In a chilling new twist on EastEnders, Ross Marshall (played by Alex Walkinshaw) takes matters into his own hands to cover up his son Joel Marshall’s (Max Murray) sinister actions, and things are about to get darker for the troubled teenager.

Since arriving in Walford earlier this year, Joel has been at the center of a deeply unsettling storyline that has left viewers horrified. From upskirting his classmate in Australia to secretly filming a sexual encounter with Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James), Joel’s actions have shocked both the residents of Walford and the audience alike. His behavior spirals further, with incidents of sexual harassment and following misogynistic influencers online, all contributing to his growing list of crimes.

The Strain on Ross: A Father’s Struggle to Reach His Son

Ross has already struggled to come to terms with his son’s actions, but it becomes even harder when he receives heartbreaking news: Joel’s mother is getting remarried. This revelation sets Joel off on a dangerous path, and his erratic behavior escalates as he heads to The Vic to hang out with his friend Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall). What starts as a seemingly innocent night out quickly turns south as the pair steals drinks from the barrel store. This act of rebellion is just the tip of the iceberg. When they’re caught, Joel’s anger explodes, and his insulting outburst at Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) only adds fuel to the fire.

Ross, desperate to find a way to reach his son, tries to calm him down. In a moment of attempted connection, Joel shares a video from an influencer he’s been following. Ross, perhaps blinded by his parental love, misinterprets it as harmless. But when Ross later stumbles upon something more disturbing on Joel’s laptop, he knows he’s facing something much darker than he anticipated.

Ross’s Desperate Measures: A Dangerous Discovery

In the next few episodes, Ross makes a troubling discovery on Joel’s laptop, one that sends him into a panic. Fearing the worst, Ross makes the drastic decision to destroy the laptop, hoping to bury the evidence. But when his partner Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) finds out, she’s left stunned by Ross’s actions. Having already helped Joel avoid facing the consequences of his past misdeeds by bribing the woman he assaulted on the tube to stay silent, Vicki is once again caught in a moral dilemma. Should she continue enabling Joel’s behavior, or is it time to take a firmer stand?

Joel’s Anger Continues to Build: A Dangerous Breakthrough

Just as Ross begins to feel a glimmer of hope after confiding in Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman) about his difficulties in parenting Joel, his hope is quickly dashed. In a tense scene at The Vic, Joel returns to apologize to Kat for his previous outburst, but things take a dark turn once again. Overhearing a conversation between Vicki and Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) about parenting, Joel is provoked by their discussion on men and relationships, leading to a dangerous outburst of anger. His explosive reaction has unsettling consequences that threaten to push him even further down a destructive path.

What’s Next for Joel?

The tension surrounding Joel’s actions and the impact it has on his family is about to reach a boiling point. With Ross desperate to protect his son, and Vicki caught between supporting her partner and confronting Joel’s growing issues, it’s clear that something has to give.

Viewers will be on the edge of their seats as Ross continues to grapple with his son’s criminal behavior. Will he be able to cover up Joel’s increasingly disturbing actions, or will the truth finally catch up with the troubled teenager? With Joel’s anger and hatred simmering just below the surface, the stakes are higher than ever.

EastEnders is known for pushing its characters to the edge, and with Joel’s future hanging in the balance, it’s impossible to predict where this dark storyline will lead. Fans of the show will have to tune in to see just how far Ross is willing to go to protect his son — and if Joel’s unraveling behavior will lead to a breaking point for the entire Marshall family.