REALITY hits Jean Slater hard this week as she comes to terms with her manic episode.
But in doing so, she is also faced with a potential death. Here’s all you need to know about this week’s EastEnders drama.
1. Aaron fights for his life
For weeks, Harvey (played by Ross Boatman) has been taking a step back from his son Aaron’s (Charlie Wernham) criminal activities.
The youngster was thrown behind bars earlier this year after his involvement with a far-right group came to light.
Since then, Harvey has been scared of a backlash and has preferred to keep his distance from his son, going as far as to think about moving away from Albert Square.
He has also been focusing on his rekindled romance with Jean Slater (portrayed by Gillian Wright) with whom he may tie the knot.
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However, this week, he gets a terrifying phone call and is rocked by some distressing news which brings him right back down to earth.
The cabbie finds out Aaron has been the victim of a brutal attack in prison and was left seriously injured.
He learns that his son was brought to hospital and he gets Stacey Slater’s (Lacey Turner) immediate support.
While she remains at his side, it slowly dawns on the owner of Stacey’s Baps that Jean has been a distraction for Harvey from his son Aaron.
She tries to make him see this, begging him not to marry Jean.
2. Jean almost drowns
But Jean’s erratic behaviour continues and takes yet another concerning turn.
With their upcoming nuptials at the top of her priority list, Jean spends a lot of money on the ceremony, making Harvey lose his temper.
He tells her he wants to focus on finding a flat in Southend first, urging her to cancel everything while blissfully unaware she has already received her wedding dress.
Later on, the cabbie has a change of heart and tells her to keep her lavish dress.
Meanwhile, Stacey is encouraged by Shirley Carter and former husband Martin Fowler to take a stand once again, despite being rejected on multiple occasions.
Stacey marches over to the cab office and pleads with Harvey not to move away from Walford with her mother, as she knows Jean’s behaviour is only being enabled.
In later scenes, Harvey is shocked by Jean’s nonchalant attitude when he tells her Aaron’s life is hanging in balance.
Harvey is desperate to slow things down and, fuming, Jean moves back in with the Slaters – but she’s still determined to get her happily ever after.
Stacey later hears that Billy spotted Jean in her wedding dress, claiming she’s getting married the same day.
Unable to locate her, Stacey enlists Martin’s help and after talking to Harvey, realises she’s gone to Southend alone.
Still believing she’s just having some harmless fun, Jean enjoys the sights of Southend as people compliment her dress and she goes to a local funfair.
Stacey and Martin arrive and manage to track her down but they soon see her walking towards the ocean.
Fearing the worst, Stacey runs after Jean and tries to encourage her away from the water.
The truth sets in for Jean as she realises she is unwell, but she resists Stacey’s help.
Will Jean survive the ordeal?
3. Kat is targeted by a bomb
Jean and Stacey aren’t the only Slaters to be rattled this week.
Long-term Square resident Kat (portrayed by Jessie Wallace) continues to deal with the fallout of her partner Phil Mitchell’s (Steve McFadden) decisions and actions outside.
Coming up, Kat is shaken when a smoke bomb is thrown into her house and she instantly knows who is behind it.
Despite this and her attempts at staying calm about the situation, an odd package throws Kat into a state of fear.
Later on, however, Kat and Stacey consider it could all be a false alarm – but the mere thought of being in danger without Phil’s protection is enough to rattle Kat.
She confides in Stacey about not wanting to live a life of crime as it was never the reason why she got involved with Phil or decided to marry him.
Back in the Square, Kat gets reminded of her fears when Ben riles her, telling her she’s not up to being a Mitchell and egging her on.
But when Phil’s sister Sam arrives and announces she’s moving in, Kat has had enough and throws her out, deciding she’s head of the family now.
Can she really handle the pressure of a life of crime?
4. Sam pushes Jack’s buttons
Speaking of Sam (Kim Medcalf), the black sheep of the Mitchell family continues to ruffle feathers in Walford.
Denise Fox (Diane Parish) first warns Kat and Stacey to sort everything out with Sam so she can leave Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and their family alone.
But this is set to be more difficult than expected as Sam soon demands that Jack fights off a gangster for her.
As she meets with Jonah, one of Phil’s associates, she forces him to agree to Phil’s terms, before pushing Jack into the spotlight.
She threatens the gangster with Jack’s status as a detective, assuring he could use his powers against him.
Later on, when he learns Sam has been left homeless by Kat, he’s left with a difficult choice while their son Ricky threatens to leave the Square with his estranged mother.
5. Janine hatches a plan against Linda
Can Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) clean up her act once and for all and resist the bottle?
While she tries to prove she can, Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) is more than determined to use her demons against her.
As she’s ready to enjoy her relationship with the Vic landlord Mick Carter (Danny Dyer), Janine wants to go above and beyond to keep Linda away from him.
This week, Stacey Slater urges Linda to sort herself out, prompting her to make a big decision.
Linda decides to go back to serving customers in the local pub but things get tough when her soon-to-be former husband Mick returns from his holiday with their son Ollie and his new love interest Janine.
To keep her in line, Linda’s daughter Nancy asks Frankie to remain close to her while she’s back behind the bar.
Loved-up Nancy has other ambitions and focuses on the restaurant she’d like to open with her boyfriend Zack Hudson.
However, Janine is intent on sabotaging Linda’s return at the popular pub puts her well-known manipulative tactics to good use once again.
The Walford “super-bitch” uses Linda’s drinking problem against her, getting into Mick’s head about her being a safeguarding issue for six-year-old Ollie.
Janine makes Mick speak to Linda about working in The Vic to deepen the wedge between the former childhood sweethearts.
When Zack and Nancy share the good news that they’ve potentially found a restaurant, Janine takes things a step further.
She tries to tempt Linda by opening a bottle of champagne.
Will the landlady keep her addiction in check?
6. Lily gets in trouble
While Stacey tries to help her mother, her daughter Lily (Lillia Turner) acts out.
Kat is shocked when police officer Callum Highway (Tony Clay) escorts Lily home after she was caught shoplifting.
Lily is questioned by Kat and asked to come clean.
But the owner of Kat’s Cabs is taken back by Lily’s response.
Why would the 11-year-old be stealing?
Could she cause as much trouble as Tommy Moon within her family?
7. Ben is alarmed
Things don’t look good for Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden).
In scenes due on our screens, Ben is alarmed to hear from his husband Callum that the man he attacked, Steve, has woken up in hospital.
Viewers may remember that Ben viciously attacked Steve after the latter shouted homophobic abuse at him the night before.
Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) was a witness to the attack but vowed not to grass on Ben.
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But with Steve waking up, could Ben be tempted to take matters into his own hands to avoid trouble, years after murdering Heather Trott?
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday on BBC One.
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