🔗 Share this article The Derry Chronicles May Have Unraveled a Lingering It Enigma The clown's influence on the children of Welcome to Derry molds them throughout their adult lives, transforming them into the exact individuals who perpetuate the community's cycle of hatred alive. The creature finds easy targets on children from fractured homes — youngsters who often mature to replicate the identical behaviors as their parents. But, the Hanlon family stands apart as one of the few households that remains intact, which could clarify why Mike, even after choosing to stay in Derry, persists as the sole member who doesn't completely succumb under the clown's influence. Hanlon Household's Unique Resilience In the fourth installment of the series, Leroy at last grows more aware of the supernatural forces surrounding the community, particularly when the entity begins tormenting his son, Will, during their angling excursion. The Hanlon clan comprises a small number of grown-ups who are aware that something is amiss with the municipality, especially the father, who was shown to be receptive to the Shining when he was capable of sensing Dick Hallorann's use of it in episode 3. Subsequently, Leroy sees one of the clown's trademark inflated orbs outside his residence. This gift, alongside his inability to experience terror, combined with the foundation of his family, may 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 group of kids at his school being tormented by the clown. His classmates hail from dysfunctional families, with parents who refuse to accept they're being haunted. The reason he is being haunted is due to the cruelty of the community, combined with his potential sensitivity to shine, which renders him vulnerable. This family are ultimately outsiders in Derry during the early sixties, which contributes towards the household feeling anomalies exist about the town from the beginning. They also have a good foundation that remains unbroken, unlike the folks who come from the area, with bonds that have decayed within. Historical Context Drawing from the It novel, we know the juvenile Will will find himself at the Black Spot, where Hallorann will save him from a fire that the town bigots of the community will cause. In the recent movie, we observe that he has a son named Mike and that the father eventually perishes in a configration, with his father surviving his own son and adopting his grandchild. The official story in the motion picture is that Mike's parents were on drugs, but given our current view of Will in the series, that's hard to believe. Maybe the timid boy, once he became an adult, turned to alcohol to free himself of the torments, or perhaps the corrupt environment got to him first, with the KKK ultimately finishing the task it started years ago. Whether through the terror of the entity or through the malice of the community, seeded by Pennywise, It eventually achieves the last laugh on him. Leroy's Transformation These occurrences would clarify how Leroy changes so drastically from what we see in It: Chapter 1 and the prequel. In his older age, Leroy seems bitter and much harsher with his discipline. Since he outlived his own offspring, it's understandable to observe such a profound shift. However, his statements carry more weight since we are aware he's seen the clown's activities and the effects they had on his son. In the opening scene of It, we see Mike hesitate to use a stunning device on a animal at the family property. Leroy reprimands him for hesitating and offers an analogy that results in a kill-or-be-killed situation. “You have two options you can be in this world. You can be out here like us, or you can be trapped inside,” he states as he points to the creature. “You waste time hemming and hawing, and someone is going to make that choice. But you will be unaware it until you experience that projectile between your eyes.” Looking back, this could represent a piece of foreshadowing, a lesson he regrets not imparting to his own child. Maybe he desires he had acted differently in his youth, but for some reason, he couldn't resist the repellent allure of the town.