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Walford is plunged into another devastating chapter as EastEnders delivers a week packed with emotional chaos, shocking revelations, and a brutal act of violence that ultimately costs young Oscar his life. At the heart of the drama, Linda Carter finds her world unsettled by the arrival of a woman from her past, while Max Branning becomes entangled in misunderstandings, guilt, and consequences that spiral far beyond his control. Meanwhile, Ravi Gulati’s dangerous descent, Jasmine’s unraveling grief, and a chain of explosive confrontations push the Square toward one of its darkest outcomes yet.

The trouble begins quietly enough when Linda Carter comes face-to-face with Bea, an old school acquaintance who resurfaces unexpectedly at a reunion. What should have been a nostalgic evening quickly turns uncomfortable as Bea recalls their shared teenage years very differently. Awkward truths spill out, leaving Linda shaken and forced to confront how her past behavior may have hurt someone who never truly healed from it. Although rattled by Bea’s version of events, Linda eventually recognizes that she may owe her former classmate a long-overdue apology, opening the door to Bea becoming part of her life once more.

Before Linda can fully process the emotional fallout, Bea inserts herself deeper into Walford life by moving into Peacock Palace. She settles in with surprising ease, observing those around her with a quiet intensity. It isn’t long before she crosses paths with Max Branning, and something about him immediately captures her attention. To Bea, Max represents stability, validation, and perhaps even a chance at the sense of belonging she has always craved.

When Linda’s son Ollie runs into trouble at school, Max offers to take Bea out for a while so Linda can focus on her child. What Max sees as a favor quickly becomes a painfully awkward misunderstanding. Bea believes she’s been asked out on a date and arrives full of hope and excitement. Max, on the other hand, is horrified when he realizes what Bea thinks is happening. Despite his discomfort, he goes along with the situation for Linda’s sake, unaware that this small act of kindness will have lasting emotional repercussions.

The outing ends badly, leaving Bea humiliated and heartbroken. Convinced that Linda deliberately orchestrated the situation to mock her, Bea is left spiraling. Honey Mitchell steps in to comfort her, but the damage is done. This rejection taps into Bea’s deepest wounds—her lifelong fear of being unwanted and her desperate need to feel seen and loved.

Bea is far more complex than she first appears. Often misread as quiet or withdrawn, she harbors a deep sense of longing beneath the surface. When she feels cornered, dismissed, or rejected, that vulnerability twists into something unsettling. She studies people from afar, mimicking traits she believes will make her more acceptable, more lovable. In her mind, reshaping herself feels like the only way to earn affection. Underneath it all lies a profound resentment toward a life that never lived up to her youthful dreams, pushing her to escape into fantasy where truth and exaggeration blur dangerously.

As Bea’s internal struggle intensifies, Walford is rocked by another crisis involving Ravi Gulati. The notorious troublemaker suffers a terrifying ordeal after being spiked by Nicola Mitchell and dumped into a pit by Harry Mitchell—the same man Ravi once abducted. The experience leaves Ravi traumatized, haunted by vivid hallucinations and terrified that he may have done something unforgivable while blacked out.

On Monday, January 12th, Ravi wakes on the street with no memory of how he got there. When he checks his phone, a string of disturbing messages sends panic coursing through him. Slowly, he begins to suspect he may be responsible for a serious incident. He confides in his partner, Priya Nandrarat, but her struggle to absorb his confession only fuels his fear. When detectives ask to speak with Priya, Ravi’s anxiety spirals further, convinced his life is about to collapse.

At the same time, the Truman family prepares for another emotional trial as they learn they will be able to visit Anthony at the Chapel of Rest. Patrick is consumed by guilt after remembering that his final words to Anthony were spoken in anger. Yolande urges him to make peace with Jasmine by inviting her over, hoping it will help heal old wounds—but instead, it exposes new ones.

Tuesday, January 13th, brings further complications. Police formally question Ravi, tightening the net around him. Max, meanwhile, finally realizes that Bea believes their outing was romantic, but chooses to continue the charade to avoid upsetting Linda. Elsewhere, Oscar and Lauren plan a memorial to mark the anniversary of Abi’s death. Oscar invites Max, who promises to attend, unaware that the events of the day will pull him away at the worst possible moment.

Upstairs at the Vic, tensions flare when Jasmine agrees to watch baby Charlie for Lily Slater. A malfunctioning baby monitor leads to disaster, and Lily lashes out when she finds her child distressed. The confrontation leaves Jasmine shaken, her fragile emotional state growing more volatile by the hour.

By Wednesday, January 14th, the cracks are impossible to ignore. After clashing with Lily, Patrick invites Jasmine to stay at Number 20 but privately voices concerns about her violent tendencies to Yolande. Denise Fox later invites Jasmine to join the family in visiting Anthony, but the situation spirals when Oscar attempts to speak with her, triggering an intense emotional reaction.

Honey once again supports a distraught Bea, who is now fully convinced Linda humiliated her on purpose. Max also faces backlash from Lauren and Oscar after arriving late, deepening the strain between them. Elsewhere, George Knight drops a bombshell on pregnant Nicola, revealing plans to buy Walford East, while Gina nudges Penny to explore her growing attraction to Vinny Panesar.

The tension reaches a boiling point on Thursday, January 15th. Jasmine staggers back into Walford after a night of heavy drinking, her reckless behavior alarming everyone around her. A fierce confrontation erupts when Chelsea challenges Jasmine over how she’s been treating Patrick. In the heat of the moment, Chelsea blurts out a devastating truth—Anthony was far from the saint Jasmine believed him to be. The revelation shatters Jasmine, pushing her further into emotional freefall.

As preparations for Abi’s memorial get underway, the Branning and Beale families gather, but Lauren draws a firm boundary, telling Max he is not welcome. Heartbroken, Max hands Lauren and Oscar a speech he wrote from the heart, begging them to read it so his words can still be heard.

Meanwhile, pressure intensifies on Ravi as Jack reminds him there’s no turning back from his dangerous role as a police informant. Desperate for escape, Penny and Vinny try to carve out a moment of peace with a date at Container Junction, unaware that tragedy is looming elsewhere.

In a shocking and brutal turn, violence erupts involving Zoe’s son, culminating in a savage attack that leaves Oscar fatally wounded. Despite desperate attempts to save him, Oscar succumbs to his injuries, sending shockwaves through Walford. Max is left devastated, haunted by guilt over missed moments and unspoken words. Lauren is shattered beyond measure, while the Square reels from the senseless loss of a young life.

Oscar’s death marks a heartbreaking milestone in EastEnders history, exposing how misunderstandings, unresolved trauma, and buried resentments can collide with catastrophic consequences. As Walford mourns, questions swirl about blame, justice, and whether the Square will ever recover from yet another tragedy written into its streets.

EastEnders airs on BBC One from Monday to Thursday at 7:30 p.m., with episodes available early on BBC iPlayer from 6:00 a.m.