In a week full of emotional revelations and dramatic twists, EastEnders has fans buzzing over a life-or-death cliffhanger that left two beloved characters teetering on the edge — literally.

The chaos began to unfold when a long-buried family secret detonated like a bomb in the Mitchell household. Zack Hudson (James Farrar), already under pressure, discovered that 15-year-old Barney, whom he had grown attached to, is in fact his biological son. The revelation stunned Zack, who realized that an affair with Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) years earlier had led to a child he never knew existed.

Panicked and desperate to protect Barney from what he perceived to be the toxic influence of the Mitchells — especially Nicola — Zack concocted a plan. His solution? Take Barney and flee Walford for good, heading to a new life in Inverness, Scotland, far from the dysfunction and danger.

But secrets don’t stay buried long in Walford. Once Nicola and Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian), the man Barney had always known as his father, discovered Zack’s intentions, they were shaken. Realizing the truth meant their family would never be the same again, they made the decision to leave Walford themselves — hoping to escape the growing emotional storm.

Unfortunately, their other son, Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway), wasn’t ready to forgive or forget. Furious over the betrayal and protective of Barney, Harry took matters into his own hands in an act of revenge. He attacked Zack, knocking him unconscious and locking him in the boot of the car — the very car they were about to use to leave town.

Meanwhile, a seemingly innocent trip to the cinema for Billy and Honey Mitchell (Perry Fenwick and Emma Barton), along with Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley), turned into something far more disturbing when they spotted the suspiciously parked vehicle in a woodland clearing. Intervening just in time, they were able to stop Harry — who left with them — but the situation was far from resolved.

Teddy, who had tracked the car using Harry’s phone, showed up to confront Zack. But as tensions rose and confusion took hold, Zack, just regaining consciousness, panicked. Mistaking Teddy’s intentions, he reached for the steering wheel. What followed was a terrifying loss of control as the car veered off the road and plunged into the river below.

The episode ended on a nail-biting cliffhanger — with no confirmation on whether either man survived the crash. Fans were left holding their breath. But true to soap fandom tradition, speculation exploded across social media within minutes.

Many viewers believe they’ve already figured out the outcome. “Teddy is definitely going to die,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I know EastEnders too well — the good guy always ends up dead.”

Another fan echoed the sentiment with a brutal verdict: “Zack survives and Teddy’s dead. No other acceptable option.”

Some noted the narrative pattern: “Teddy doesn’t get out of that lake alive,” predicted one post. Others voiced frustration over the possibility that Zack — who caused the crash — might walk away unscathed, while Teddy, arguably the more sympathetic figure in the moment, might not survive.

However, not everyone is convinced that tragedy is the only path forward. A few viewers floated alternative theories — including a fake death twist. One fan speculated that EastEnders could be setting up a long game: “I think both will survive. That being said, Zack could fake his death and return later for Barney. Walford wouldn’t be safe for him if anything happens to Teddy.”

This idea isn’t far-fetched in soapland, especially in EastEnders, where resurrections, disappearances, and dramatic re-entries are part of the DNA. Zack faking his death to protect his son, only to return when least expected, would fit the show’s pattern of high-stakes drama and emotional payoffs.

It’s a storyline already packed with layered motivations. Zack’s desperate love for his newfound son. Teddy’s quiet devastation at losing the boy he raised. Nicola’s fear of losing control over her family. And Harry’s rash actions driven by brotherly loyalty. Each character is on the edge, emotionally and physically, and the fallout is guaranteed to send shockwaves through the Square.

This twist-heavy storyline also arrives during EastEnders’ 40th anniversary year, where the show has been pulling out all the stops — from interactive episodes where viewers could shape story outcomes, to powerful holiday specials full of betrayals and bombshells. Last year, audiences decided the fate of Denise Fox’s (Diane Parish) love triangle in a bold creative move that left viewers both thrilled and divided.

The current car crash storyline may yet feed into an even bigger arc. Could this be a turning point for the Mitchells? Will Zack survive and claim custody of Barney? Or will Teddy’s potential death ignite a new family feud — one that sees the Mitchell clan turn fully against Zack?

What’s certain is that this isn’t just a crash — it’s the collision of secrets, regrets, and years of unresolved tension. No matter who lives or dies, EastEnders fans are in for another emotionally charged chapter.

So, buckle up, because in Walford, even when you think someone’s gone for good… they just might crawl out of the river.