October 11th 2024.
In our wildest dreams, we never could have imagined what unfolded on our screens this past week. As David Wicks strolled through the familiar streets of Walford, he came face to face with some of the beloved EastEnders characters who had long since passed on. It was a surreal and spine-tingling moment that propelled this week's episodes to be some of the best in soap history.
One particular scene that stood out was the high camp moment featuring Michelle Collins as Cindy. With a dazed expression, she found herself surrounded by four of her most significant male conquests. It was like a spectacle straight out of a soap opera and it was exactly what the genre was made for.
This was a week that none of us could have ever imagined coming to pass, if not for the genius of Chris Clenshaw. He seemed to have the magic touch, able to persuade even a turkey to celebrate Christmas. When I received the promotional pictures for this week, my inner EastEnders fanboy could hardly contain himself. How could I have ever expected to see a photo of Michael French reprising his iconic role, along with David, Cindy, and Ian all together in the Beale living area?
Just two years prior, this would have been an impossible dream. But now, here we are, getting to relive one of TV's greatest love triangles. And the chemistry between these characters hasn't faded one bit, despite the decades that have passed. It was like a dream come true, especially for fans of the classic EastEnders era.
Who could have foreseen this reunion? Cindy was long gone and buried, David had been absent for so many years that it seemed unlikely we would ever see him again, and even Ian Beale, a staple of Walford, had been on a break for quite some time. And to add to the madness, Colin Salmon was also in the mix. It was like something out of a wild fever dream.
But somehow, EastEnders managed to pull off the impossible and entice Michael French back to the show. And it wasn't just for the sake of nostalgia, although that was certainly a huge part of it. The episodes delivered so much more than that. French slipped back into his role as David with ease, and the chemistry between him and Michelle Collins was off the charts. Their scenes were filled with mischief, longing, and edgy conflict. You could practically feel the heat between them.
Cindy had her most entertaining week since her return from the dead, fully embodying the lack of morals that we loved and hated her for. And with Ian at the forefront, set up for a devastating heartbreak, expertly delivered by Adam Woodyatt, it was a truly scintillating week. The chemistry between these two characters was still as strong as ever.
As Ian remains oblivious to Cindy's numerous betrayals, we can only imagine the explosive consequences when her accidental recording comes to light. It's the perfect setup for a Christmas or 40th anniversary storyline. And that's not all. Patsy Palmer and Paul Nicholls were also thrown into the mix, along with Jessie Wallace as Kat, Gillian Taylforth, and Jacqueline Jossa. It was like a greatest hits album, brought to life with a perfect mix of throwbacks and modern twists.
And to top it all off, we even had Bianca back in the mix. While David, Cindy, and Ian were true to their characters of old, it was also heartwarming to see some development in David. He showed a newfound sense of responsibility and even stepped up as a supportive father figure to Bianca and her children. It was a refreshing change to see this side of him.
Watching this week's episodes was like a dream come true for soap fans. EastEnders didn't shy away from its history, instead, it embraced it and even poked fun at itself in the hilarious scene with the "not so dead women". It was a treat to see the show unapologetically leaning into its past while still delivering fresh and exciting storylines.
Now the next challenge for EastEnders is to top this on the 40th anniversary. It may seem like a daunting task, but after this week, I have no doubts that they will deliver yet another unforgettable week of television. After all, if they can make this past week a reality, anything is possible.
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