In a week full of emotional bombshells, EastEnders gave fans exactly what they’ve been begging for—Zoe Slater’s return to Albert Square. But instead of joyful reunions, we got credit card fraud, fake loan sharks, and a runaway daughter climbing out the window. Welcome back, Zoe.

Michelle Ryan’s brief return to the Square was nothing short of electric. Though her character didn’t share screen time with Kat, the tension was palpable throughout the episode. The pain of estrangement, the weight of unresolved history, and the sting of betrayal played out in every line. When Stacey confided in Alfie about Zoe’s reckless spending and erratic behaviour, alarm bells rang. And when Kat showed up at the door, Zoe’s choice to flee rather than face her mother said everything.

This wasn’t the triumphant, redemptive return some fans had envisioned. Instead, we saw a broken, paranoid Zoe—fabricating stories about being hunted by Spanish loan sharks to cover up what appears to be deeper turmoil. Her flight to Barcelona, with Alfie secretly trailing her, was both heartbreaking and maddening. And Kat? Left behind once again, her daughter a ghost slipping through her fingers.

Behind the scenes, the drama was just as emotional. Jessie Wallace broke down talking about Michelle’s comeback, calling it “like having my daughter back.” The legacy of the Slater family runs deep, and it’s clear these characters—and actors—carry a shared emotional weight that transcends scripts.

But the most tantalising question remains: why now? Why return only to disappear again? Is Zoe running from something more dangerous than loan sharks? Rumours are already swirling that she may be linked to new or returning characters, with one shocking theory suggesting she’s the mother of convicted offender Joel Marshall. If that’s true, Kat’s world—and the entire Square—could be torn apart once more.

Michelle Ryan is set to return permanently later this year, and fans are bracing for the next round of emotional carnage. One thing’s for sure: if you thought “You ain’t my mother” / “Yes I am” was the peak of Slater family drama… you ain’t seen nothing yet.