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The clown's impact on the young residents of the Derry series molds them throughout their adult lives, twisting them into the very adults who keep the community's pattern of animosity ongoing. The creature preys most easily on children from broken homes — youngsters who often mature to repeat the same patterns as their guardians. However, the Hanlon family distinguishes itself as one of the few households that never splinters, which may explain why Mike Hanlon, even after electing to remain in the town, remains the only Loser who doesn't completely succumb under the clown's influence.

The Hanlon Family's Unique Resistance

In the fourth installment of Welcome to Derry, Leroy finally becomes increasingly conscious of the paranormal entities enveloping the community, especially when the entity starts haunting his son, Will, during their fishing trip. The Hanlon family comprises some of the few grown-ups who are aware that things are not right with the municipality, notably Leroy, who was shown to be receptive to psychic abilities when he was capable of sensing Dick Hallorann's employment of it in episode 3. Subsequently, he spots one of Pennywise's signature inflated orbs outside his residence. This gift, coupled with his failure to experience terror, along with the foundation of his family, could be why he's able to see Pennywise's hauntings. However, consider if that shining is generational, and one of the reasons Mike Hanlon is one of the only individuals in the town who didn't lose themselves to its cruelty?

Will is a member of the collective of kids at his school being tormented by the clown. His classmates come from broken homes, with parents who refuse to accept they're being targeted. The cause he is being haunted is due to the viciousness of the town, paired with his likely receptiveness to shine, which renders him vulnerable. This family are fundamentally outsiders in Derry during the early sixties, which lends itself towards the household sensing anomalies exist about the town from the beginning. Additionally, they possess a good foundation that remains unbroken, in contrast to the folks who originate in the town, with bonds that have deteriorated within.

Historical Context

Based on the It novel, we know the young Will Hanlon will find himself at the infamous nightclub, where the psychic will save him from a fire that the local KKK members of the community will cause. In the 2017 film, we see that Will has a son named Mike and that Will eventually perishes in a fire, with Leroy surviving his own son and adopting his grandchild. The official story in the film is that the parents were on drugs, but now that we see him in the series, that's difficult to accept. Perhaps the timid youth, once he grew up, leaned into drink to rid himself of the hauntings, or maybe the rotten environment got to him initially, with the hate group ultimately finishing the job it started 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 Will.

The Father's Evolution

These occurrences would clarify how Leroy transforms so radically from what we see in the first film and Welcome to Derry. In his older age, he seems bitter and much harsher with his discipline. Because he outlived his own offspring, it's comprehensible to see such a drastic change. However, his words hold greater significance since we are aware he's seen the clown's activities and the impacts they wrought upon his child. In the opening scene of the movie, we observe the boy hesitate to use a bolt gun on a animal at the family property. Leroy chastises him for hesitating and provides an metaphor that results in a survival-of-the-fittest scenario.

“You have two options you can be in this world. You can be in the open like us, or you can be in there,” Leroy states as he gestures to the creature. “You waste time hemming and hawing, and someone is going to make that choice. Except you will be unaware it until you feel that bolt between your eyes.”

Looking back, this could be a piece of prediction, a lesson he wishes he had told his own son. Perhaps he wishes he had acted differently in his past, but for some reason, he was unable to avoid the repellent attraction of Derry.