The calm after the storm never lasts long in Summer Bay. As Home and Away barrels into the week of 19 to 23 January, the aftermath of recent trauma collides with buried secrets, fragile relationships, and life changing decisions that threaten to redraw the emotional map of the Bay. Grief mutates into denial, old loves resurface at the worst possible moment, and futures once thought secure suddenly hang by a thread. These are not quiet developments. They are seismic shifts, and no one emerges untouched.

Leah’s Grief Crosses a Dangerous Line

For Leah Patterson, mourning Theo becomes something far more unsettling. As the distance between her and Justin Morgan widens, Leah finds comfort not in her marriage, but in the steady presence of Sonny Baldwin. When Leah accidentally calls Sonny “Theo,” it exposes a fracture she can no longer hide. Justin’s fear deepens as it becomes clear his wife may be clinging to Sonny as a substitute for the nephew she lost.

Justin and Sonny’s Uneasy Pact

Justin turns to Alf for guidance, and the message is stark. Leah may not be looking for family, but safety. Sonny, caught in the middle, begins to understand that Justin is drowning too. Though he refuses to abandon Leah, Sonny makes a quiet promise to Justin to report any warning signs. It is a fragile agreement built on trust, guilt, and fear of what happens if Leah continues to spiral.

A Power Struggle in the Music World

Meanwhile, professional ambition ignites personal conflict as Remi Carter moves forward with plans for his record label’s new signing, Eddie. Leaving Eden Fowler out of the loop proves explosive.  Eden crashes Remi’s meeting, he lays down the law with brutal clarity. This is his label, his call, and she needs to step back. The fallout threatens to permanently fracture their already fragile dynamic.

Jo’s Past Collides With Her Present

Jo Langham finds herself trapped between silence and truth. She still cannot bring herself to tell her father David Langham about her relationship with Tane Parata. When Tane cancels their date due to childcare responsibilities, Jo is left exposed and vulnerable. That vulnerability becomes dangerous when a face from her past walks straight back into her life.

Eddie’s Return Changes Everything

Eddie’s reappearance sends shockwaves through the Bay. His shared history with David raises questions, but it is his connection to Jo that detonates the calm. Eddie is not just an old friend. He is Jo’s ex. When Tane witnesses a moment of intimacy between them, the truth spills out via  Miller. Jo asks Tane for space, admitting she needs time to process feelings she thought were long buried.

Mac and Levi Face Their Breaking Point

For Mackenzie Booth and Levi Fowler, the week brings emotional reckoning. Levi escapes prison with a 12 month behaviour bond after his assault trial, but the relief is short lived. When Mac suggests trying IVF again, Levi recoils, exposing unresolved fear and resentment. Honest conversation follows, revealing they have been avoiding the real issues in their relationship. Reconnection is possible, but only if they confront what they are truly afraid of.

Lacey Demands Justice for Theo

As Wendell’s sentencing approaches, grief turns into resolve. Lacey chooses to deliver a victim impact statement, determined that Theo’s voice will not be silenced. She urges Leah to stand beside her, reminding her that justice is not betrayal. Watching Lacey speak is overwhelming for Leah, but it plants a seed she cannot ignore.

Leah Finally Faces the Truth

With support from Justin and Sonny, Leah finds the strength to speak. Her statement becomes a turning point, not just in court, but in her heart. For the first time, she openly acknowledges that Lacey was never to blame for Theo’s death. The weight of misplaced anger finally lifts, leaving raw grief in its place.

Bree’s Future Is Thrown Into Chaos

Hope flickers for Bree Cameron as the hospital approves her push for personal alarms in the ED. Celebration follows, but it is short lived. A call from Doctors Without Borders offers Bree a future far beyond Summer Bay. The opportunity is everything she once wanted, and nothing is holding her back.

Remi’s Desperate Confession

For Remi, Bree’s potential departure is devastating. Admitting to Sonny that he always believed they would find their way back to each other, Remi finally puts his heart on the line. He begs Bree to stay, forcing her to choose between love and a calling that could change lives.

As Summer Bay stares down a week of confessions, confrontations, and irreversible choices, one truth becomes impossible to ignore. Survival is no longer enough. The real question is who will be brave enough to live with the consequences.