Now that he knows he killed Lucy or will it finish in tonight's episode since it's still set in Christmas?

Well in pictures, it shows

Who knows? The whole thing's such an awful mess involving so many people in different ways, I think the story writers have dug themselves into an enormous hole from which there is really no way out.

This is probably DT's version of the ubiquitous train/helicopter crash whereby huge swathes of the cast are conveniently written out and he can start afresh with some more nonsense!

Max assaulted a police officer and fled police captivity, he'll probably still do some time.

How long ago was his arrest on the square? He could get out if it's been a few months.

I really hope it is, but it probably isn't

Unfortunately, I think that it will be dragged out further. The news of Dennis' critical condition will spread and prevent Bobby from making a confession.

I bloody hope so. Jane better not cave in at the last minute. Bobby was FINALLY told the truth and Jane agreed that there is a problem. Backing out of that will only make the Beales more repulsive than they have been all year.

Max deserves justice and I hope the Square turn on Ian and Jane when this gets out.

Wasn't it at the end of September, and as I recall he received 12 months for escaping from lawful custody.

Thought so, thanks.

The full truth is never going to come out as it would result in half the cast going to prison. (Ian, Jane, Bobby, Peter, Lauren, Cindy, Liam, Phil, Sharon, Kathy I have probably forgotten a few more). The only way I can see this ending is if Jane goes to the police and takes full responsibility denying that Ian or anyone else knew anything about it. It would be a shame to lose Jane as she is an interesting character, Laurie Brett one of the shows finest actors and Ian and Jane make a brilliant partnership Ian wont be the same without her. However the writers really have backed themselves into a corner with this storyline there is no other conclusion.

I am so sick of this storyline and the mess it has created.

I am shocked that Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Alex Lamb and Sharon Batten cannot see the wood for the trees with this one. It is not making for good, compelling drama, in my opinion.

I hope they bring back Lindsey Coulson for a few scenes with Max. I was gutted Carol never found out about Bobby, as she did a lot to help her brother up until his sentencing.

After all the complaints, it will be interesting if they take the story further, but one thing I've learned from DTC and his team is that they do not and will not listen to what viewers think, and they do what they like. Some people will say this is a bad thing and some people will say this is a good thing.

I think he'll pass out and die in tonight's episode of an undiagnosed injury.

Knowing DTC, he'll find a way to drag it out even longer.

its good and bad I suppose, on one hand they are the professionals and some ideas that sound good dont always turn out good in reality, on the other hand, without the viewers they dont have a show, or jobs, so not listening when viewes when they tell you somthing isn't working or being dragged on WAY too long can result in losing them.

hate this storyline,dont like bobby or jane maybe they will hang themselves on the spot where lucy died,then maybe eastenders can return to the great soap it used to be

There has to be a real conclusion, there has to be punishment, Bobby being taken away and Jane going down for moving the body and covering up the killing. They have made the child unhinged, as was seen last night , smashing his room up, he is a danger to himself and everyone around him and needs to be medically helped and kept away from society until they make him better.

He seems to be modeled on Venables and Thompson.

Christmas 2025 it will be over with.

I think Ian bears more than a little responsibility, that's two of his children that are mentally unstable. Lucy was as ruthless as he is. Peter is at times very distant and brutal verbally to others in the family. Cindy realised she was off out of it.

EastEnders will be a daytime show by then, with under 1m viewers.

I honestly can't see away of it 'ending' without the Beales being brought to justice, and I can't see Ian, Jane or Bobby being written out.

Exactly. It has been written in such a crap way that how this will be concluded god only knows. At the very very very least, Jane will go to prison along with Bobby going into a young offenders home, let alone Ian and all the rest of the cast you mentioned somehow convincing the police that they knew nothing (and standing up to severe questioning in the resulting new investigation.)

And if they did that, I'd think even less of Ian, as most people would, I think. That would come across as a tacky way of absolving Jane's character, as it would look like she was 'taking the fall' for everyone else. Why should she? They are all just as bad as her now, especially Ian.

Agreed.

Dominic Treadwell-Collins makes a big deal about putting down "pegs" in preparation for landmark episodes / story climaxes to create the impression that his team know where things are headed and that they're not making it up on the spot... I'm sorry but I have no confidence that he, Alex Lamb or Sharon Batten know how this will wrap up (if ever). The way they have sacrificed key characters and viewers' perceptions / relationships with them over the last year has been nothing short of a disaster. Even now, the storyline rumbles on with more and more layers to the amoral mess. Horrid storytelling.