, which may explain why Mike, even after electing to remain in Derry, remains the sole member who doesn't completely succumb under Pennywise's sway.
Hanlon Household's Distinctive Resistance
In the fourth installment of the series, Leroy Hanlon at last grows more aware of the paranormal entities enveloping the neighborhood, particularly when the entity starts haunting his son, Will Hanlon, during their angling excursion. The Hanlon clan consists of some of the few adults who are aware that something is amiss with the town, especially Leroy, who was shown to be sensitive to the Shining when he was able to detect a fellow psychic's use of it in the third episode. Later, he spots one of the clown's trademark balloons outside his house. This gift, coupled with his failure to feel fear, combined with the foundation of his family, may be why he's capable of perceiving Pennywise's hauntings. But what if that psychic sensitivity is hereditary, and a key factor Mike Hanlon is among the few adults in Derry who didn't lose themselves to its cruelty?
The boy is a member of the collective of kids at his educational institution being tormented by Pennywise. His classmates come from dysfunctional families, with parents who refuse to accept they're being haunted. The cause he is being pursued is because of the cruelty of the community, combined with his likely receptiveness to shine, which makes him susceptible. This family are ultimately outsiders in Derry during the early sixties, which contributes towards the family sensing something is off about the town from the beginning. Additionally, they possess a good foundation that remains unbroken, unlike the residents who originate in the town, with bonds that have decayed within.
Historical Context
Based on the It novel, we understand the young Will 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 2017 film, we see that he has a son named Mike and that Will ultimately dies in a fire, with his father outliving his own son and taking his grandson in. The official story in the film is that the parents were on substances, but now that we see Will in the series, that's hard to believe. Perhaps the timid boy, once he grew up, turned to alcohol to rid himself of the torments, or maybe the corrupt environment affected him initially, with the hate group ultimately finishing the task it began years ago. Whether through the terror of the entity or via the cruelty of the community, instigated by It, the creature eventually gets the final victory on him.
Leroy's Transformation
This chain of events would explain how the elder Hanlon transforms so drastically from what we witness in It: Chapter 1 and Welcome to Derry. In his older age, he appears bitter and much harsher with his parenting. Since he survived his own son, it's understandable to see such a profound shift. However, his words carry more weight now that we know he's seen Pennywise's hauntings and the impacts they had on his son. In the initial sequence of the movie, we see Mike hesitate to use a bolt gun on a animal at Leroy's farm. 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 we are, or you can be in there,” he says as he gestures to the sheep. “You waste time indecisive, and another is going to make that choice. But you will be unaware it until you feel that projectile between your eyes.”
In hindsight, this could be a piece of foreshadowing, something he regrets not imparting to his own child. Maybe he wishes he had acted differently in his past, but for some reason, he couldn't resist the sickening allure of Derry.
