Dr. Martin Brenner has to be one of the most complex characters in Stranger Things. While some view him as just an evil scientist exploiting children for his experiments, others believe he might be the only forgivable monster in the show. What makes him particularly unsettling is that he wields no supernatural powers— only the power of manipulation. Dr. Brenner excelled at psychologically controlling people. Interestingly, even the actor who brought Dr. Brenner to life has deep thoughts about psychology and the mysteries of the human mind.

Matthew Modine recently shared a thought-provoking video discussing the importance of deeper psychological exploration.

Throughout Stranger Things, Matthew Modine plays a cold, calculating researcher obsessed with understanding the human psyche, regardless of the cost. Yet, in real life, Modine believes psychology has not been explored as thoroughly as it should be. Recently, he shared a video featuring Carl Jung on his Instagram story—the renowned Swiss psychologist, aka the founder of analytical psychology. Jung, in the video, emphasized the need to study the human mind because “we are the origin of all coming evil.”

Jung’s philosophy seemingly resonated with Modine. Jung believed that the real danger is not found in external forces but within us. Dr. Brenner in Stranger Things serves as a frightening reminder of this very idea. The fandom of the Netflix show is still torn about his morally ambiguous character— who is not entirely evil, yet capable of committing horrific acts. This complex role even gave Modine a pause.

Matthew Modine Presents ‘Stranger Things’ Callbacks as a Means to Support Dr. Brenner’s Return in Season 5

In fact, Modine was not sure he wanted to take on the role in Stranger Things because of Dr. Brenner’s unsettling character.

Dr. Brenner was not just a character for Matthew Modine — he became a persona he never wants to step into again. “You put your body through whatever that character is going through,” Modine told Men's Health. He explained how emotionally draining such roles can be for an actor and vowed never to inhabit someone like Dr. Brenner again. Initially, Modine was not even convinced about the role.

"I didn't want to do it,” Modine told The Guardian when he found out the Duffers wanted him to play a character who kidnapped children. However, the directors were persistent and eventually persuaded Modine to take on the role, helping shape Brenner into a more compelling and layered character. Even though Modine likely will not return for the final season, it is still fun to learn his reflections on psychology.

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What do you think about Matthew Modine's story? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!