'I’m absolutely devastated’: EastEnders fans heartbroken as show airs major character death in iPlayer release
Fans weren't expecting the devastating scenes tonightEastEnders fans have been left utterly devastated by a shocking death in tonight’s episode. The episode has not aired on TV yet, but is available to watch on iPlayer.
We all knew it was coming, but watching Zoe Slater’s death happen was even more upsetting than we thought it would be. But mainly because fans felt they didn’t have much time to prepare.
Her death plot had been in the background this week, and many fans felt she actually deserved a much better exit.
Zoe Slater dead in EastEnders
Earlier this week, Zoe and Kat decided to buy a taxi that once belonged to Kat’s late father, Charlie. However, having to go alone, Zoe decided without the money, she would just steal it.
But things took a turn as she tripped while running away from the owners, resulting in a nasty bang to the head. While she acted as though it wasn’t a big deal, EastEnders fans immediately realised this was how she was going to die.
In tonight’s episode, Zoe’s head got worse. Kat pleaded to her to go get it checked out, but Zoe promised that if it was still sore the next day then she would. But by then, it would be too late.
However, in one surprise final twist, Zoe spotted Max and Linda together after his wedding to Cindy. Desperate to keep her quiet, Max followed Zoe into her room.
He knew something was wrong with her, and she begged him to help her. But he turned and walked out – making him the last person to see Zoe alive.
In the middle of the night, Kat woke up and immediately needed to go see her daughter. And in a devastating twist, she found Zoe lying on her bed, already dead.
EastEnders fans heartbroken
Plenty of EastEnders fans watched the episode on iPlayer, and have already reacted to the heartbreaking death of Zoe Slater.
While everyone can agree it was extremely upsetting, many also feel Zoe deserved a better exit. And were actually left annoyed that it managed to just play a part in Max’s ongoing storylines.
One fan penned: “Can’t even put into words how heartbroken I am right now. I love her so much. Both Zoe and Michelle deserved so much better than this. The fact that in the end, all she wanted was her mum. She didn’t even get to say goodbye to her family.”
Another commented: “Gutted that EastEnders killed off a legacy character in that way. Zoe deserved better. What was the point in bringing Michelle back for this?”
“As much as killing off Zoe Slater and the lack of build up around it has been ridiculous, her actual death scene was really sad. She was just fruitlessly calling out for her mum. Based on Kat’s reaction to finding Zoe’s body, Jessie Wallace’s performance next week will be powerful” a third wrote.
Another heartbroken fan commented: “Just watched today’s episode. What a horrible way for Zoe to die. Absolutely devastating for Kat to find her like that. My face went cold when she made the discovery. And of course it had to feed into Max’s storyline somehow. She deserved her own separate exit.”
Has Michelle Ryan commented on Zoe’s death?
Michelle just recently broke her silence on the death of Zoe Slater in EastEnders, which has been rumoured for months.
She admitted to Radio Times, that when she heard the news, she felt like it made the most sense for her character to die, instead of running away again.
Michelle explained: “I think that when we came to look at where Zoe was going, it just seemed like a natural conclusion for her to die. Because for her to run away again would have gone against everything she’d fought for; for her children. So as sad as it was to hear that Zoe was going to be killed off, I was like, ‘I completely understand that.’
“And I’d always felt that I would be going back for a year because I really do like the variety I have with my career and playing different parts. But it was such a gift to be able to go back and have a year of playing her and getting to see all my old friends.”
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