In the New Year episode, Max Branning was revealed to be marrying a mystery woman in 2027, and EastEnders fans think the soap has subtly ‘confirmed’ who that bride will be – along with her unorthodox reason for marriage
EastEnders fans think they know who the mystery bride marrying Max Branning is(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)
EastEnders aired the start of a love story in their most recent episode, and fans think this confirms one woman as his bride for 2027, but she won’t be marrying him for love. Instead, she’s out for revenge.
Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) has been one of the potential brides since Max Branning‘s (Jake Wood) fifth marriage was first teased. The two had already hooked up whilst unaware of each other’s identities, leading to an explosive punch up at their shared grandson Jimmy’s christening as Cindy realised she’d slept with her son’s killer. But after scenes airing on 19 March, fans are sure this enemies to lovers arc will end with a trip down the aisle.
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During Thursday’s episode, Cindy and Max were having a chat in the Prince Albert as she closed up shop. The two quickly started eyeing each other up and Max leaned in for a kiss. When Cindy initially rejected him – on the grounds that he had killed her beloved Steven (Aaron Sidwell) – he apologised for Steven’s death. This was enough for Cindy to give in and start kissing Max, as a jealous Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), who was also a teased bride, looked on.
Fans are now more certain than ever that this means Cindy will marry Max, but they’re not convinced that she loves him. Rather, could Cindy be marrying Max as part of a revenge plan?
“If Cindy marries Max, it’s 100% for revenge,” said one fan. “She HATED Max for what happened to Steven and she’s way too smart to fall for Max’s greasy little lines.”
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They added that the bride mystery might not be the only part of the New Year flashforward that Cindy is part of. The fan predicted that Cindy would be the gunman who will hold Lauren and Oscar Branning (Jacqueline Jossa and Pierre Counihan-Moullier) hostage, forcing their father to pick one to save.
“I reckon, Max is marrying Cindy in 2027, but Linda is getting ready to crash the wedding because she knows Cindy is planning something horrible for Max,” the fan said. “What is that horrible thing? She’s the gunman. An eye for an eye, a child for a child you know?”
Another fan agreed that scenes from tonight’s episode pointed more towards a vengeful Cindy than a loved-up one. “OMG yeah you could be right! That look she gave him when he said he was sorry for Steven’s death wasn’t giving attraction for me, it was giving revenge!”
A third said they hoped this was the case: “Cindy has hated Max with a passion for years and I know they say there’s a thin line between love and hate, but her just falling for his chat yet again just doesn’t add up. I actually hope she’s playing him for some sort of revenge for Steven further down the line.”
Cindy’s hatred of Max dates back to 2017. Then, he manipulated her son into a sweeping revenge plot against the Square, particularly Jane Beale (Laurie Brett), who had let Max go to prison for the murder of Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater) even though she knew it was really her young son Bobby (Eliot Carrington).
After setting fire to a restaurant, Steven tried to save Jane, but Max, desperate to stop him, pushed Steven into a countertop. This caused fatal internal injuries, eventually leading to a cardiac arrest and his death.
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