Opinion: Latest Episode of Eastenders (Volume Two)

Phil comes round.

After that train-crash of an episode, the follow-up is a wonderfully written and expertly crafted denouement, surprisingly written by the same writer, Simon Ashdown. It helps that the more absurd aspects of the previous episode are in fact addressed here, and the episode acts as an excellent, tear-jerking send-off to Peggy Mitchell.
     It's the day after the fire, and there's a full clean-up operation. Peggy moves, solemn, around the square, everyone helping her and she taking care of Phil, who is coming round from his month-long crack binge. She goes and talks with Stacey, where they both teach each other a few home truths. Eventually, Peggy decides to leave Walford - taking Phil with her. Elsewhere, Ryan grapples with the motivations behind Stacey's revelation - and whether he should leave on his honeymoon.

When Peggy confronts Stacey, she reminds her of her family.

     There are some tear-jerking scenes with Peggy remembering the past while walking around the ruins of the pub, and the last 10 minutes is an eye-watering sad set of scenes where Peggy finally persuades her family that she needs to leave and that they can live on without her. It is mainly a series of inspirational speeches, but they do work.
     I think its maddening that such a powerful episode can come after such a wallbanger, but it makes up for that car crash. Barbara Windsor's last half-hour (well, 40 minutes in this case) is powerful, evocative, and a beautiful end-point in her career.

Goodbye, Babs. You'll be sorely missed.

 Thanks.