This week on EastEnders, Walford descended into chaos as Ravi Gulati’s unravelling reached a terrifying new low. A storyline driven by guilt, drugs, and hallucinations culminated in violence, self-harm, and a fierce viewer backlash — while a second bombshell storyline threatened to destroy another family from within.

EastEnders has never shied away from darkness, but this week tested even hardened viewers. Ravi Gulati, already haunted by his past, spiralled into self-destructive terror after being unknowingly drugged, leading to a moment of violence that left his own son fighting for his life. As Walford reeled, questions mounted over responsibility — both for the characters involved and for the show itself.

Crushed by guilt over his violent legacy and manipulated by a calculated revenge plot, Ravi Gulati became the target of a sinister scheme orchestrated by Nicola Mitchell and her son Harry Mitchell. Their motive was vengeance — payback for Ravi’s role in Harry’s prison time, addiction struggles, and the controversial cuckooing operation linked to Kojo’s flat.

The plan succeeded far too well. Severely intoxicated and mentally fragile, Ravi wandered the streets of Walford convinced he was being stalked by hallucinations of his abusive father, Nish Panesar. Fear blurred into reality. Paranoia became terror.

That terror turned catastrophic.

Believing his father had returned, Ravi panicked and lashed out — attacking his son Nugget Gulati in a moment of blind fear. By the end of the week, Nugget lay in a hospital bed recovering from surgery to treat a brain haemorrhage, while Ravi was left drowning in horror at what he had done.

Wednesday’s episode took the devastation further. Ravi’s shame twisted inward, erupting into deliberate self-harm as he pushed his finger into already severe injuries, punishing himself for the damage he had caused. The scenes were raw, graphic, and deeply unsettling.

Viewers were stunned — not just by what they saw, but by what they didn’t receive.

While a support message appeared after the episode, audiences were furious that no warning had been issued beforehand. Social media erupted with accusations that the BBC had failed to adequately prepare viewers for scenes involving self-harm.

Fans described the moment as shocking, emotionally scarring, and irresponsible. Some argued that even the final drumbeat of the episode should have come with a clear trigger warning, especially for those with lived experience of self-harm. The question spread rapidly across platforms: had EastEnders crossed a line?

As Ravi’s world collapsed, another slow-burning crisis intensified. George Knight and Nicola Mitchell’s volatile romance edged closer to implosion as secrets surfaced and trust disintegrated.

Their relationship had always been fragile, strained further by Ravi’s criminal empire dragging Harry and Kojo Asar into danger. Under pressure, the pair drifted apart — unaware that Nicola was pregnant, a secret she initially shared only with Honey Mitchell.

When Harry exposed the pregnancy, everything changed. A hospital scare and the sound of the baby’s heartbeat briefly reignited hope. But that hope was built on lies.

Driven by vengeance, Nicola redirected Harry’s rage into the plan that drugged Ravi — a decision with catastrophic consequences. When Ravi later targeted the Mitchells for revenge, George stepped in to protect Nicola, only to be blindsided by her confession that she had orchestrated everything.

The revelation shattered any remaining illusion of safety.

As Honey attempted to reunite the couple, Billy Mitchell was plagued by a chilling warning from his brother Teddy Mitchell, currently serving a life sentence after taking the blame for a murder Harry committed. During a prison visit, Teddy branded Nicola dangerous and urged Billy to protect George at all costs.

Billy finally passed on the message.

Soon after, when Nicola offered to invest in Walford East following George’s failed business deal, he rejected her outright — haunted by Teddy’s words and the growing sense that Nicola’s darkness could destroy everything.

Viewers are deeply divided. Some praise the show’s unflinching portrayal of trauma and consequences. Others argue the execution crossed ethical boundaries, particularly regarding self-harm representation and lack of warnings.

Online debate rages over Nicola’s culpability, Ravi’s responsibility, and whether George can ever truly escape the fallout. Trust in Walford feels shattered — both on screen and among its audience.

As Nugget fights to recover, Ravi faces the weight of irreversible actions, and George edges closer to uncovering the full extent of Nicola’s violent past. The sense of danger has not lifted — it has only changed shape.

Walford is no longer dealing with secrets waiting to be exposed. It is dealing with damage already done.

Has EastEnders delivered a necessary, brutal portrayal of trauma — or has Walford’s latest descent crossed a line that cannot be walked back?