EastEnders death fears in early iPlayer release as Zoe and Max secret explodes

This article contains spoilers for tonight’s episode of EastEnders, which airs on BBC One at 7.30pm or can be streamed now on iPlayer.

Have you recovered from last night’s shocking episode yet?

Well the rollercoaster of events hasn’t finished, as we’ve finally discovered how Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) knows Max Branning (Jake Wood), in yet more flashback scenes.

It was one hell of a doof doof, as Max made an unannounced return just before the credits rolled.

He was revealed as the mystery caller who was desperately trying to reach out to Zoe. As we know, she’s been hospitalised after being accidentally shot by either Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) or Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara).

2006 flashbacks reveal baby trauma

As the residents gathered around her injured body, Zoe began to fade in and out of consciousness.

We were taken back 19 years to the moment she gave birth to twins. A baby boy was born healthily, but sadly, there were complications with her her little girl.

After the traumatic labour, Zoe didn’t stick around to find out what had happened to her other child. She gave her name to the nurse and then scarpered, insisting that her boy should be placed up for adoption as he had ‘bad blood’.

But who fathered the babies? And will we get to meet them?

Kat (Jessie Wallace) discovered her daughter’s secret when she noticed a tattoo of two footprints with angel wings on Zoe’s body.

Later, in the ambulance, the women briefly discussed the matter and Zoe told her mum that she had lost a child.

Zoe has an enemy… and ‘they’re still alive’

One big unanswered question at the end of last night related to the person Zoe is apparently running from.

In the moments following the gunshot she seemed to imply that someone was out to get her, stating that ‘they’re still alive’.

This was partly answered in today’s instalment, as further flashbacks revealed how she first met Max.

As we jumped back a few months, we saw Zoe enjoying a night out with some mates in a bar, when her card was suddenly declined.

Luckily for her, handsome stranger Max stepped in, clocking that her surname was Slater and asking whether she was any relation to Kat and Stacey (Lacey Turner).

The drinks were on him for the rest of the night, and the two continued to spend time together. She didn’t go into exact details of why she was reluctant to meet up with her family, and Max didn’t probe her for answers.

However, one story she did divulge concerned her missing son, who she’s been trying to track down for the last 19 years.

Zoe had exhausted her funds paying a dodgy private investigator to try and track him down, and he finally had a lead on his whereabouts. There was one catch, though.

The man, Greg Dolan (Dean Williamson), wanted another 5k in exchange for what he knew.

Max handed Zoe a necklace, saying if she wanted to she could pawn it, before offering her the money. He also said she needn’t pay him back.

He must genuinely care for her!

Later, he drove her to Greg’s dodgy flat (allowing us to see more of the show’s new set), where she went to hand over the cash.

While Max waited outside in his car, Zoe’s conversation with Greg turned heated when he demanded more money. He clearly knew an awful lot, but was reluctant to tell her more than a few tidbits of info.

He wanted more money, something which Zoe didn’t have.

Deeply troubled, she then launched an attack on him, smashing a lampshade off his head and leaving him for dead.

Is he the person she presumes is still alive? What danger could he put her in?

Zoe deals a menacing threat

Having parted ways with Max on that day, he was the last person she expected to reach out when she answered her phone in hospital.

Zoe wasn’t pleased to hear from him, saying that if he dared contact her or any of her family again, she would ‘end [him]’.

Max was startled, but after hearing Stacey on the phone earlier, he knew she was back in Walford.

Is Max about to make his way back to Albert Square?