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Pennywise's influence on the young residents of the Derry series molds them throughout their adult lives, twisting them into the very adults who keep the town's pattern of hatred alive. It finds easy targets on children from fractured households — children who frequently grow up to replicate the same patterns as their guardians. However, the Hanlon household distinguishes itself as one of the few family unit 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.

The Hanlon Family's Unique Resilience

In episode 4 of Welcome to Derry, Leroy at last grows more aware of the supernatural forces surrounding the neighborhood, particularly when It starts haunting his child, Will Hanlon, during their angling excursion. The Hanlon family comprises a small number of grown-ups who are aware that things are not right with the municipality, 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 episode 3. Subsequently, he sees one of the clown's trademark balloons outside his residence. The ability, alongside his failure to experience terror, combined with the foundation of his family, may be why he's able to see Pennywise's hauntings. However, consider if that shining is generational, and a key factor Mike Hanlon is one of the only individuals in Derry who didn't lose themselves to the town's malevolence?

The boy is a member of the group of kids at his educational institution being tormented by Pennywise. All his school friends come from dysfunctional families, with caregivers who don't believe they're being targeted. The cause he is being pursued is because of the viciousness of the community, paired with his likely receptiveness to psychic abilities, which makes him susceptible. This family are fundamentally strangers in the town during 1962, which contributes towards the family sensing something is off about the town from the onset. They also have a good foundation that remains unbroken, unlike the folks who originate in the area, with bonds that have deteriorated within.

Backstory Connections

Based on the original book, we understand the young Will Hanlon will end up at the infamous nightclub, where Hallorann will rescue him from a fire that the town bigots of the community will ignite. In the recent movie, we observe that Will has a son named Mike and that the father eventually perishes in a configration, with Leroy outliving his own child and taking his grandson in. The public account in the film is that Mike's parents were on substances, but now that we see him in the series, that's hard to believe. Perhaps the shy boy, once he became an adult, turned to alcohol to free himself of the hauntings, or maybe the corrupt environment got to him first, with the KKK ultimately finishing the task it started long before. Whether through the fear of Pennywise or through the cruelty of the community, seeded by It, It in the end gets the last laugh on him.

The Father's Evolution

These occurrences would clarify how the elder Hanlon transforms so drastically from what we see in It: Chapter 1 and the prequel. In his older age, Leroy seems resentful and much harsher with his parenting. Since he outlived his own offspring, it's comprehensible to observe such a drastic change. However, his statements hold greater significance since we are aware he's seen Pennywise's hauntings and the impacts they had on his son. In the opening scene of the movie, we see the boy hesitate to use a stunning device on a animal at Leroy's farm. His grandfather reprimands him for delaying and offers an metaphor that results in a kill-or-be-killed situation.

“There are two places you can be in this existence. You can be out here like us, or you can be trapped inside,” he states as he points to the sheep. “You waste time indecisive, and another is going to make that choice. Except you won't know it until you experience that projectile in your head.”

In hindsight, this could be a piece of foreshadowing, a lesson he regrets not imparting to his own child. Perhaps he wishes he had done something in his youth, but for certain factors, he couldn't resist the repellent attraction of the town.