Walford was left reeling this week as a beloved icon said her goodbyes, while chaos brewed in every corner of Albert Square. In an episode packed with raw emotion, shocking decisions, and dangerous spirals, EastEnders delivered one of its most powerful farewells yet – and set the stage for darker days ahead.

Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy), a pillar of strength in the Square for decades, faced one of the most difficult choices of her life. In the aftermath of a bitter falling out with her sister Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer), Sonia stood firm in her resolve to walk away from their relationship. But blood runs thick, and when Bianca was cornered by overzealous “fans” of the Coma Killer podcast – a moment that triggered a full-blown panic attack – it was Sonia who rushed to her side. The trauma peeled back the layers of resentment, and just like that, the sisters found their way back to each other.

But the emotional rollercoaster was only just beginning.

No. 25 opened its door to an unwelcome face from the past – Sonia’s estranged father, Terry (Glen Davies). His sudden arrival rattled Sonia to her core. After years of absence and disappointment, could she truly trust him again? Terry offered her the chance to start over, far from the turmoil of Walford, in the distant promise of paradise – Bali. The idea tempted Sonia, who’s endured more than her fair share of heartache. Could a new life be the answer?

As father and daughter reconnected, it became clear that Terry hadn’t changed. His cruelty simmered beneath the surface, and Sonia, heartbroken but wiser, made a brave decision: she wouldn’t fall for his illusions. Instead, she chose family – her real family – and left the Square not with regret, but with hope. In a scene both cheeky and iconic, Sonia boarded Terry’s speedboat with Bianca and the girls, her trumpet in hand, sailing off into the sunset with a teary smile and a sense of freedom. It was a farewell befitting a legend.

But the drama didn’t end there.

At the Slaters, teenage turmoil took a dark turn as Lily (Lillia Turner) spiraled further into rebellion. Her erratic behavior and drug use alarmed her grandmother Jean (Gillian Wright), who tried desperately to rein her in. But Lily, teaming up with Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James), pushed every boundary. The girls stole money from the cab office to buy weed, and their antics escalated dangerously.

Things reached boiling point at Amy Mitchell’s (Ellie Dadd) party, where Avani brought along drugs – and trouble. When her dealer, Declan (Alfie Cain), showed up uninvited, tensions erupted. Wielding a hammer and a terrifying temper, Declan threatened the teens, sending shockwaves through the room. Just as it seemed tragedy was about to strike, Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) stormed in, saving the day with seconds to spare.

As the dust settled, consequences loomed large. Bex Fowler (Jasmine Armfield) gave Lily a reality check, but whether it’s enough to snap her out of this downward spiral remains to be seen.

Elsewhere, Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) continued to wrestle with grief and guilt, her pain isolating her from those around her. But a glimmer of comfort came in the form of Sonia, who, before her departure, reached out to her old friend. In a touching moment of mutual support, the two women leaned on each other, their shared history offering a brief balm amid the chaos.

Back in the world of gym mats and boxing gloves, Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) returned from her holiday to find Zack Hudson (James Farrar) training young Barney (Lewis Bridgeman). Nicola was not impressed. Seething with fury, she vowed to put a stop to it. Her method? Enlist Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) and Joel Marshall (Max Murray) to sabotage the session. With a sly plan and cruel intentions, Nicola may have just sparked another storm in the making.