The cobbled streets of Weatherfield are no strangers to formidable women, but the arrival of Maggie at the helm of the Newton and Ridley empire has signaled a shift toward a far more dangerous brand of matriarchy. While she presides over the pub with the sharp instructions and no-nonsense attitude expected of a legendary landlady, a much darker reality lurks beneath her stern exterior. Maggie isn’t just a disciplinarian; she is a killer who has already proven she will go to any lengths to maintain her grip on power.

The true depth of Maggie’s ruthlessness was laid bare during a chilling Christmas flashback, which revealed she had murdered her husband, Allan, by pushing him down a staircase during a heated argument over her infidelity. Since then, her mask of respectability has slipped on more than one occasion. She recently issued a veiled threat to her daughter-in-law, Eva Price, and now it appears a new target has entered her crosshairs: the unsuspecting Steve McDonald.

Steve, ever the social butterfly, has struck up an immediate and lively friendship with the new pub boss, Ben. Their shared passion for rugby has seen them become nearly inseparable, much to the chagrin of Steve’s usual partner-in-crime, Tim Metcalfe. However, it isn’t Tim’s jealousy that Steve should fear. Throughout recent evenings at the Rovers, Maggie has been observed casting icy, disapproving glares at the pair. Her resentment seems to stem from a perceived competition for Ben’s attention, or perhaps a fear that Steve’s influence could disrupt her carefully maintained control over her son. When Steve ignored her subtle hints to head home, Maggie was forced to serve him, but the look in her eyes suggested that his next pint might be his last.

Meanwhile, the mystery surrounding Jodie Ramsay continues to unravel, as her web of lies faces its greatest threat yet. Jodie has spent months cultivating Shona’s sympathy with a fabricated tale of domestic abuse—a narrative designed to mask her deep-seated resentment toward her sister for “abandoning” her to their volatile parents. Her facade as a devoted daughter to their father, Doug Ramsay, has also been exposed as a calculated performance; behind closed doors, she treats the fragile man with cold contempt.

The key to Jodie’s past may lie in a gold locket she keeps hidden, containing a photograph of two young girls. This week, that past literally walked onto the cobbles in the form of a newcomer named Olivia. Carrying an identical locket, Olivia confronted a visibly rattled Jodie, demanding to know why she fled and questioning her claims of “love” for those she left behind. As Olivia interrogates her, Jodie finds herself floundering, unable to talk her way out of a confrontation that could bring her entire house of cards crashing down.

As the Square prepares for the historic spring wedding of Lisa Swain and Carla Connor—a ceremony that promises to make Weatherfield history as the first successful marriage between two women—the air is thick with anticipation and dread. While Carla has successfully secured the Chariot Square Hotel for the nuptials, flash-forward scenes have already teased a tragic conclusion to the big day. With killer matriarchs on the prowl and long-buried secrets surfacing, the question is not if tragedy will strike, but who will be the one to pay the ultimate price on the cobbles.