EastEnders delivered another powerful and unsettling episode as Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) finally crumbled under the weight of guilt, humiliation, and loneliness following his disturbing friendship with Joel Marshall (Max Murray). The emotional fallout from Joel’s sinister influence has left the young teen broken — and Kat and Alfie desperate to pull their son back from the edge.

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Tommy Trapped in Joel’s Toxic World

What began as an innocent friendship quickly turned into a nightmare. Tommy, lonely and craving connection, first sought comfort through an AI-powered chatbot. But when Joel arrived in Walford, the charismatic yet deeply twisted teen offered him something that felt like belonging — at a devastating cost.

Joel exposed Tommy to violent misogynistic videos, extreme pornography, and a worldview steeped in online radicalisation. The friendship spiralled as Joel used his influence to manipulate and corrupt Tommy, dragging him into his toxic “manosphere” mindset.

Viewers learned that Joel had been forced to leave Australia after upskirting a classmate, with his father Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw) paying off the victim’s family. But in Walford, Joel’s behaviour only worsened.

He filmed himself assaulting Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James) and later attacked his stepmother Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig). Horrifyingly, he even convinced Tommy to record one of his crimes — a decision that has now destroyed Tommy’s reputation and his mental state.

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The Arrest and Its Aftermath

Although Tommy ultimately helped the police by reporting Joel’s whereabouts, the damage was done. Joel was arrested, but Tommy remains haunted by his involvement. The Walford community sees him not as a victim of grooming, but as a willing accomplice.

In Monday’s episode, Kat and Alfie cautiously told Tommy he could return to school — a moment that should have brought relief but instead filled him with dread.

Social media has turned cruelly against him, with classmates mocking and isolating him for standing by Joel for so long. When Kat tried to reassure him, Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) took over with compassion, distracting him with a video game. But the fragile calm shattered when Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) walked in and mentioned Joel’s name. Overwhelmed, Tommy bolted from the room.

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Alone, Ostracised, and Breaking Down

Later, Alfie tried to convince himself — and others — that Tommy was strong enough to bounce back, even telling Ross Marshall, Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), and Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman) that his son would recover quickly. But Zoe knew better.

When Tommy sat alone in the café, he was confronted by Lily Slater (Lillia Turner) and Ricky Branning (Charlie Day). While Ricky’s anger boiled over, Lily’s words cut deepest: “Everybody hates you. You shouldn’t go back to school.”

Her brutal honesty shattered Tommy. As she walked away, he was left alone, trembling and tearful — the full weight of his isolation finally crashing down.

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Can Tommy Be Saved?

Tommy’s breakdown marks one of EastEnders’ most powerful examinations of online radicalisation and toxic masculinity in recent years. His storyline exposes how easily young people can be manipulated into dangerous behaviour — and how the fallout can destroy their sense of self.

While Zoe’s return could offer Tommy the empathy and stability he desperately needs, the damage may already be too deep. Can Kat and Alfie reach him before it’s too late, or will the shadow of Joel Marshall consume another young life?