It’s been 24 years since EastEnders created romcom gold with Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) and Alfie Moon (Shane Richie), and all these years later the couple are still firmly in our hearts.
And a breathtaking standalone episode just reminded us why these classic characters must remain at the very heart of the show.
The show is constantly evolving - as it should be - by bringing in twisted villains like Ned Hawkins (Jamie Bamber) and Craig Ingram (Matthew James-Bailey), and endearing new regulars like Gemma Hawkins (Patricia Potter). Storylines highlighting child grooming and homophobia are vital, but so are beloved mainstays, who also need to be nurtured.
Alfie and Kat have endured infidelity, abuse, loss, and many a make-or-break showdown like that shown this week, so you’d be forgiven for wondering how they remain current and fresh when they’ve been down this road before.
But EastEnders isn’t throwing everything at this pair (again) simply for the sake of more chaos. It might be a familiar dynamic but this is new territory at its most character-driven, as the sudden death of Kat's daughter Zoe (Michelle Ryan) has unravelled everything she's been desperately holding together since before she became a mother.
We always knew Jessie Wallace would shine in this truly visceral depiction of Kat’s grief, but Shane Richie’s sensational work as the helpless but determined Alfie has only strengthened this arc, with both bringing new layers to their alter egos’ relationship.
Tough as it was to watch the pair be taken right to the brink and back again, this closer look at their marriage in its unvarnished, unfiltered state and the eventual reaffirmation of their love had to happen. It was time to strip away all those surface-level scenes that were bubbling away while Lauren Beale’s (Jacqueline Jossa) affair with Mark Fowler (Stephen Aaron-Sipple) and Ned’s apparent quest for Walford domination took centre stage.
Naturally, different character groups must have their turn in the spotlight and EastEnders can’t dedicate every episode to Kat’s grief, but the soap could only leave her to her own devices for so long before some tender loving care and a turning point was required.
It always feels like a tall order to start an episode in one direction, with Alfie and Kat seemingly heading for a permanent split, only for them to emerge as solid as ever less than 30 minutes later. Yet, with thanks to some gloriously uninterrupted screen-time and a script filled with references to the pair’s shared past, that’s what we’ve just witnessed. Making the journey feel authentic is something EastEnders excels at.
It wasn’t just about Kat’s self-destructive behaviour and Alfie being pushed beyond his limits, though. A nod to his 2002 debut came in the form of a stray apple on the empty market lane, close to where a cheeky Alfie conned a young Martin Fowler (then played by James Alexandrou) into giving him free fruit.
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A smile didn’t feel possible at this point in what was a raw, heartbreaking tale, yet just for a moment, this nostalgic Easter egg allowed one to break through the despair on Alfie’s face and honour where he started, before bringing us swiftly back to the present.
As important as it is to establish and develop new blood on the Square, this showcased how the rich history of longstanding characters is woven into the very fabric of the show; and making them a priority delivered a magic I want to see more of.
We may be losing fan-favourite Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) after an unforgettable 13-year run, but show originals Ian (Adam Woodyatt), Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) and Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) should, where possible, have more opportunities to lead the way and reflect on the ties that bind them.
Let’s see Kathy with more to do than managing the café and Sharon sharing a two-hander special with adoptive half-sister Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig).
It was a tonic to see the once stoic Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) dish out some welcome wisdom in Alfie’s hour of need. Alfie has a connection with experienced therapist Ned so it would have been easy to draft him in for the occasion, but having Phil as the moral compass and sounding board was the right move.
He’s done his own hard work to heal and has known Alfie and Kat for decades and so - despite being her ex - Phil has more of a right than most to spell out the lay of the land.
The frank, heartfelt and anguished dialogue throughout also proves it doesn’t have to be gritty and dangerous to pack a powerful punch. Domestic, kitchen sink drama is more essential than ever as we strive to find relatable people within our favourite television programmes.
The soap is the only genre that airs continuously, so we need the trials, tribulations and enduring love between Kat and Alfie just as much as we need issue-based narratives that break new ground.
There was never really any doubt about their future, but that wasn’t the point – it was all about examining the damage done and how they were going to navigate it together. Living through backstories such as Alfie and Kat’s in real time has kept us invested, and that gut-wrenching, historic mention of Kat’s 'Man on the Moon' landed with an immediate, bittersweet aftertaste.
Cliffhangers or, in this case, those infamous ‘doof-doofs’ will never go stale, but sometimes we crave that burst of warmth that comes from a definitive closing scene with reassuring, familiar faces.
Alfie recalling his promise to always pick up the phone for Kat before racing to her rescue and sealing their renewed unity with a kiss was cathartic viewing and the perfect way to reset their relationship.
The Moons, and fellow classic characters, are as integral as ever to EastEnders and after this masterclass edition, I hope they continue to thrive alongside Walford’s latest arrivals.
Read more:
- EastEnders airs heartbreaking Kat and Alfie Moon episode with tragic two-hander scenes in early BBC iPlayer release
- EastEnders legend Jo Joyner returns to Walford set for Branning 'family reunion' - 8 years after last Tanya appearance
- EastEnders star teases "fire and carnage" when Penny Branning's baby paternity secret is revealed
- EastEnders favourite Balvinder Sopal teases Ash return is "grenade" to the Panesar family unit this autumn
- EastEnders announces hard-hitting Amy Mitchell storyline as BBC soap works with charities
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