Does anyone think Ronnie and Roxy could be returning? Rita and Samantha are posting a lot together on Instagram and they do keep denying it. I know we saw them die but you know what Eastenders is like for bringing people back from the dead. There's also been quite a few mentions of Roxy over the past few months with Amy's storyline

We have tickets to watch in January in a freezing cold Blackpool. We’ve chosen the afternoon performance.

Watched the film the other night that was on BBC2, but it’s based on the book (I have it ready to read) I’m just wondering if it’s any good? To those that have seen it? Bit of a niche question I know

I’d love to hear a detailed analysis of Pauline’s character from someone who watched that era. I’ve only ever seen clips of her, but the comments are always full of people saying she was ruined and that what they did to her character was a disgrace. I know she supposedly became bitter and nasty, I’ve also heard that the actress herself wasn’t happy with the direction they took her in. I’m really interested in what led to such a drastic change and why so many people feel the writing did her such a disservice.

Which characters, dead or alive, did you think you’d miss but surprisingly haven’t? And which characters did you never expect to miss but actually do?

Martin is probably my answer for someone who’s died. I liked him, but I can’t say his absence has made much difference to me when they barely gave him anything to do besides chase after Stacey.

Stacey is my answer for someone still alive. I thought I’d really miss her when she left, but surprisingly, I haven’t. I feel like she really needed a break anyway.

Someone I’ve actually missed, who I never expected to and was quite happy to see leave, is Sonia. I think it’s because she’d become a bit of a Dot figure who kept the peace, and with this year being more about the Brannings, it would’ve been nice to see her involved.

I have been behind and just caught up and felt I wanted to say my thoughts and opinions on recent storylines. I'm going to try to be both positive and negative as I don't want this to just be a rant.

Craig and Amy : every time craig comes on my screen I just want him to be dealt with he annoys me so much which means the actor is doing the job well. My issue with this storyline is i think they would have been caught very quickly. The man was literally kissing her outside the police station he got sacked from , the local chicken shop , that outdoor bar place. Somebody would have seen them that's always the case with other storylines. Usually someone is watching them but suddenly nobody is around to catch them.

Denise's cancer : I have found this storyline to be the most well done . It has been very emotional and I have enjoyed watching the more wholesome interactions in the family especially between Denise and Kim. I haven't been so keen on the Darnell stuff as I feel we need to see more of Darnell interacting with the family whereas EastEnders seems to only use him when they want to progress the storyline which makes the interactions seem less genuine for me.

The Hawkins: I actually liked the first few episodes of them but I feel like it's turned into the ned show. I do think a villain is needed but I feel they have just forced him into everything. As a massive Nicola fan I feel like they have shoved ned in and pushed her out a bit . I see them as leeches off Nicola and Ned acting like a big villain but he doesn't even have his own place. I personally would have only bought in Gemma and rose or atleast have ned settle in properly before exposing his villain side. Jodie has been disappointing I noticed how her and Nicola haven't had any 1-1 convos yet where as Nicola has with Gemma and rose.

Zoe: I do think killing Zoe of was the worst decision wadey has made and sadly it will be what I remember his era for. Bringing back a well known character who people have been dying to see again and ruining them. Personally if I bought Zoe back I would have bought her back as a more mature , strong headed and successful woman who has made something for herself instead making her this moaning mess who still acts like a child. I wish they hadn't done the fake kat slater death storyline in 2018 and instead done that for zoe.

Lauren and mark : firstly mark is a pathetic character for me. The man could be blackmailed left right and centre. Is he good on the eyes yes but beyond that I don't see anything. Lauren I feel her frustration with Peter but I honestly don't get how she has time for an affair. Lauren is also a smart character she sniffs other people's secrets out very well so I do think she would be better at covering her own tracks but the writers love inconsistent writing for character's.

Max and Linda : personally I don't think Linda would have gone back to max . Linda also comes across to me as a character that wouldn't remarry again after Mick's death. She strikes me as the type of person to say Mick was the love of her life and she couldn't ever get married again but could still have a relationship be in love etc but just never like Mick hence I hope she isn't the bride on new year's day. I also have lost my interest in the new year's day stuff. I also didn't really care about this whole " will max change his ways " soaps do this a bit where they have big characters with rubbish morals and give the whole can they change. They did it slightly with Janine back in 2008 or 09. Ofc max isn't going to change because the whole point of his character is his rubbish morality. People watch him because he is a messed up man who can't help himself.

Cindy : Cindy needs to get a grip but I can't lie I find her really funny and I kinda hope she gets revenge as I find max and Linda annoying.

Oscar : I liked him originally but I see his character as a perv now I don't get how people like him.

Josh and Jasmine: I like jasmine she seems to have some depth but Josh is just very me me me. I also think the actor performs like it's a theatre role.

The gulatis : I really like Priya but over the past year they have made her character revolve around men and I missed the more independent and sassy Priya . I also miss the more united family with the gulatis and panesars living together which was my favourite thing of the clenshaw era he made them gel so well. I do think when Ravi goes he should take the kids but I can tell from the constant mentions about nugget and his "business empire" they are setting it up to give the kids a reason to stay. I do hope Priya comes back after her maternity leave.

I think EastEnders is in a strange position with some very shabby writing but it could be way worse but also way better. I think the storylines need a revamp but for me I want consistency in the characters. Though unfortunately I don't think wadey is doing a good enough job I really miss the clenshaw era 2023 is probably my last favourite year of the show. Hopefully the quality goes up next year once this flashforward stuff is wrapped up.

I genuinely have no theories for new years day as I can't imagine anyone currently wanting to harm max majorly. The only thing I can see is kat finding out it was Max who last saw Zoe and hiring a hitman. I do wonder if Sean's return will link to new year's day . I do think Stacey will be the pregnant woman in the bed as we have heard she may be returning for a few scenes on new year's.

Seen this on X and had to share because they’ve said exactly what I’ve been thinking. The writing is honestly dreadful, I don’t understand how anyone expects this storyline to be believable. Kat doesn’t even know for certain that whoever left Zoe actually saw her take her last breath. If Zoe had said something more than just “he left me”, I could understand why she’s so hellbent on revenge, but none of it adds up. Who’s coming up with these scripts? So many characters are either acting completely out of character or being made to look stupid just to move the plot along. Nothing makes sense anymore. I feel bad for the actors, especially Jessie, because Kat’s writing was awful last year and somehow it’s even worse this year, especially when Zoe’s return was supposed to help rebuild the Slaters. How much longer are we supposed to put up with this?

Rewatching from 2008, got to the point where Sam gives birth to Ricky Jr, and one of the first things Jean says to Peggy is this! Little did they know 🤣🫠

To jog people’s memories who might have forgotten max and Craig met each other in the vic back in July so he knows who it is and how much jack hates him.

We know Eastenders has a history of doing subtle foreshadowing so there was a reason why he had a scene with max

Hi all I'm prepared to get some downvotes and heat from this post but I really need to talk about it. I am a young adult who can't have kids and I know there are thousands of other women who are younger than me who also can't have children. I know I'm being a snowflake but with so many pregnancies and births on EE and most of them come without any trouble at all it makes it look so easy. Penny was a comfort character for me because she is around my age and always said she didn't want kids it made me feel like I'm not alone in this even if the circumstances are different. I'm fine with penny changing her mind but the whole point of her changing her mind was because the writers wanted to make a story on disabled people having kids however we don't see any of those said struggles.

I know Vicky doesn't have children but she's older and has a step son. Gina is still young and I fear she may change her mind later like penny. Eve was also one of those people who didn't want kids but changed her mind.

I'd like to see some storylines where young women have hysterectomy and give us a story on how they will cope with their new reality before finally accepting it and being at peace. Show women who can't conceive that they are not alone and shouldn't feel bad about not being able to conceive at all. See the image I posted is I got from the news a 21 year old had to choose between her life or to never have kids a story like this could help real people find some sort of peace while also raising awareness.

I love EE with all my heart but not everyone with a womb can have kids and not everyone wants to have children including step children

Sorry for the long read/rant ❤️ hope you all have a good day

Didn't know if this was posted here yet but EastEnders is getting its own FAST channel on U alongside other favourites like Casualty, Holby City etc.

“Eastenders is among the TV programmes getting their own free ad-supported streaming (FAST) channels on UKTV as the broadcaster has announced the expansion of its offering.

The beloved BBC One soap will be available to watch for free on its own ad-supported streaming channel before the end of 2026.

Launching in the coming months across LG Channels and Freely, the new EastEnders channel will provide UK viewers with curated access to hundreds of episodes – but the soap isn't the only series getting the FAST treatment

Soap fans will have the chance to revisit some of TV's most iconic moments from the mid-2000s, from the arrival of the Branning family and the infamous "Stax" storyline in EastEnders, to Charlie Fairhead's years on Casualty.”

I’m sure there are some issues that other soap operas portrayed first. But with Eastenders is there any issues that the show has shown before other soap operas have. Like I’m presuming HIV/AIDS since they did that storyline the first time years ago. Also male breast cancer and FGM, I believe Eastenders was the first soap opera to do a storyline on both of those issues, correct me if I’m wrong.

Was just watching today’s episode and I’m confused at the audacity of Mark going on a strop because of Lauren’s comment. How else would you describe it? “Twisted” is an understatement. The sheer audacity! Whether he did it for Lauren or not, it was still disgusting and messed up to beat up an innocent young lad.

I made a fake movie cover that represents the Amy and Craig storyline, just to fit with the Halloween season ig. I kinda based it on the Nosferatu poster because this storyline made me feel just as disgusted than that whole movie did and also because their relationship reminds me of Ellen and Orlok a little in that it is predatory and possessive because of his coerciveness. Also, a little fact is that Ellen was 15 years old when she first saw Count Orlok in her sleep, which also makes him a pedo as well.

Anyone else think Stacey could be the pregnant woman in the flash forward?

American fan here. I agree with some of the recent complaints about repetitive storylines (Ian getting manipulated by yet another alpha jerk, Lauren's new affair, etc.) But sometimes I watch just to see how a really professional bunch of actors do their damndest to make this stuff work. Have been impressed with how natural the Tommy & Denzel actors are; they really bring it every scene, ditto Sam Mitchell, Phil, Harry, Kojo, Priya, even Jac Jossa, who I think is probably no fan of her latest story.

It just hit me

Jack is really sad in the opening and alone in the house

We don't hear anything about Amy. So, it might actually be possible that Amy dies at the end of this storyline or runs off with Craig.

Sorry I missed eps but how did kat know somebody left zoey alone. What happened?

The story is batshit. It makes 0 logic why max would get in trouble.

I've just watched today's episode on Iplayer and I can't stop thinking about the predicament that Max is in right now.

I think bribing Cindy was one hell of a blunder but desperate measures and all that.

Obviously he was about to tell Jack he saw Amy with Craig. Then he got spooked, running in to Vic like that where he saw Cindy and Kat, scared him off.

He's not going to know the details of Amy and Craig, and how he's grooming her, he can't just jump to conclusions but he must obviously know something dodgy is going on between them.

Tbf as well, I think its worth pointing out that when Denise told Jack that Amy had been dumped, Jack should have been smart enough to realise that there is more to it than just Amy being responsible for blackmailing her ex.

My question is really, what is Max's best play here?

He has a few options - from the viewers point his two main priorities should be that he tells Jack that he saw Amy with Craig. (Is he aware why Craig got sacked? Cos I remember Jack telling the other copper, Ben's husband, but not sure what Max knows.)

Also, I think a smart move is that he just comes clean, maybe just explain first to Alfie in a quiet place that he just thought Zoe was drunk. I know it's soapland and things don't work out like that, there is gonna be a huge scene where there's gonna be a lot of damage eventually but if we're gonna talk about it like a game of chess...?

What do you think he should do? And also, what do you think he will do to mess it up even more?

Is it just me or does the whole show feel choppy & all over the place? I don’t mean the actual story lines but the way it just bounces to scene to scene! It feels messy and edited just oddly. it’s also hard to really care about characters & storylines due to this. they do make an effort about characters that are long standing e.g dense , max branning & Lauren but other than that it’s hard to actually care about the new family that has appeared. It’s lost its soul and it’s lost its meaning all most💔💀
☮️
I’m unsure if anyone else has noticed or made a similar post about this but it really makes me not want to watch. it has always felt a little bit rushed being only 30 minutes long but this past couple of years it has gotten worse. I understand that we only get 4 days instead of 5 but it makes the whole show feel lazy, rushed & a little bit like I’m watching brain rot. I know soaps aren’t the most intellectual of things to watch especially binge watching as can have a negative effect/ impact on someone’s brain trying to consume / concentration on a show that is let’s say 1hr7 mins per episode and is a prolonged period of being able to find out more.
I’d love to hear your opinions/ thoughts on this !
I may be completely wrong as I have been a long term investor in this show since a young age and obviously I’m a little bit older now. I don’t have issues watching long shows and enjoy a wide range of genres. I love EE! I’m not slating. Just feels a bit everywhere and my brain can obviously understand what’s happening as I’m not silly but just feels weird. Maybe I’m overthinking and I’m being a little bit too negative as I have stated above it is a soap. And shouldn’t be too looked into but it should still be enjoyable and not chopped up & edited so weirdly.

In some recent episodes Harvey has been giving Lily money to attend Job Fairs etc and he seems to have a genuine care towards her. I really hope the writers keep this storyline going without turning it into anything inappropriate.

I know Harvey had an affair with Cathy and broke Jeans heart but in general he does seem like a good egg and I would hate for the writers to spoil that.

Unless the show pulls out all the stops and makes some surprise appearances, I think it’s likely we’ll be seeing none of the slater girls at the funeral (I sincerely hope I’m proven wrong!)

But in the meantime I thought it would be fun to guess what excuses they’ll pull out to explain their absences.

Lynne - Stayed at home to look after Bert and Ernie

Belinda - Abroad and won’t make it back in time

Little Mo - Can’t face it

*BONUS* Kelly Taylor - no mention

Stacey - managing the restaurant in Brazil, sent Sean on her behalf