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The clown's impact on the young residents of Welcome to Derry molds them throughout their adult lives, transforming them into the exact individuals who keep the community's cycle of animosity ongoing. It preys most easily on children from fractured households — children who often grow up to replicate the same patterns as their guardians. However, the Hanlon family distinguishes itself as a rare example of a family unit that remains intact, which could clarify why Mike Hanlon, even after choosing to stay in the town, persists as the only Loser who doesn't completely succumb under the clown's influence.

Hanlon Household's Unique Resistance

In the fourth installment of the series, Leroy Hanlon finally becomes increasingly conscious of the supernatural forces surrounding the neighborhood, especially when the entity starts haunting his child, Will, during their angling excursion. The Hanlon clan consists of a small number of grown-ups who are aware that something is amiss with the town, notably Leroy, who was shown to be sensitive to the Shining when he was capable of sensing Dick Hallorann's employment of it in episode 3. Later, he sees one of Pennywise's signature balloons outside his residence. The ability, alongside his failure to feel fear, along with the foundation of his household, could be why he's able to see Pennywise's hauntings. However, consider if that psychic sensitivity is hereditary, and one of the reasons Mike is among the few adults in the town who didn't lose themselves to its cruelty?

Will is part of the collective of children at his educational institution being tormented by Pennywise. All his school friends come from dysfunctional families, with parents who refuse to accept they're being haunted. The cause Will is being pursued is because of the cruelty of the town, paired with his potential sensitivity to shine, which renders him vulnerable. The Hanlons are ultimately outsiders in Derry during 1962, which lends itself towards the household feeling anomalies exist about the town from the onset. Additionally, they possess a solid base that isn't fractured, in contrast to the folks who originate in the town, with bonds that have decayed internally.

Historical Context

Based on the It novel, we know the juvenile Will will find himself at the Black Spot, where the psychic will save him from a blaze that the town bigots of the community will ignite. In the 2017 movie, we see that Will has a son named Mike and that the father eventually perishes in a fire, with his father outliving his own child and adopting his grandchild. The official story in the motion picture is that Mike's parents were on substances, but now that we see Will in the series, that's hard to believe. Perhaps the timid youth, once he grew up, turned to alcohol to rid himself of the torments, or maybe the corrupt town affected him initially, with the KKK eventually finishing the task it began years ago. Whether through the terror of Pennywise or through the malice of the town, instigated by It, It in the end gets the last laugh on him.

The Father's Evolution

These occurrences would explain how Leroy transforms so radically from what we witness in the first film and the prequel. In his older age, Leroy seems bitter and much harsher with his parenting. Since he outlived his own son, it's understandable to see such a drastic change. Nonetheless, his statements carry more weight 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 pause to use a bolt gun on a sheep at the family property. Leroy chastises him for hesitating and provides an analogy that leads to a survival-of-the-fittest scenario.

“There are two places you can be in this world. You can be out here like we are, or you can be in there,” Leroy says as he gestures to the creature. “You waste time hemming and hawing, and another is going to decide for you. But you will be unaware it until you feel that projectile in your head.”

Looking back, this could represent a bit of foreshadowing, a lesson he regrets not imparting to his own son. Maybe he desires he had done something in his youth, but for some reason, he was unable to avoid the sickening attraction of Derry.