Friday, the 13th of June, proves unlucky for love in Walford. At The Vic, the air buzzes with anticipation as Alfie Moon prepares to propose to the woman he’s never stopped loving — Cat Slater. But when the moment finally arrives, time seems to freeze. Without warning, Cat delivers a crushing “no” — no reasons, no explanations, just cold finality.

Alfie storms out of the pub, rage masking the heartbreak that’s tearing him apart. For Alfie, this isn’t just a rejection — it’s the collapse of a dream he’s quietly nursed for years. The man known for his cheeky charm is left hollow. But as he paces the quiet streets of Walford, a surprising conversation offers a new lens — one that makes him question everything. Was Cat’s rejection about him… or her own fears?

Back inside The Vic, Cat tries to maintain her composure. She doesn’t cry. She doesn’t run. Instead, she sits down with Elaine and Yolande — two women who’ve also weathered the violent storms of love. Over quiet drinks, they reflect on how the pain of romance grows sharper with age. Regret, memory, pride — it all piles on. And somewhere in the middle of that emotional weight, Cat begins to wonder… Did she make the right choice?

Later, away from prying eyes, Cat and Alfie cross paths again. No audience. No pressure. Just raw emotion between two souls who’ve walked through fire together. Their exchange is heavy, filled with silences that say more than words ever could. Is this really the end? Or the start of something deeper — wiser — and more honest?

Elsewhere in Walford, another relationship teeters on the edge. Patrick, with his usual old-school charm, attempts a grand gesture to win back Yolande. It’s sweet. It’s bold. But will it be enough? Or has too much water passed under that bridge?

But while hearts break and possibly mend, a far more troubling thread unravels quietly in the background. Joel, ever manipulative, begins dragging young Tommy into a toxic rabbit hole. He shares a disturbing video from a misogynistic influencer — one that reeks of incel rhetoric. Tommy, still impressionable, listens. He watches. And something inside him begins to shift.

As Vicki and Ross remain oblivious to the new threat Joel represents, the question becomes: will they intervene before it’s too late? Or will another generation be poisoned by the hate Joel harbors?

This week in EastEnders, it’s not just love on the line — it’s legacy, truth, and the next chapter in Walford’s ever-twisting tale.