'Harrowing': EastEnders fans 'in bits' over shocking death scenes in iPlayer release
The soap even played Julia's ThemeEastEnders has aired a heartbreaking episode today following the death of Zoe Slater, and fans who have watched on iPlayer are already ‘in bits’ over the ‘harrowing’ scenes.
Friday night (September 11) delivered the shocking blow to Kat that daughter Zoe was dead. But tonight the rest of the family found out the news and Zoe’s body was taken away.
Despite the sheer anger surrounding Zoe’s exit from the soap, fans have actually praised the episode for how it has handled the hated storyline.
*WARNING: Spoilers follow for Monday’s episode of EastEnders (September 14) that has not aired on BBC One yet, but is already available to watch on iPlayer.
Zoe’s death was discovered in EastEnders
Kat had woken at 3am on Friday and just knew something was wrong. She discovered Zoe’s cold, lifeless body. However when the episode started today, she hadn’t told anyone and even made Zoe a cup of tea to ‘warm her up’.
It was Alfie who finally made the chilling discovery as Kat was unable to get her words out. “Dear God, no,” came the cries from Zoe’s room.
The episode focused almost entirely on the family, as Kat blamed herself, Mo sobbed with Jean in The Vic toilets and Tommy cried alone in the empty pub. Alfie tried to be the strong one and keep it all together. And Josh was there to support Jasmine who took it particularly hard.
The ending saw Zoe’s body removed from The Vic as the residents of Walford realised what was happening. Kat chased after the car in her pyjamas, crying that they’d taken her baby.
The episode closed with the classic Julia’s Theme, reserved for only the biggest and saddest of goodbyes.
EastEnders fans react to chilling Zoe death scenes
Zoe’s exit from the Square has received huge amounts of criticism given she has only been back for a year and has made very little impact. But the soap may have just pulled it off, given the comments today.
“As sad as I am with the way Zoe was killed off considering she’s such a huge legacy character – tonight’s episode was heartbreaking and felt like the perfect send off for such a significant character who created one of the most ICONIC moments in Albert Square history,” shared one on social media.
Another wrote: “It’s unfortunate that Zoe died after only being back for such a short time but the immediate aftermath of her death was very well done. I was in tears throughout and hooked to the screen. What a brilliant episode.”
“I know we’ve all been taking the [bleep] out of Zoe’s exit but genuinely that episode has left me in tears, once again this shouldn’t have happened. There were other ways to write her out that didn’t involve death, I don’t care if it was Michelle’s decision,” said a third.
Praise for Jessie Wallace
“Actual chills. Jessie Wallace the woman you are,” said a fourth. A fifth agreed: “Wow tonight’s episode was emotional. I’m in bits.”
“Well that… was truly harrowing. Jessie Wallace is an absolute powerhouse, the Julia’s theme, it is too much for a Monday morning,” sobbed one more.
A seventh added: “Oh my EastEnders I’m still in bits after today’s episode. Both Jean and Kat were fantastic and I was crying uncontrollably throughout the episode and for a good five mins after. EastEnders needed an episode like this to remind us how good it can be after a dire summer!
“Jessie Wallace, your performance was outstanding and Gillian Wright nailed that monologue at the end. Plus Julia’s theme hits me like an arrow through the heart every time!”
Read more: Who’s leaving EastEnders this year?
