EastEnders closed Tuesday’s episode with one of its most nerve-shredding cliffhangers in years. Ravi Gulati, consumed by rage and guilt, arrived at Nicola Mitchell’s door gripping a baseball bat, while elsewhere, plans were already forming for another explosive departure from Albert Square. With secrets unravelling and fear spreading fast, Walford may be about to lose more than one familiar face.

This is not chaos for shock value. EastEnders carefully threads together two storylines driven by the same instinct: escape. One is violent and impulsive. The other calculated and deceptive. Together, they raise the unsettling possibility that Walford is on the brink of a double departure — and neither would come without devastating consequences.

The BBC soap’s audience has been following Nugget Galati’s tragic collapse since he was rushed to hospital with a brain bleed. What initially appeared to be a mystery assault slowly revealed something far darker.

Earlier in the week, pregnant Nicola Mitchell and her son Harry Mitchell secretly drugged Ravi in retaliation for his role in a past drug operation. What they believed would be controlled revenge spiralled out of control when Ravi, suffering intense hallucinations, violently turned on his own teenage son.

The true horror came later — when Ravi began to remember.

At the Queen Vic, Ravi overheard Barney telling Zack that Nicola was panicking about being exposed. In that moment, the final pieces snapped into place. The spiking. The timing. The motive.

Elsewhere, Nicola was already spiralling. Confiding in Harry, she warned they might need to flee Walford altogether and hide with a relative if the truth emerged. Harry’s warning was blunt: even without proof, Ravi would explode once he suspected them — especially with Nugget fighting for his life.

That fear triggered action. Supplies were gathered. Plans were made. George was asked to look after Harry’s barn while they were away.

They never got the chance to leave.

As night fell, Ravi arrived.

Baseball bat in hand. Face cold. Eyes locked.

Nicola and Harry froze as Ravi forced his way inside, the threat unspoken but unmistakable. The episode cut to the show’s iconic drum beats, leaving viewers stunned — and instantly divided.

Some fans were convinced Ravi had finally worked out Nicola’s role. Others speculated George’s involvement might give her an alibi. Several pointed out the lack of concrete evidence, while darker theories suggested Harry could once again become the real target.

What united viewers was certainty: this confrontation changes everything.

Speculation quickly turned to whether this storyline could end in a major departure. Ravi’s emotional state is dangerously unstable. Nicola is pregnant. Harry is fragile. The potential outcomes range from arrest to flight — or something far worse.

EastEnders deliberately leaves the question hanging: does Ravi’s arrival mark the end of the Mitchells’ time in Walford, or the beginning of his own downfall?

While Ravi’s confrontation dominates attention, another departure is quietly gathering momentum.

Oscar Branning and Jasmine Fischer are secretly planning to leave Albert Square together, just as Kat Slater returns to Walford.

Jasmine’s motivation is layered in fear and deception. After learning that her mother Zoe plans to plead guilty to Anthony Truman’s killing, Jasmine claims she will cooperate with police — while secretly preparing to disappear with Oscar.

For Oscar, the choice is agonising. Torn between loyalty to his father Max and his feelings for Jasmine, hesitation gives way to pressure. When Jasmine escalates matters publicly at the Vic, the decision becomes unavoidable.

Max Branning’s attempts to stop his son are met with resistance — and lies. Jasmine’s accusations against Max deepen the rift, while Cindy Beale issues a chilling warning: Jasmine is not just desperate — she is dangerous.

By Thursday, Oscar announces he is leaving. Max sets a plan in motion. Whether it succeeds remains unknown.

Online reaction has been intense. Some viewers believe Nicola and Harry must flee before Ravi’s rage becomes irreversible. Others are convinced Oscar and Jasmine’s departure is already locked in, with Max’s desperation signalling an emotional goodbye.

What fans agree on is the tone: EastEnders is not teasing casual exits. These storylines are loaded with consequence.

As the week unfolds, Walford stands on the edge. Ravi’s guilt threatens to turn violent. Nicola’s fear pushes her toward running. Oscar’s loyalty fractures. Jasmine’s lies multiply.

One escape may succeed. Another may fail catastrophically.

EastEnders leaves one question burning through the Square — when everyone wants out, who actually makes it away?

If Walford becomes too dangerous to stay, who will run first — and who will pay the price for trying?