Zoe was a legacy character. She deserved a sendoff as big as Nigel's. But what do we get? Maybe 10 people in a vape-filled church with Chasing Cars, a recount of an episode we've already seen, her walking in on Big Mo and Fat Elvis and the duff duff being about Max AGAIN. I've defended he who shall not be named before but there has to be some bad blood after all because that was a joke.

For me, the Slaters are the cornerstone of what we could describe as the "modern era", by the time of their arrival, the majority of the original 1985 cast had moved on, and it's probably no coincidence that their first appearance coincided with Ethel Skinner's last. Other iconic characters, such as Dot, Nigel, and Dr Legg have been given character returns after their deaths. I'm not suggesting the sisters actresses should've returned, that's their business, but the producers could've at least brought a few actors back to essentially send off an iconic character. Maybe we'll see some at the wake tomorrow, but i doubt it.

The church was empty!!! What a half baked storyline for her return and ultimate exit from the show.

This has probably been mentioned numerous times already but what the hell is up with cindy's acting?

The way ahe speaks is just bizarre. For example, todaya episode she says to max " why dont you do the decent thing and dissa...pear"

Its monotonous, predictable and wierd that no one in production has told her to speak with fluidity.

Then theres the wedding day/night...was she supposed to come across as a teenager who's first boyfriend just dumped them, Rather than a mature women whos had multiple marriages which have mostly failed due to her adultery?

And the dancing in the vic..wtf?! The drunk acting was 10x worse than cathy's which is just diabolical in itself

I actually think michelle collins(plays cindy) is so beautiful and such a sweet person but its like she needs an intensive natural acting course or something because at this point even jordan is more convincing as an actor

Jack will eventually find out Max has the £50K, and he says that the only way he will ever forgive him is if he himself deals with Craig however he sees fit. He doesn’t want to get involved as Penny is having problems with Ethan’s paternity, marriage problems with Denise and how much Amy is struggling. Max then has a plan, Ravi wants paternity of the child he has with Priya, so Max hires Ravi to take care of Craig permanently instead and in return he will not fight for custody. Ravi, although he has hatred for Max, agrees for the purpose of his family. Things get out of hand, Craig is killed, hence the solicitation to murder. Again a crazy theory but lmk what u think!!

When’s the last time we had an episode without a Madness song in it? Why is Wadey obsessed with them? Have they cut a deal with EE/BBC? It’s driving me mad.

Just rewatched the flash forward (same as a few people!) and one thing that caught me is that at the end, Jack asks Max who he was soliciting to murder.

Until then, I assumed it was for murdering Craig but Jack seems to genuinely not know what the charge is about.

So who in the heck has Max (allegedly) done this to? I have no theories anymore, I’m lost.

Could someone please tell me the broadcast date of the episode where Zoe died?

I need to re-watch it because I don't remember anyone leaving her to die/suffer/whatever.

I was probably only half watching, half looking at my phone. Zzzzzzzz.

Thanks in advance!🙂

Derek, Max & Jack are the Branning brothers whose equally iconic father died from a heart attack.

Derek dramatically died from a heart attack and we have seen Max have a heart attack earlier this year and be told to take it easy. His life currently is anything but that.

The theme of him breaking women’s hearts (in multiple ways) has been ramped up before his exit. Leaving Zoe for dead, taking Amy’s money, breaking Cindy’s heart, and whatever happens when he finds out Priya is carrying his baby. It makes sense for HIS KARMA to die from “a broken heart” after inflicting that on so many people throughout his time on EastEnders. In the past there was also Rachel, Tanya, Stacey, Kirsty, Vanessa…

This part I predict for certain. How it happens I’m unsure of but I would love the following to happen:

- Sean comes back, helps them kill Craig but Amy has suffered. Amy made a huge point about being the same age as Stacey earlier. Sean, dealing with all of this, then double-crosses Max, and dobs him in to the police. Thats why Max was getting arrested.

- Linda is left heartbroken at the alter. Cindy heartbroken that he’s remarrying. Kat heartbroken that he left her daughter to die. Tanya heartbroken that he’s chosen for one of his kids to die. Stacey will definitely be involved if this is Max’s exit but I reckon they keep that quiet.

The results of all the chaos and lies catching up-to him, result in his heart attack. If Eastenders want to go really camp, they’ll have the women raising their glasses cursing his heart/wishing for him to feel the way he’s made them feel.

EastEnders writers if your reading this please hire me 🫶🏼

This makes zero sense- also none of them have even visited Kat whilst she’s grieving.

Sure the original actors may not want to return so just recast them- most people have probably forgotten what they look like after 20 years… or just have lookalikes play them have have a long shot of them arriving or leaving…. If really isn’t that difficult to fake them being there.

If all else fails just have them there off offscreen and have characters mention they were there. Making a point that none of them are going is just so bizarre and they do it every single time someone dies.

Why do they always do this?

Edit: and what is even more infuriating is how the announcement went - Jean ‘ Stacey and Sean can’t come, nor little mo or Belinda and Lynne is looking after the kids’ as if they’re not attending a last minute birthday party of a in-law. This is A FUNERAL

Big mo ‘ stares into space’

Big mo would and should be absolutely FURIOUS. Any nan of that vintage would demand they all be there- she would be on the blower straight away giving them the riot act. Slaters stick together?? Yeah until one of them dies and they can’t be bothered to show up for the funeral.

Which lines of Craig have riled you up the most or given you second-hand embarrassment?

Mine are:

"I'm gonna give you my personal number"

"I guess we'll just have to do a runner together" - before they got together when he barely knew her, not the time he said this again a few days ago

"I'm out there looking for work so we can have a future together" - get a job mate.

"Amy, take a walk with me" - in front of the other teens who would've picked up on his creepy little crush on her, kids are more astute than most people realize.

I really can’t see Max being arrested for Zoe’s death on New Year’s Day when he hasn’t actually done anything wrong and there’s no evidence against him. Even if it comes out that he was the last person to see her, it’s already been established that she died from a brain bleed.

My theory is that Craig is going to end up dead and that’s what Max gets arrested for, which would also explain the armed police, given that Craig was a copper. I’m thinking either Amy kills him in self defence and Max helps cover it up, with evidence eventually linking Max to it, or Max feels guilty and hires someone to kill Craig to make things right with Jack. What are your theories?

Another carter alcohol problem, I hate these storylines. Nancy saying she doesn’t care about a kid and is now saying the kid don’t deserve them. So many things in this storyline doesn’t make sense.

We are going to have little Ollie drawing a picture of Lee on the floor flat out drunk.

Does anyone else find it strange that Josh isn’t attending Zoe’s funeral?

I feel like it will be obviously centred around the brannings on the lead up to NYD with max, jack, Lauren, Amy, penny etc. I personally don’t see Craig lasting until Christmas.

It could be Ravi and Cindy teaming up to take down max.

Anyone have any other theories?

Remember when Eastenders when super gritty and hard hitting? The early scenes of Stacy and her mum were so bleak and depressing but also compelling. Kitchen sink realism is why the uk does best and it’s such a shame Eastenders has morphed into this sterilized and cheesy mess.

Every interior is so brightly lit and pristine- no grime or dirt or any signs of wear or tear. Every home- especially with small kids is completely neat and tidy. No washing up in the sink, no toys littering the floor, no washing hanging up- no laundry baskets overflowing- it’s like everyone has full time maids.

Most characters have become 2 dimensional caricatures- Kim, Elaine and Cindy being great examples.
Cindy is the worst- notice how her entire personality is being obsessed with one topic and that’s all she talks about until the next thing comes along.
As for Kim she’s like a talking doll- pull her string and she’ll just say one of her many catchphrases.

As for Elaine- why does she talk like she’s performing in the west end? These and many other characters just don’t appear like real normal people with real issues- it’s just always hyperbolic farfetched dramas that are forgotten about in the next episode. And yes I know it’s a soap opera but as I said above- it used to be so much better when it was anchored in a realm of realism.

Edit:

As for Billy and Honey’s place- that is the biggest crime. As someone that sells old tat myself, and know many people that do- their place should be rammed with so much random stuff- think steptoe or only fools and horses. The decor should change every time we see it— as new stuff is brought in and other stuff is sold. He would be selling on eBay and fb marketplace too so there should be tons of packaging, bubble wrap and parcels ready to be sent. There should be large range of vintage and antique stuff just everywhere. It’s unrealistic to believe he would fork out for storage when he lives walking distance from his stall. Traders like that always use their homes as a lock up/showroom- the last time they did this was in the slaters home when big mo always had some random merchandise stocked up in large boxes in the hallway or living room.

I remember avani saying to jack shes gonna go to nugget about amys whereabouts which weirded me out a bit because how would he know if denzel wouldnt know so i have been thinking of the small possiblity that jack wont be able to kill craig and the teens might get to him first and thats a BIG maybe

Do u guyd think if the teens got there first it could lead to one massive scrap between lets say denzel and nugget v craig or maybe they stall until jack and max come and then it comes jack v craig anf maybe he attemptd to kill him with amy and max stopping him

It is really uncomfortable how some fans on social media. Publicly criticise and mock The actors especially those with needs appearence.

Some even made cruel digs about their need and disabilities.

I know it reflects real life but it is so cruel and evil.