A Dark Path for Walford’s Troubled Teen

EastEnders has never shied away from shocking villains. From cold-blooded killers to ruthless gangsters, Albert Square has seen it all. But teenager Joel Marshall (Max Murray) is quickly cementing himself as one of the soap’s most disturbing figures yet. His growing obsession with misogynistic online content has warped his behaviour, leaving viewers horrified.

Joel arrived in Walford with his father Ross (Alex Walkinshaw) and stepmum Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig). At first, Vicki believed their financial struggles stemmed from Ross’s divorce. The truth was far more sinister: the family had secretly paid $50,000 to silence a case after Joel was caught ‘upskirting’ a girl.

Joel’s Reign of Abuse

Since then, Joel’s actions have spiralled. He filmed himself with Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James) without her consent and shamed her online. He exposed Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) to extreme pornography, assaulted a commuter on the Tube, and targeted Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) by leaking her private photos.

When Ross discovered his son’s laptop was filled with images and videos of sexual assault, he destroyed it. But Joel only grew more defiant, revelling in his cruelty.

Vicki’s Desperate Plea

Despite his descent, Vicki and Ross refused to give up on him. Vicki turned to Julie Bates (Karen Henthorn), who calmly challenged Joel’s toxic rhetoric. For a brief moment, it seemed as though Joel might change. But after Julie left, Joel threatened Vicki not to interfere again, proving he was far from redemption.

Explosive Confrontation Ahead

Next week, tensions explode. An incident at school involving Joel and Tommy sparks chaos across Walford, forcing both families—Ross and Vicki, Kat and Alfie—to confront their sons.

But the most shocking scenes unfold at No.43. When Ross and Vicki once more try to talk sense into Joel, he finally snaps. In a chilling turn, Joel lashes out and physically strikes Vicki, leaving the family shaken to its core.

A Storyline With Real-World Resonance

Show boss Ben Wadey has confirmed that Joel’s storyline draws inspiration from Netflix’s acclaimed drama Adolescence. It also ties into an upcoming BBC Three documentary exploring the rise of misogynistic attitudes among young men. With Joel’s behaviour escalating, viewers are left asking: how much darker can his story go before it reaches breaking point?