IS THIS THE END FOR MAX?

Inside Soap writer Kate White wonders what the Branning villain’s future is…

It’s a bold decision on the part of Eastenders to turn Max Branning into a murderer.

First, Steven Beale died as a direct result of injuries caused by Max, and then, as Max left Jane in a fire – convinced that she could not make it out alive on her own – he showed himself to be a cold-blooded killer. And in that moment, the character of Max Branning changed for me forever.

I’ve loved Max since he arrived in 2006, as one of the most complex yet likeable characters in soapland. It didn’t matter how much he lied and cheated – I could always forgive him. Until now.

Soapland is very clear on the rules where murder is concerned – the killer will eventually pay the price. Jane is a quintessentially good character, and one whom the audience roots for and identifies with. By trying to kill Jane, Max crossed a line. The puppy dog eyes, the sad, silent tears, the begging for another chance? None of that will wash now.

That said, maybe there is some way to redeem Max, at least in part… Perhaps he’ll come to realise that he’s done a deal with the devil – in the form of James Wilmott-brown. Will Max see the light, and be the one who brings down the whole conspiracy?