Netflix
Caution: Spoilers ahead.
The thrilling Netflix series, “Stranger Things,” is steeped in the supernatural, with a main storyline in the first season revolving around a missing family member communicating from beyond. Let’s be clear, the “beyond” in this context is the eerie, distorted alternate dimension referred to as the Upside Down, where the very much alive Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) uses its peculiar rules to communicate with his mother, Joyce (Winona Ryder). As the plot unfolds, it’s revealed that there are indeed characters who seem to defy death and return.
One such character is Martin Brenner (Matthew Modine), the sinister doctor responsible for conducting experiments on individuals with psychokinetic abilities, like Jane “Eleven” Hopper (Millie Bobby Brown) and the primary antagonist Vecna, also known as Henry “One” Creel (Jamie Campbell Bower). Modine, who is quite knowledgeable about Brenner, stated in an interview with Vulture that the assumedly deceased character might still have a few hidden tricks, citing numerous instances of Brenner surviving against all odds due to inexplicable reasons.
“The idea of him being dead doesn’t sit well with me. Three things intrigue me: How did he survive the Demogorgon? How did he survive One? And when Eleven attempted to use her power against Dr. Brenner after launching three guards into the air, he effortlessly deflects her and says, ‘You didn’t think it was going to be that easy, did you?’ She couldn’t get it to work on him. Is there more to Brenner than what we see?”
However, all this speculation might not be unwarranted. On November 27, Modine shared an Instagram video where he was joyously seated in a makeup chair, wearing various prosthetics to appear bald and disarrayed, alongside hashtags like #strangerthings5, #drmartinbrenner, and #indestructible. It seems Brenner might be making a comeback.
Brenner’s story in Stranger Things might not be concluded
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Brenner’s presumed death occurs during the Demogorgon attack in the season 1 finale of “Stranger Things,” titled “Chapter Eight: The Upside Down.” Yet, he reappears in season 4 with a slightly less evil role, only to face death once again in the episode “Chapter Eight: Papa.” Now, it appears that even gunshots and the harsh desert weren’t enough to end him.
The “Stranger Things” series is known for its surprise comebacks, and Brenner is not the only character to reappear. Dacre Montgomery’s character, Billy Hargrove, made a significant impact throughout seasons 2 and 3. His death in the season 3 finale, “Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt,” did not prevent him from returning in a hallucination in season 4. Similarly, Vecna is a reborn Henry Creel, and their connection forms the central mystery of season 4 part 1. David Harbour’s character, Jim Hopper, seemingly dies in the season 3 finale but resurfaces in Russia in season 4. Even the innocent Bob Newby (Sean Astin) continues to appear after his death in the season 2 finale, albeit in Joyce’s memories.
Given all these instances and the fact that Brenner has already made a surprise comeback once, Modine’s comments and social media post might not seem so shocking. The story arc between Eleven and “Papa” in season 4 of “Stranger Things” ended with somewhat of a reconciliation, hinting at the possibility of anything happening between them. All we can do now is wait until “Stranger Things” season 5 releases in 2025 to see how Brenner returns and in what capacity. Meanwhile, let’s hope that Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) manages to dodge death for one last guitar solo.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
