Two Returns CONFIRMED! Revenge Kickoff

EastEnders is preparing to unleash a volatile new chapter as two familiar faces make explosive returns to Walford, dragging unresolved trauma, buried guilt, and a thirst for revenge back into Albert Square. The confirmed homecomings of Ravi Gulati and Harry Mitchell promise to reignite one of the soap’s most dangerous storylines yet — one that threatens to push a fragile character beyond the point of no return.

After weeks off-screen following a drug operation that spiraled violently out of control, both men are set to cross paths again. But this is no triumphant return. Instead, it is the calm before a storm, as pain and anger collide in a storyline that explores how unresolved trauma can transform grief into something far more destructive.

A Deal That Turned Deadly

Ravi’s descent into danger began with a reckless alliance. Teaming up with the ruthless Oki, Ravi believed he could control the situation and secure a fast profit. Instead, the operation took a horrifying turn when Oki kidnapped Harry Mitchell, plunging everyone involved into a nightmare.

Harry’s captivity became the breaking point. Trapped, terrified, and convinced he would never escape, he ultimately killed Oki — not out of cruelty, but desperation. The act saved his life, but it shattered him emotionally. The consequences rippled outward almost immediately. Ravi was brutally attacked by criminals connected to the drug ring, leaving him battered and forced to confront the reality that his choices had put his entire family at risk.

With threats closing in, Ravi made the agonising decision to flee Walford. His departure was not driven by cowardice, but by fear — fear that staying would bring violence to his doorstep and endanger the people he loved most. It was a choice rooted in guilt and survival, one that left unfinished business behind.

Harry’s Trauma Runs Deeper

While Ravi left to protect his family, Harry was left behind to unravel. The trauma of his kidnapping did not fade with time. Instead, it metastasised. Haunted by what he had done and unable to process the violence he endured, Harry turned to drugs as a way to cope. His addiction worsened when his father, Teddy, took the blame for Oki’s death, sacrificing himself to shield his son.

Watching his family suffer for his actions crushed what little stability Harry had left. Guilt and self-loathing pushed him further into self-destruction, until even those closest to him could no longer reach him. At the insistence of his family, Harry eventually checked himself into rehab, a desperate attempt to regain control of his life before it slipped away completely.

A Return Filled With Tension

In episodes airing from Monday, 29 December, Harry returns to Walford, and the emotional impact is immediate. Gina Knight is visibly relieved and happy to see him, their connection still strong despite everything that has happened. However, Harry makes it clear that he is in no position to commit to a relationship. He knows he is damaged, and while he wants to heal, he has no idea where to begin.

Kojo Asare is also pleased to see Harry back, hopeful that rehab has helped him turn a corner. But that optimism quickly fades when Harry comes face-to-face with Ravi — newly returned and reunited with his family. For Harry, the sight is unbearable. In his mind, Ravi represents the start of everything that went wrong: the deal, the kidnapping, the addiction, and the destruction of his family.

The bitterness he has tried to suppress resurfaces with alarming speed. Fresh from trauma and still emotionally raw, Harry begins to reinterpret his past through the lens of blame. Revenge starts to feel less like vengeance and more like justice.

Warnings That Fall on Deaf Ears

Kojo attempts to reason with Harry, urging him to let go of his anger before it consumes him entirely. He warns that revenge will only lead to more pain, more loss, and more regret. But Harry is no longer listening. His actions are not driven by malice, but by unresolved suffering — and that makes the situation far more dangerous.

His fractured family life only deepens his sense of isolation. A reunion with Barney offers little comfort when Barney insists on staying with Zack Hudson, underscoring just how broken their family unit has become. The meeting ends abruptly when Harry encounters Ravi again, the tension between them crackling with barely restrained hostility.

A Dark Obsession Takes Hold

Hoping routine might ground him, Harry returns to work at the Arches. Phil Mitchell quickly notices that something is off. Drawing on his own experience, Phil offers advice, attempting to steer Harry away from another destructive path. But Harry hears only what he wants to hear. He twists Phil’s words into justification, convincing himself that striking back is not only understandable — it is necessary.

What follows is deeply unsettling. Harry begins stalking Ravi around Albert Square, watching his movements, learning his habits, and waiting for the right moment to act. The behaviour marks a chilling shift from pain to premeditation.

Just as Harry prepares to strike, Nicola spots her son lurking nearby. Instantly sensing that something is terribly wrong, her fear mirrors that of the audience. The question is no longer whether Harry wants revenge — it is whether anyone can stop him before his anguish turns into irreversible violence.

A Storyline Rooted in Consequence

With Ravi attempting to rebuild his life and Harry teetering on the edge, EastEnders is setting up a powerful exploration of trauma, accountability, and the devastating cost of unresolved pain. The show asks uncomfortable questions: How far can guilt be pushed before it becomes rage? And when suffering runs this deep, is redemption still possible?

As Walford braces for the fallout, one thing is certain — these two returns will change everything. And once revenge is set in motion, there may be no turning back.