EastEnders spoilers reveal that Joel Marshall’s behavior is about to spiral completely out of control next week, pushing his father Ross Marshall into a devastating showdown that could end with Joel being forced out of Walford altogether. For months now, viewers have watched Joel display one troubling act after another, and the drama is set to reach boiling point in upcoming episodes.

From the moment Joel arrived in Walford earlier this year, his presence has been toxic. He has consistently shown an alarming lack of respect for women, starting with his cruel and invasive act of secretly filming himself with Avani Nandraart during a sexual encounter—without her knowledge or consent. That shocking violation was only the beginning. Not long after, he was caught harassing a woman on the underground, further displaying his deeply rooted misogyny.

Joel’s disturbing streak didn’t stop there. He began targeting Stacey Slater, cruelly shaming her online for her past as a cam girl and even issuing vile threats toward his father’s partner, Vicki Fowler. To make matters worse, Joel’s behavior has been influenced by the dangerous content he consumes online, following a toxic male influencer whose warped ideologies are shaping his own beliefs.

Teachers like Julie Bates have tried desperately to reach him, challenging his sexist and harmful views. Stacey, Vicki, and even some of Joel’s peers have attempted to hold him accountable too. But nothing seems to work. Each intervention has only led to Joel becoming more emboldened, and next week, things will take an even darker turn when events at Walford High School set off a chain reaction no one can control.

While details of the school incident are being kept under wraps until Thursday’s episode, spoilers hint that Joel and his mate Tommy Moon will be at the center of it. Whatever happens is serious enough to leave families across the Square horrified. The storyline will spark tense debates about sexism, online culture, and the dangerous influence of toxic male role models. Parents, teenagers, and even longtime Walford residents will find themselves divided on how to respond, with conversations shaded heavily by gender and generation.

Ross, Vicki, Kat, and Alfie Moon will all be pulled into the fallout as they struggle to rein in their boys and challenge the disturbing behavior that has taken root. But while some characters try to reason with Joel, others are left increasingly fearful that his anger is only escalating. Their fears are confirmed when things come to a head at Number 43.

In one of the most shocking moments of the storyline so far, Joel lashes out violently at Vicki Fowler. His aggression crosses a line that can’t be ignored, leaving Ross devastated and realizing that he can no longer shield his son from the consequences of his actions. For Ross, this is a moment of reckoning. As a father, he has repeatedly tried to excuse, soften, or manage Joel’s behavior, but each attempt has failed. Now, with Vicki harmed and the entire community on edge, Ross is faced with the gut-wrenching choice of whether to protect his son or protect everyone else from him.

This explosive plotline is so significant that EastEnders is pairing it with a special documentary. EastEnders Investigates: The Manosphere will air alongside the episodes, digging into the frightening rise of online spaces that promote anti-women ideologies. The documentary will examine how impressionable young men, like Joel, can be drawn into these communities and how quickly toxic ideas can spill into real-life behavior. It’s a storyline designed not just to entertain, but to spark vital conversations in homes across the UK.

But Joel’s drama isn’t the only storyline grabbing attention next week.

Elsewhere, Max Branning’s short-lived return already appears to be over. Jake Wood’s iconic character resurfaced last month after four years away, quickly inserting himself back into the chaos of Walford life. He reconnected with Zoe Slater, shocked everyone by attending Lauren and Peter’s wedding uninvited, and had frosty exchanges with his daughter Lauren and ex Stacey. His kiss with Zoe caused a family scandal that ended with Stacy slapping Zoe, Kat and Lauren tearing into Max, and Zoe exposing their secret relationship.

In the aftermath, Max tried to mend fences with Lauren, but his fixation on Stacey only drove a deeper wedge between them. Ultimately, he decided to walk away once again, telling his family they were better off without him. Heartbreakingly, Oscar begged his father to stay, but Max couldn’t ignore how unwelcome he felt. He left Walford quietly, missing a confrontation with Cindy by mere minutes. However, viewers already know that Jake Wood is set to return full-time later this year. The question isn’t whether Max will come back, but what crisis—or who—will draw him in permanently.

Meanwhile, another major storyline is about to erupt involving Ravi Gulati. Harry Mitchell is increasingly worried about his friend Kojo Asare, who has been dragged deeper into Ravi’s drug operation. Despite Nicola managing to pull Harry out of Ravi’s orbit, Kojo hasn’t been so lucky. Ravi and Oki continue to exploit him, using his flat as part of their criminal network.

When Harry returns to Walford after a blissful weekend away with Gina, he is confronted by a terrifying scene. Kojo collapses suddenly, clutching his chest, and Harry is thrown into a panic as he fights to keep his friend alive. The moment drives home the brutal reality: Kojo is being crushed under the weight of Ravi’s empire, and it’s only a matter of time before tragedy strikes.

Harry decides enough is enough. He turns to his father, Teddy, for help. While the Mitchells have been fractured in the past, this time, father and son agree to unite against a common enemy. They begin plotting a dangerous mission to pull Kojo out of Ravi’s grasp once and for all—even if it means declaring war on one of Walford’s most ruthless gangsters.

But Ravi isn’t going to back down. As the Mitchells strategize, Oki throws a new complication into the mix, ordering Kojo to take on a risky job outside of Walford. The stakes have never been higher, and time is running out. Will Harry and Teddy be able to save Kojo before he is swallowed completely by Ravi’s operation? Or is it already too late?

Next week’s episodes promise explosive drama on all fronts. Joel’s shocking violence and Ross’s heartbreaking decision could change the Marshall family forever. Max’s brief return leaves viewers wondering what will lure him back permanently. And the looming war between the Mitchells and Ravi is about to boil over, threatening to engulf everyone connected to them.

Walford is bracing for impact, and nothing will ever be the same again.

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