The Derry Chronicles May Have Solved a Lingering Pennywise Enigma
The clown's impact on the young residents of the Derry series shapes them long into adulthood, twisting them into the very adults who keep the town's pattern of animosity alive. It finds easy targets on kids from fractured households — children who often mature to repeat the same patterns as their parents. But, the Hanlon family distinguishes itself as a rare example of a households that remains intact, which could clarify why Mike, even after electing to remain in the town, persists as the only Loser who never fully falls under Pennywise's sway.
The Hanlon Family's Distinctive Resistance
In episode 4 of Welcome to Derry, Leroy finally becomes more aware of the paranormal entities enveloping the neighborhood, particularly when It starts haunting his son, Will Hanlon, during their angling excursion. The Hanlon clan consists of a small number of adults who are aware that things are not right with the town, especially Leroy, who was shown to be sensitive to the Shining when he was capable of sensing a fellow psychic's employment of it in episode 3. Subsequently, he spots one of the clown's trademark inflated orbs outside his residence. This gift, coupled with his failure to experience terror, along with the foundation of his household, could be why he's able to see Pennywise's hauntings. However, consider if that shining is generational, and a key factor Mike is one of the only individuals in Derry who didn't lose themselves to its cruelty?
Will is a member of the collective of children at his school being tormented by the clown. All his school friends come from broken homes, with parents who refuse to accept they're being targeted. The cause he is being pursued is due to the viciousness of the community, paired with his likely receptiveness to shine, which makes him susceptible. The Hanlons are fundamentally strangers in the town during 1962, which contributes towards the family sensing anomalies exist about the town from the beginning. They also have a solid base that isn't fractured, unlike the residents who originate in the town, with bonds that have decayed internally.
Historical Context
Drawing from the original book, we understand the juvenile Will will end up at the infamous nightclub, where the psychic will save him from a blaze that the local KKK members of the community will ignite. In the recent film, we observe that he has a son named Mike and that the father eventually perishes in a fire, with his father outliving his own son and taking his grandson in. The official story in the motion picture is that the parents were on substances, but now that we see him in the series, that's hard to believe. Maybe the shy boy, once he grew up, turned to drink to rid himself of the hauntings, or maybe the corrupt town affected him initially, with the hate group ultimately completing the task it started years ago. Whether through the fear of the entity or via the cruelty of the community, instigated by Pennywise, the creature in the end achieves the final victory on Will.
Leroy's Transformation
This chain of events would clarify how Leroy changes so drastically from what we witness in the first film and the prequel. In his older age, Leroy appears resentful and much stricter with his parenting. Because he outlived his own son, it's comprehensible to observe such a profound shift. However, his statements carry more weight since we are aware he's witnessed the clown's activities and the effects they had on his child. In the opening scene of the movie, we observe the boy pause to use a stunning device on a sheep at the family property. His grandfather reprimands him for delaying and provides an metaphor that leads to a kill-or-be-killed scenario.
“You have two options you can be in this existence. You can be out here like us, or you can be in there,” Leroy says as he gestures to the creature. “You dawdle hemming and hawing, and another is going to make that choice. Except you will be unaware it until you feel that projectile between your eyes.”
In hindsight, this could be a piece of foreshadowing, a lesson he regrets not imparting to his own child. Maybe he desires he had done something in his youth, but for certain factors, he couldn't resist the repellent allure of the town.
