EastEnders ended its festive run with one of its most daring narrative gambits in years: a jaw-dropping flashforward set on New Year’s Day 2027 that thrust Max Branning back into the centre of Walford chaos. The episode didn’t just tease future drama—it detonated it, leaving viewers with a minefield of mysteries that executive producer Ben Wadey has promised will unravel across 2026.

From secret lovers and shadowy villains to boarded-up windows at The Vic, every frame was packed with meaning. Here’s a deep dive into the 11 biggest unanswered questions that have fans buzzing.

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1. Who Is Max Marrying?

The episode opens with a revelation that sets the tone: Max is getting married on New Year’s Day 2027. His son Oscar even gets Radio 2’s Scott Mills to give his dad a wedding-day shout-out—an oddly wholesome moment amid looming danger. Max suits up, phones his fiancée, and sounds genuinely hopeful. But the bride’s identity is carefully concealed.

A montage shows Linda Carter, Cindy Beale, Chelsea Fox, and the conspicuously absent Denise Fox all preparing for the big day. Each woman has shared a complicated history—or recent spark—with Max. Is one of them the mystery bride, or is Walford being deliberately misled?

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2. Who Is Max Sleeping With?

It wouldn’t be Max without a twist. The woman he wakes up next to is not the woman he’s meant to marry—and she appears to be heavily pregnant. When everything spirals out of control, Max flees, leaving her behind to be discovered by the authorities. Is she carrying Max’s child? And how does this secret intersect with the wedding?

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3. Has Max Killed Someone?

Wedding plans grind to a halt when Max realises the police are closing in. Arrested for solicitation to murder, he insists he’s innocent. Then, just as suddenly, he’s released—no questions asked. What changed? Who was the intended target, and did anyone actually die? The abrupt reversal suggests something far bigger is at play.

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4. Who Is the Black-Gloved Kidnapper?

A faceless figure in black gloves arrives in a van, armed and dangerous. This anonymous assailant seizes an opportunity to kidnap Lauren Branning and Oscar from Number 25. In the chilling final moments, Max receives proof his children are hostages—and is forced to make an impossible choice between them. Who is targeting the Brannings, and why?

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5. What Is Lauren Hiding?

Lauren’s storyline brims with secrecy. Still married to Peter Beale, she’s seen texting and meeting someone in secret. Max seems aware she’s hiding something significant. Is there an affair? Or a darker truth tied to the kidnapping plot?

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6. Who Is Oscar Dating?

Oscar’s love life adds another layer of intrigue. In the present, he’s involved with Jasmine, and the flashforward implies he’s still deeply connected to the Truman family. But soaps love red herrings. Is Jasmine still the one—or has Oscar’s heart wandered elsewhere?

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7. What Has Happened to Jack?

At the start of 2027, Jack Branning is a broken man. Estranged from Max and seemingly separated from Denise, he’s caring for a baby named Ethan—whose parentage is unclear. Is Ethan Jack’s child, or someone else’s? And what shattered Jack so completely?

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8. Why Is Libby Back?

One of the episode’s biggest shocks is the return of Libby Fox, absent from Walford since 2017. She arrives with Patrick searching for Denise, only to find her missing. Denise’s phone lights up with a mysterious caller, leaving Libby stunned. Is this about the wedding—or something far more ominous?

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9. Why Is Ian Max’s Best Man?

Perhaps the most unexpected twist: Ian Beale steps in as Max’s best man after Jack bows out. Kathy is baffled—how can Ian forgive Max after everything he’s done? Ian insists it’s water under the bridge, hinting that Max once saved lives. But whose—and at what cost?

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10. How Did Nicola Get Injured?

During the flashforward, Nicola is seen on crutches in The Vic alongside George, suggesting their relationship has progressed. Her injury feels pointed. Was Max involved? Their recent chemistry raises uncomfortable questions.

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11. What’s Happened to The Vic?

Finally, an ominous detail: The Vic’s windows are boarded up as it prepares for Max’s wedding reception. In Walford, nothing is accidental. Who owns the pub in 2027? Are Kat Slater and Alfie Moon still in charge—or has disaster struck the Square’s beating heart?

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Why This Flashforward Matters

This wasn’t just a tease—it was a promise. Every character shown is set for a major arc in 2026, and every clue will pay off. By placing Max at the epicentre, EastEnders has reignited one of its most combustible figures, weaving family, love, crime, and moral reckoning into a single, terrifying question: how far will Max go to protect his children—and what will it cost him?

One thing is certain: Walford’s future is anything but safe.