EastEnders spoilers follow for Monday’s (September 22) episode that is now available to view on BBC iPlayer. The episode in question will air on BBC One on at 7:30pm.
Tonight’s EastEnders began with a bang, as the incomparable, undisputed grande dame of Walford, Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) returned and was immediately hit with vicious blast from the past in the form of former love-rival and co-conspirator in her adoptive father, Den Watts’ (Leslie Grantham) death, Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan).
Though Zoe attempted somewhat of a smile, Sharon struggled to take in the sight of her ex-nemesis, before Albie dragged his mum away.
Returning to their families, both discussed the other, with Sharon utterly shell shocked that neither her sister, Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig), nor her brother, Zack Hudson (James Farrar), thought to inform her of Zoe’s return.
As Sharon filled Zack in on the history between the pair, she threatened to put Zoe in a body bag, while he pleaded with her to leave it in the past and move on.
The Slater’s, meanwhile, were still reeling from the ordeal with Greg Dolan (Dean Williamson), in which they were held hostage when the dastardly investigator returned for revenge, as Jean (Gillian Wright) kick started an episode-long thread of Kat’s (Jessie Wallace) family trying to convince her to see through Zoe and her lies.
After Zoe informed her family of Sharon’s return, she balked in the face of the sympathetic Slater’s, as Kat, Alfie (Shane Richie) and Stacey (Lacey Turner) informed her that Sharon, too, had lost a child in Denny (Bleu Landau).
As Zoe readies for battle with Sharon, they’re interrupted by the police, who take Zoe in for questioning overaccusations of assault – just as Sharon and her siblings are crossing the square for a showdown.
Terrified, Kat begs Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) to not only enlist his trusty lawyer, Ritchie Scott (Sian Webber) to help Zoe, but to pay for it, too.
As Zoe verbally sparred with the police, Ritchie burst in to save the day, quickly putting an end to the investigation and freeing Zoe, while Alfie and Stacey desperately try to convince Kat that Zoe’s lies are becoming too much outside of the police station.
Upon being freed, Zoe returns to the Vic with her family, intent on celebrating with bubbles. Before she can pop the cork, however, in walks Sharon.
The two trade barbs over their shared history with Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harmon), though, surprisingly, Sharon acquiesces. Lamenting the losses she’s suffered and desire to move on with her life, she calls a truce with Zoe, who agrees.
Which we’re absolutely positive will last. Not.
