Walford is reeling after Max Branning’s brief but explosive return and the shocking climax of Joel Marshall’s toxic storyline, which is set to leave lasting scars across Albert Square.

Max Branning’s Tumultuous Return and Quick Exit

Jake Wood’s highly anticipated comeback as Max Branning was short-lived but left a trail of chaos in its wake. Max made a dramatic entrance at Lauren and Peter’s wedding, instantly stirring trouble when he came face-to-face with his former love, Stacey Slater. The reunion quickly turned disastrous as Stacey was left devastated after witnessing Max share a kiss with her cousin, Zoe Slater.

The betrayal dominated Thursday’s episode, with Stacey exploding in fury after Zoe confessed that she had been secretly seeing Max for some time. The revelation sent shockwaves through the Slater family, reigniting old wounds and destroying fragile trust.

As the fallout unfolded, Max faced rejection from every corner. After failing to reconcile with Stacey and letting Zoe down, he attempted to repair his fractured relationship with his daughter Lauren, explaining that seeing Stacey again had reminded him “what it felt like to be happy.” But his words fell flat.

Feeling isolated and unwanted, Max decided to leave Walford once again, admitting that he was “not the solution for the family” and that everyone would be better off without him. Before leaving East London, he recorded a final voicemail for Stacey—a message she never hears. Yet fans can take comfort in knowing this isn’t the last of Max Branning: Jake Wood is confirmed to return later this year for a full-time stint that promises to shake up the Square once again.

Toxic Masculinity Plot Culminates in Shocking Violence

While one storyline closed, another dark and disturbing one reaches its peak. The Square’s most unsettling current plot, centered on teenager Joel Marshall’s growing misogyny, will take a “genuinely dangerous” turn in upcoming episodes.

Next Thursday’s installment (October 9th) will focus entirely on Joel’s downward spiral and the devastating consequences of toxic online influences. Actress Alice Hey, who plays Joel’s father’s partner, Vicky Fowler, revealed that a special issue-led episode will spotlight the emotional and social fallout of Joel’s behavior.

The episode follows Joel and his friend Tommy Moon as they become involved in a disturbing school incident that shocks Walford to its core. The tension then reaches its breaking point when Joel violently lashes out, physically attacking Vicky in a horrifying moment that changes everything.

Hey explained that the storyline aims to spark critical conversations about “toxic masculinity, misogyny, and the ways young people are being influenced online.” The intense, standalone episode will also explore the parents’ perspective, showing how ordinary families struggle to understand—and stop—the insidious ideologies poisoning their children’s minds.

New Generation Drama: Harry, Kojo, and the Panisars

Meanwhile, the younger generation of Walford faces its own wave of chaos. Harry Mitchell’s relationship with Kojo is set to be tested like never before after Kojo’s secret involvement with Ravi and Oki is exposed following his sudden collapse.

Elsewhere, Devinda “Nugget” Gulati (Yuim Rasul Chowdery) teased major upheaval for the Panisars, revealing that the ripple effects from Ravi’s underworld dealings are “sending shock waves” through the family. Beneath the surface of their apparent unity, power struggles and betrayals are brewing—threatening to dismantle the strength and solidarity that have long defined the Panisar dynasty.