EastEnders is once again laying the groundwork for a future catastrophe, and at the centre of it all stands Max Branning, a man who seems physically incapable of learning from his past. As the show edges closer to its explosive 2027 flashforward, the present-day storyline makes one thing painfully clear: Max is unraveling, and every reckless choice he makes is dragging him closer to a destiny soaked in regret, broken relationships, and bloodshed.

If there were an award for self-sabotage in Walford, Max would take it home every year. At this point, it would honestly be easier to list the people he hasn’t hurt rather than those he has. While viewers brace themselves for the huge New Year’s Day flashforward, the current timeline shows Max in full meltdown mode, spiraling faster with every episode. And the damage he’s causing now feels like it’s directly feeding into whatever horror awaits him in 2027.

The immediate fallout from the Christmas christening is nothing short of explosive. Emotions are raw, secrets are exposed, and Max once again finds himself at the heart of chaos. Cindy Beale drops a bombshell accusation, confronting Max with the claim that he knew exactly who she was before they slept together on Christmas Day. Let that sink in. Max allegedly slept with the mother of a man he was once accused of killing. Even by EastEnders standards, that’s jaw-dropping.

For Peter and Lauren, the truth lands like a punch to the gut. The realization of what Max has done is unbearable, and Peter reacts in a way many viewers have waited years to see. He lashes out, swinging a fist straight into Max’s face. It’s a raw, emotional moment, charged with years of unresolved pain. For some, it feels like long-overdue justice, especially considering everything surrounding Steven. The messiness of Max and Cindy’s encounter is almost impossible to process. It’s uncomfortable, disturbing, and painfully on-brand for Max Branning—proving once again that no boundary is off-limits when it comes to his destructive impulses.

Things don’t calm down outside the church either. Lauren finally reaches breaking point, telling her father she’s exhausted by the way his constant sexual chaos destroys everything in its path. Her words cut deep, but the most devastating blow comes from little Louie. When a child looks at you—his own granddad—and tells you to go away, you know you’ve reached absolute rock bottom. That single moment says more than any shouting match ever could.

Yet even then, Max doesn’t stop. Instead of reflecting on the wreckage he’s caused, he drifts into Harry’s Barn, emotionally hollow and clearly desperate for validation. Almost immediately, he starts flirting with Nicola. It’s astonishing. He’s just been punched by his son’s brother, rejected by his family, and humiliated in public—and his response is to chat up the nearest woman. It’s not charming, it’s not romantic; it’s sad. Max doesn’t need another conquest. He needs serious help.

The storyline then takes an even darker turn with Max’s confession to Linda Carter. In a rare moment of honesty, he finally admits why his granddaughter Annie’s sister AJ is living with Tanya. The truth is horrifying. Max left eight-year-old AJ alone so he could rush off to “help” a female neighbour—help that, in Max’s world, almost certainly meant something inappropriate. While he was gone, AJ wandered off and went missing. A child was endangered because Max prioritized a potential fling over basic responsibility.

That revelation changes everything. This isn’t just about bad relationships or poor decisions anymore. This is about a child’s safety. Tanya’s decision to ban Max from AJ’s life suddenly feels completely justified. If Max can’t control himself long enough to protect his own granddaughter, then he has no right to call himself a granddad. It’s one of the most unforgivable things he’s ever done.

Linda tries, as always, to show compassion. She listens, she empathizes, and she offers support. But Max, consumed by shame and self-loathing, lashes out instead. He snaps at Linda, accusing her of being embarrassing for constantly trying to rescue people. It’s cruel and unfair, especially considering she’s done nothing but offer him kindness. It’s a textbook example of Max pushing away the very people who try to help him.

Later, guilt catches up with him. Max returns to Peacock Palace to apologize, completely breaking down as he talks about wanting to be a better father to Annie. His tears feel genuine, and for a brief moment, it seems like there might be hope for him yet. Linda, ever the emotional anchor, comforts him, offering reassurance and warmth when he needs it most.

But then Max does what Max always does— he ruins it. Misreading compassion for something more, he leans in and tries to kiss Linda. The moment is excruciating. Linda is his child’s mother, his ex’s best friend, and absolutely not his rebound. The secondhand embarrassment is unbearable. Linda’s reaction says everything without her needing to shout. She pushes him away and bluntly tells him it’s no wonder people always assume the worst about him.

That rejection feels pivotal. It’s not just another failed advance—it’s a turning point. We already know from the 2027 flashforward that Max will be getting married. But after alienating Lauren, Peter, Cindy, and now Linda, the question becomes unavoidable: who on earth is going to marry him? Is there someone new yet to enter Walford, destined to fall into Max’s web? Or will this rejection push him to manipulate someone vulnerable back into his orbit?

What makes it even more chilling is the image of Max in the future, dressed in a wedding suit stained with blood. Whatever path he’s on now, it clearly leads somewhere dark. This marriage doesn’t end in happiness—it ends in horror.

While Max’s storyline spirals, EastEnders is also unraveling another haunting mystery: the death of Anthony Truman. Walford is still reeling after Anthony was found dead in the Vic on Christmas Day, and suspicion hangs heavy in the air. Zoe Slater was the last known person to be with him, yet she remembers almost nothing about what happened, leaving her trapped in a nightmare she can’t escape.

Tensions had already been boiling before Anthony’s death. Zoe had confronted him over a devastating lie about their twins, a betrayal that cut deep and left emotional scars. That lie didn’t just damage their relationship—it set off a chain of events that now appears to have ended in tragedy. As more details emerge, it becomes clear that Anthony’s actions had far-reaching consequences.

The mystery deepens with the revelation that Jasmine Fischer is Zoe and Anthony’s daughter, and that she had been stalking Zoe with help from the recently returned Chrissie Watts. Suspicion briefly swings toward Chrissie when Jasmine and Kat begin questioning her involvement. Still, Zoe remains firmly in the police’s sights, especially since she collapsed and can’t remember the crucial moments surrounding Anthony’s death.

In the coming episodes, the pressure intensifies. Zoe faces relentless police questioning, and it becomes clear just how serious the situation is. Kat and Alfie step in, bringing in Richie Scott to represent Zoe as the threat of charges looms. Then a crucial new detail emerges: Anthony suffered two separate injuries. This discovery casts doubt on the assumption that Zoe is responsible and reopens the possibility that someone else—perhaps Chrissie—played a more significant role than initially believed.

Despite everything, Zoe’s maternal instincts remain strong. She phones Kat with an emotional plea, begging her not to pursue Chrissie for Jasmine’s sake. Even while facing potential prosecution, Zoe’s priority is protecting her child, making the moment quietly devastating.

Elsewhere, Patrick Truman is consumed by grief and rage over his son’s death. Desperate for answers and frustrated by the lack of progress, he confronts Kat in a heated clash fueled by pain, blame, and unresolved history. Anthony’s death has shattered more than one family, and the ripple effects continue to spread.

As time runs out, the situation grows even more dire. Zoe’s trial approaches, Chrissie disappears, and Jasmine flees Walford. After a tense misunderstanding with Kat, Jasmine confides in Oscar Branning, finally revealing her true identity. He encourages her to speak to Patrick, her grieving grandfather, in what seems like a chance for honesty and healing. But EastEnders makes it clear this meeting won’t bring peace. Instead, the truth arrives too late, threatening to deepen the tragedy rather than resolve it.

Anthony’s death also marks the unannounced exit of Nicholas Bailey, who has played the role since 2000. The actor described his departure as bittersweet, acknowledging the significance of a Christmas Day exit and praising the storyline’s emotional weight. It’s a powerful farewell, and one that underscores just how dark and compelling EastEnders has become.

With Max’s future already stained in blood and the Truman mystery spiraling toward heartbreak, Walford is heading into one of its most explosive eras yet.