The Fallout From Zoe’s Shooting

Tensions are rising in EastEnders as the aftermath of Zoe Slater’s shooting continues to rock the Square. What began as a tussle between Jack Branning and Ravi Gulati has now spiraled into a dangerous game of blackmail, lies, and survival.

During the shocking clash, Jack accidentally pulled the trigger, leaving Zoe wounded. Though she is recovering in hospital, the bullet may only be the beginning of the chaos. The gun that caused the accident was originally found by Jack’s nephew, Oscar, before ending up back in Jack’s hands. In a moment of desperation, Ravi broke into Jack’s house to reclaim it. That single act set the stage for disaster, and now the fallout threatens both men’s futures.

Secrets, Lies, and Blackmail

For now, the truth about Zoe’s shooting remains hidden from most of the Square. Only Denise Fox, Jack’s partner, knows the shocking secret after both Ravi and Jack separately confessed their versions of events to her. The lies only grew when Ravi spun a story to Priya, his partner, claiming he had overheard Jack plotting with his nephew and framing Jack as the reckless officer who fired the shot.

When Priya pressed him on why he hadn’t gone to the police, Ravi explained bitterly: “He is the police. You saw what happened with Avani. They protect their own.” Ravi’s words confirmed that he has been biding his time, letting Jack sweat while keeping the upper hand.

The web of deception thickened when Jack confronted Ravi again, demanding they get rid of the gun together. But Ravi wasn’t willing to cooperate. By the end of the episode, the blackmail took a chilling turn when Ravi cornered Jack on the street with a terrifying ultimatum: hand over £100,000 in cash, or risk exposure.

Jack vs. Ravi: A Deadly Rivalry?

Their bitter rivalry has fans convinced tragedy is inevitable. Ravi warned Jack not to underestimate him, threatening: “Don’t you be stupid, Jack. You’re the one who should be scared of prison. So, what’s it going to be?”

Jack fired back with his own threat, vowing to drag Ravi down if he were exposed. But Ravi seems to hold all the cards, leaving Jack with fewer and fewer options. It’s a dangerous stalemate — one that feels primed to end in bloodshed.

Fans Fear a Fatal Ending

Viewers wasted no time speculating about where this twisted storyline is heading. On Reddit, fans debated which man may not survive the feud. One predicted: “I’ll be honest, I see Ravi or Jack dead by the new year.”

Another replied: “Between the two of them, it will definitely be Ravi. Jack has been in the show for the better part of 20 years. He’s iconic. Ravi isn’t.”

A third fan had a different take: “Thing is, Jack is boring now. It’s just the same stuff. He hasn’t had storylines that are just his own in ages. I do agree it’ll likely be Ravi though, but I’m not sure I’d want it to be.”

With Zoe recovering, the spotlight is now firmly on Jack and Ravi. Their escalating threats, shady cover-ups, and dangerous blackmail scheme could ignite one of the most shocking deaths in recent EastEnders history.

What’s Next on the Square?

As the blackmail storyline intensifies, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Will Jack cave under Ravi’s demands to keep his secret safe, or will Ravi push things too far and seal his own fate?

One thing is clear: the feud between these two men won’t stay quiet for long. Someone will pay the ultimate price, and fans are bracing themselves for a devastating twist before the year is out.

EastEnders airs weeknights on BBC One, with episodes available on BBC iPlayer.