Albert Square was rocked this week as EastEnders delivered some of its most emotional and dramatic episodes in recent memory, sending fans into a frenzy over long-awaited returns, heartbreaking departures, and family turmoil. The week of October 2, 2025, marked a turning point for several beloved characters, with Max Branning’s surprise reappearance, Stacey Slater’s tearful exit, and the Branning family thrust back into the spotlight.
Jake Wood’s return as Max Branning after a four-year absence had been teased since July, and his reentry didn’t disappoint. According to the BBC, Max made his dramatic comeback at his daughter Lauren’s wedding to Peter Beale, stunning the assembled guests and, most of all, Lauren herself. While Lauren’s reaction was frosty—she accused him of ruining her wedding day—his son Oscar was overjoyed to see his father, setting the stage for one of the week’s most poignant moments.
The tangled web of Max’s relationships quickly came to the fore. As reported by Digital Spy, Max had become entangled with Zoe Slater, a situation complicated by his history with her cousin Stacey Slater. The tension reached its peak when Stacey caught Max and Zoe sharing a kiss outside The Queen Vic, a moment that sent ripples through Walford and directly influenced Stacey’s next move.
Thursday’s episode, aired on October 2, opened in the aftermath of the kiss. Zoe confessed to Stacey that she and Max had been seeing each other for a while, a revelation that led to a heated confrontation and a slap from Stacey after Zoe mentioned the late Martin. The fallout didn’t end there. Max faced harsh words from both Kat and Lauren, with Lauren chastising him for focusing on old flames rather than addressing his responsibilities as a father. In a moment of vulnerability, Max admitted, “I’ve been on my own a long time since I left here. I’ve been searching for something, I don’t know what. Seeing Stacey again, it brought it all back to me – what it felt like to be happy.”
The family drama wasn’t confined to Max’s romantic entanglements. His relationship with his children, especially Oscar, became a focal point. As covered by MyLondon, Oscar pleaded with Max to stay in Walford, saying it “would really mean a lot.” But Max, believing he wasn’t the answer to the family’s problems, told Oscar he’d have to find happiness within himself. The exchange left Oscar in tears at his sister’s wedding, a scene that drew widespread praise from viewers. Pierre Moullier, who plays Oscar, was lauded for his performance. One fan wrote, “Pierre has shown that he’s great at comic timing and delivery, but tonight has really shown he can show a more dramatic, vulnerable side. Oscar wanting to bond with his dad and getting it thrown back in his face was heartbreaking.”
Max’s decision to leave Walford once again was met with mixed emotions. He narrowly avoided a confrontation with Cindy, who was desperate to speak with him, and left a voicemail for Stacey before fleeing East London. The message, in which he apologized and told her she deserved better than him, was ultimately deleted by Stacey as she prepared for her own departure.
Stacey Slater’s exit was another emotional high point for the soap. As reported by the Mirror, Stacey, played by Lacey Turner, finally made the decision to leave for Brazil with her children Hope and Arthur after weeks of indecision. Initially, she had resolved to stay in Walford, but her daughter Lily persuaded her to do what she truly wanted. The confrontation with Max and Zoe proved to be the catalyst for her departure, and after a tearful goodbye—missed by her mother Jean, who was stuck on a broken tube—Stacey left Albert Square in a taxi, hugging her children tightly.
Fans, however, were quick to spot that Stacey’s exit was missing some key elements. Notably, she did not receive the iconic Julia’s Theme, the music traditionally used for major character departures, nor did she have a proper farewell scene with Jean. This omission sparked hope among viewers that Stacey’s absence would only be temporary. As one fan put it on X (formerly Twitter), “It’s reassuring that Stacey didn’t get Julia’s theme or have a proper final scene with Jean. It says to me it’s not a matter of if she will be back just when. I will miss her a lot whilst she’s away.”
Lacey Turner’s break from EastEnders had been announced earlier in the year, with the actress telling The Sun, “It’s time for myself and Stacey to take a rest and who knows what Stacey will get up to in her time away?” An EastEnders spokesperson confirmed that while Lacey would be off-screen later in 2025, “plenty of more drama” was in store before her character left and teased that Stacey would return when the time was right.
The week’s episodes also highlighted the resurgence of the Branning family on EastEnders. As one fan commented online, “I so hope that he [Oscar] sticks around for a long time. He’s such a perfect fit on the show, for comedy and drama. I also love that him coming back has revitalised the Brannings, since they’d kind of drifted into the background. Now we’ve actually got them back as a family unit.” Oscar’s portrayal by Pierre Moullier, who took on the role in July 2025, has been widely celebrated for bringing both humor and depth to the character, not seen since 2017.
While Max’s return was brief, BBC sources have confirmed that Jake Wood will reprise the role again for a full-time stint later in 2025. This development promises more twists and turns for the Branning family and the residents of Walford, who seem unable to escape the chaos that Max brings in his wake.
EastEnders continues to air Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One, with episodes also available early on BBC iPlayer. With major characters coming and going and storylines that tug at the heartstrings, it’s clear that the soap remains as vital and unpredictable as ever. For fans, the only certainty is that in Albert Square, no goodbye is ever truly final—and the next big comeback might be just around the corner.
