(Tuesday 18^th February 2020)

At the beginning of this episode, there is chaos as the boat party comes to a close and emergency services are on site, getting people to the life boats.  Ian is struggling in the water.

Seven hours earlier…

Sharon refuses to let Denny attend the boat party.  Dottie is horrified to discover that Denny is behind the online posts about Bobby.  I mean, if Dottie is judging you, mate, you’ve done something really bad!  She’s the spawn of Nick Cotton!

Kathy and Ian argue over how he has treated Bobby, who has had a brick thrown through his window and is being abused online.  Meanwhile, Bobby is walking through the Square with Habiba and Iqra when they are jumped by some racist thugs.  They shout abuse and there’s one particularly vile moment when one lad grabs his crotch and tells the girls it’s Halal.  I mean, they’re disgusting.  It’s uncomfortable viewing to say the least.  Bobby does his best to protect the girls but he gets severely beaten.  I actually couldn’t watch most of it; it was too upsetting.

Bex witnesses the whole thing and attempts to frighten them away by calling the police.  She has just come back from buying pills from the dealer Dottie hooked her up with.  She tells Dottie about the attack, prompting Dottie to reveal that Denny is behind the online abuse.  Against Dottie’s wishes, Bex texts Ian to tell him what she knows.

Ian and Kathy rush to the hospital to be with Bobby, who is critically ill and has been taken into surgery.  However, when Ian gets Bex’s text, he rushes to the boat party to confront Denny.  He locks him in the changing room in the downstairs of the boat, which we know from Monday’s episode, gets flooded.  Ooh… will Denny die?  Finger’s crossed!

Max and Jack end up in a fight when Jack reveals that Lauren and Peter have broken up.  Jack has been helping Lauren and sending her money.  A lot of cruel words are spoken and fists fly.  But it’s a good way of throwing out a lot of Eastenders history (Abi’s death, Jack’s daughter Penny being in a wheelchair, not to mention actually existing).  Soon after, we hear what sounds like a gunshot, which is presumably connection to Ben/Phil/Keanu.

At the hospital, Kathy gets an urgent call from Ben, needing help.  She then calls a mystery friend for help.  And who is it that shows up at the hospital?  Peter Beale!  With a new but genuinely similar face for a change, not like the usual recasts.  Kathy meets Ben to find that Sharon is in labour!  Ben leaves but Kathy is genuinely amazing to Sharon and supports her through her labour, reminding her that they are both from a line of strong women.  In the sweetest moment of the week so far, Sharon tells Kathy that she misses her Mum.

“Me too,” Kathy says.

They hug.  Then Kathy notices that Sharon is bleeding.

Meanwhile, Sonia is on edge at the arrival of the police.  Well, there is a dead man in her kitchen and evidently, that’s not what the coppers are there for.  They are investigating a dealer selling dodgy pills and Bex’s number was one of the last people to call her.  Bex isn’t in trouble but they are concerned for her welfare.  No wonder she is feeling rough on the boat!  Luckily, Kush and Kat on hand to look after her.  For now.

When the boat hits, Ian panics and rushes below deck to rescue Denny but he can’t find the key.  Then the second shudder happens and more alarms go off.  He drops the keys and his glasses (it’s all very Titanic).  Denny is panicking and begging for help.  In a very un-Kate-Winslet-like move, Ian backs away.  Will he really let Denny die?

Eastenders is on BBC1 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (7:30pm/8:00pm