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The clown's influence on the children of the Derry series molds them long into adulthood, transforming them into the very adults who perpetuate the town's cycle of hatred ongoing. It preys most easily on kids from broken homes — youngsters who frequently grow up to repeat the identical behaviors as their parents. However, the Hanlon household distinguishes itself as a rare example of a family unit that remains intact, which may explain why Mike Hanlon, even after choosing to stay in Derry, persists as the sole member who doesn't completely succumb under Pennywise's sway.

Hanlon Household's Distinctive Resilience

In the fourth installment of Welcome to Derry, Leroy at last grows increasingly conscious of the supernatural forces enveloping the community, particularly when It starts haunting his son, Will Hanlon, during their angling excursion. The Hanlon family comprises a small number of grown-ups who are aware that something is amiss with the town, especially Leroy, who was revealed to be receptive to the Shining when he was capable of sensing Dick Hallorann's use of it in the third episode. Later, Leroy sees one of the clown's trademark inflated orbs outside his house. This gift, coupled with his inability to experience terror, along with the base of his household, could be why he's capable of perceiving the entity's manifestations. However, consider if that psychic sensitivity is hereditary, and one of the reasons Mike is among the few individuals in the town who didn't lose themselves to its cruelty?

The boy is part of the group of kids at his educational institution being terrorized by the clown. All his school friends hail from dysfunctional families, with caregivers who refuse to accept they're being haunted. The cause Will is being pursued is because of the cruelty of the community, paired with his potential sensitivity to shine, which makes him susceptible. This family are ultimately outsiders in the town during 1962, which lends itself towards the household sensing anomalies exist about the town from the onset. Additionally, they possess a good foundation that remains unbroken, unlike the folks who come from the area, with relationships that have deteriorated internally.

Historical Context

Drawing from the original book, we know the juvenile Will Hanlon will find himself at the Black Spot, where the psychic will rescue him from a blaze that the local KKK members of Derry will cause. In the 2017 film, we see that he has a son named Mike and that the father ultimately dies in a configration, with his father surviving his own son and taking his grandson in. The public account in the film is that the parents were on drugs, but now that we see Will in the series, that's hard to believe. Perhaps the shy boy, once he grew up, leaned into drink 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 fear of the entity or via the cruelty of the community, seeded by Pennywise, It in the end achieves the final victory on him.

Leroy's Transformation

These occurrences would clarify how Leroy changes so radically from what we witness in It: Chapter 1 and Welcome to Derry. In his later years, Leroy seems bitter and much harsher with his discipline. Because he survived his own son, it's comprehensible to see such a drastic change. However, his words carry more weight now that we know he's seen the clown's activities and the effects they wrought upon his child. In the opening scene of the movie, we see Mike hesitate to use a bolt gun on a animal at Leroy's farm. His grandfather chastises him for hesitating and provides an metaphor that leads to a survival-of-the-fittest situation.

“You have two options you can be in this world. You can be out here like we are, or you can be in there,” he states as he points to the sheep. “You dawdle indecisive, and another is going to decide for you. But you will be unaware it until you experience that bolt in your head.”

Looking back, this could be a bit of prediction, something he wishes he had told his own son. Perhaps he wishes he had done something in his past, but for some reason, he was unable to avoid the sickening attraction of the town.