---

Walford braces for a wildfire of suspicion, fractured loyalties, and escalating danger next week as the Slater family finds themselves pulled into one of the darkest spirals the Square has seen in months. Although the title of this episode suggests tragedy, the truth is far more tangled, and the fallout promises to shake every corner of Albert Square. Jean Slater becomes the lightning rod for fear and fury as a wave of unsettling clues points directly at her—sparking a chain reaction that leaves relationships threatened, secrets exposed, and Walford residents scrambling to uncover the truth before the unthinkable happens.

It all begins when Zoe receives yet another ominous message from her unknown stalker—this time scratched into the barrel store door behind the pub. The chilling warning instantly reopens old wounds and reignites her desperation to unmask whoever has been tormenting her. But the real shock comes when a single earring is found at the scene. Zoe might be convinced this is the break she’s been waiting for, but it’s Kat and Alfie who make a disturbing discovery: the earring belongs to Jean.

Suddenly, the Slater household is plunged into panic. Could Jean, the woman whose gentle heart has carried their family through decades of storms, actually be the source of Zoe’s latest nightmare? Kat doesn’t want to believe it, but the evidence is too striking to ignore. Next week, she confronts Jean, hesitant but determined to find out whether there’s more going on beneath the surface. What begins as a careful conversation quickly cracks under pressure, and the fragile peace that has held the Slaters together splinters in seconds.

Jean, blindsided by the accusation, reacts with fierce indignation. She storms into The Vic, her emotions boiling over, and publicly defends herself with a fury Zoe rarely sees in her. Zoe is left reeling—not only by Jean’s outburst but also by the revelation that Kat and Alfie kept the truth from her. In her eyes, the Slaters have closed ranks again, choosing loyalty over justice. And so, the gulf between Zoe and the rest of the family widens, raw and bitter.

Though Jean manages to convince Kat and Alfie of her innocence, Zoe refuses to accept it. She believes they’ve allowed themselves to be manipulated, falling for Jean’s tears and trembling voice. As the days unfold, Zoe becomes increasingly volatile, convinced that she’s being gaslit by the people who should be protecting her.

Meanwhile, the tension escalates when Kat and Alfie begin receiving constant phone calls from an untraceable number—first on their mobiles, then on The Vic’s landline. The relentless harassment leaves everyone rattled, and unsurprisingly, Zoe’s suspicion lands right back on Jean. Kat and Alfie insist that Jean would never do something so calculated, but Zoe feels isolated, unheard, and increasingly paranoid. When she turns to Anthony for support, their connection deepens, complicating an already messy emotional landscape.

After another blistering confrontation with Jean, Zoe leaves The Vic in tears and heads straight to Anthony. What happens behind closed doors remains a mystery for now, but whatever takes place between them marks a turning point in Zoe’s unraveling sense of safety. The darkness climbs even closer when Zoe later discovers a sinister Christmas card left for her inside the pub with yet another threatening message. This time, fear isn’t just creeping—it’s sprinting.

While the Slater drama explodes across Walford, another storyline begins threading itself through the chaos. Jasmine, who has been drifting around the Square with an air of quiet purpose, finally reveals her true agenda—though not intentionally. Her presence has been unsettling from the moment she appeared, always watching, always waiting for something. Or someone.

The episode opens with Jasmine lurking across the street, silently observing Anthony Truman. Cindy, always alert to oddities, spots her lingering too long and confronts her with a sharp tongue. Jasmine brushes the comment aside, claiming she’s waiting for Oscar, but her eyes remain fixed on Anthony even as Cindy walks away. When Cindy learns that the surgery has temporarily shut down due to flooding, Anthony uses the unexpected free time to grab a drink with Patrick at The Albert, while Jasmine’s plans shift into high gear.

Her interaction with Oscar at the fruit stall seems harmless enough at first—until her questions grow a little too specific. Oscar mistakes her probing for interest in Anthony romantically, which leaves him jealous but oblivious. As the two wander into The Albert and spot Anthony and Patrick, Jasmine plays up her friendly persona, laughing, chatting, and blending effortlessly into the scene. But beneath her calm surface, she’s waiting for the perfect moment.

When Oscar steps outside briefly, Jasmine offers Anthony a drink “on the house.” The instant he turns toward the bar, her expression hardens. She rifles through his jacket pockets with practiced ease, snatching the keys to the flooded surgery in a matter of seconds. But just as she pockets them, Oscar reappears. His shock is immediate, but Jasmine recovers fast, spinning a flimsy excuse about wanting more privacy for the two of them. Oscar buys it, though confusion lingers in his eyes.

Jasmine then leads Oscar directly to the locked, empty surgery. Her intentions are murky, but Oscar’s excitement at having alone time clouds his judgment. Once he leaves, Jasmine slips inside, determined and unflinching. She wastes no time accessing Anthony’s confidential files, scrolling through records with a cold, calculating focus. Whatever she’s looking for, it isn’t casual curiosity—it’s targeted, relentless, and deeply personal.

Viewers are left to wonder: is Jasmine investigating Anthony? Cindy? Someone else entirely? And why does she believe the answers lie within Anthony’s private files? Her motives remain hidden, but her façade is breaking, and her willingness to manipulate and deceive suggests her interest in Walford is anything but harmless.

As these turbulent storylines rage, EastEnders drops a final bombshell: Max Branning will return in a major flashforward episode scheduled for New Year’s Day 2026. Executive producer Ben Wadey reveals that this special installment will unravel a strange and dangerous situation involving Max and the entire Branning clan. Fans instantly erupt with mixed reactions—some excited, others wary of another time-jump storyline after the wildly debated “Six” arc.

While the Square debates Max’s looming future, the Slaters remain trapped in the present, navigating fear they can barely name. The constant stalking, the anonymous calls, the unraveling trust—it all builds to a breaking point. And when Jean collapses from stress and panic, rushed to the hospital after an especially brutal confrontation, the family is forced to face the possibility that the danger they’ve been trying to outrun may have finally caught up to them.

Jean’s life is ultimately not in danger, but the attack—emotional, psychological, and physical—marks a turning point. Her hospital stay becomes a moment of reckoning for Zoe, Kat, and the entire clan. The truth behind the stalking remains unconfirmed, leaving the Slaters more fractured than they’ve been in years.

Walford has been shaken before, but this time, the ghosts haunting the Slaters feel closer than ever. And whoever is pulling the strings is far from finished.

---