🔗 Share this article The Derry Chronicles Could Have Unraveled a Longstanding It Enigma Pennywise's influence on the young residents of Welcome to Derry molds them long into adulthood, transforming them into the exact individuals who perpetuate the town's cycle of hatred alive. The creature finds easy targets on children from broken homes — youngsters who frequently grow up to repeat the identical behaviors as their parents. But, the Hanlon family stands apart as a rare example of a family unit that remains intact, which could clarify why Mike Hanlon, even after choosing to stay in Derry, remains the only Loser who doesn't completely succumb under the clown's influence. Hanlon Household's Distinctive Resistance In episode 4 of the series, Leroy at last grows increasingly conscious of the supernatural forces enveloping the neighborhood, especially when It begins tormenting his child, Will Hanlon, during their fishing trip. The Hanlon family comprises a small number of grown-ups who are cognizant that something is amiss with the municipality, notably the father, who was shown to be receptive to psychic abilities when he was able to detect Dick Hallorann's employment of it in the third episode. Later, Leroy sees one of Pennywise's signature balloons outside his residence. This gift, coupled with his failure to feel fear, along with the foundation of his household, could be why he's capable of perceiving Pennywise's hauntings. However, consider if that psychic sensitivity is hereditary, and a key factor Mike is one of the only adults in the town who resisted succumbing to its cruelty? Will is part of the group of kids at his educational institution being tormented by Pennywise. His classmates hail from broken homes, with parents who don't believe they're being targeted. The reason he is being pursued is due to the cruelty of the community, combined with his likely receptiveness to psychic abilities, which renders him vulnerable. This family are fundamentally outsiders in Derry during 1962, which contributes towards the family feeling anomalies exist about the locality from the onset. Additionally, they possess a good foundation that remains unbroken, in contrast to the residents who come from the town, with relationships that have decayed within. Historical Context Drawing from the It novel, we understand the young Will Hanlon will end up at the Black Spot, where the psychic will rescue him from a fire that the local KKK members of Derry will ignite. In the recent movie, we see that he has a boy named Mike and that the father ultimately dies in a fire, with Leroy surviving his own son and taking his grandson in. The public account in the film is that Mike's parents were on drugs, but given our current view of him in the series, that's difficult to accept. Maybe the shy boy, once he grew up, turned to alcohol to free himself of the torments, or maybe the rotten environment affected him first, with the hate group ultimately completing the task it began long before. Whether through the terror of Pennywise or through the malice of the town, instigated by Pennywise, the creature in the end gets the last laugh on Will. The Father's Evolution These occurrences would clarify how the elder Hanlon transforms so radically from what we witness in the first film and the prequel. In his later years, he appears resentful and much harsher with his parenting. Because he outlived his own offspring, it's comprehensible to observe such a drastic change. Nonetheless, his words carry more weight since we are aware he's witnessed Pennywise's hauntings and the impacts they wrought upon his son. In the opening scene of the movie, we see the boy pause to use a bolt gun on a sheep at the family property. Leroy reprimands him for hesitating and provides an analogy that leads to a kill-or-be-killed situation. “There are two places you can be in this world. You can be in the open like us, or you can be trapped inside,” Leroy says as he points to the creature. “You waste time indecisive, and another is going to make that choice. Except you will be unaware it until you feel that bolt between your eyes.” In hindsight, this could represent a piece of prediction, a lesson he regrets not imparting to his own son. Perhaps he wishes he had done something in his youth, but for some reason, he was unable to avoid the repellent allure of the town.