Max Branning (Jake Wood) has crossed a lot of people in EastEnders, but perhaps none as dangerous as Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) and Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara).
We always knew an engagement between Max and Cindy, two of the most manipulative, toxic two-timers to ever rock up in Walford was bound to be an epic disaster, and, of course, it absolutely was.
All throughout their engagement, Max was having a torrid affair with Ravi’s love, Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan-Levy), after sleeping with her mere hours after his initial, bungled attempt at a proposal.
Max, to his credit, did put up the flimsiest bit of resistance when Priya insisted on a repeat performance, but before long, they were at it like rabbits, and, to add to the betrayal, he was also professing his love for Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).
Yeah, for as vile as Cindy can be, Max really did her dirty!
Since the exposure of the fling – and the utter collapse of Cindy and Max’s hours-long marriage – Cindy’s been baying for blood.
She managed to force Priya out of Walford after discovering that the baby she was carrying was Max’s and not Ravi’s.
Sneaky Cindy later also discovered that Max had left Zoe alone the night that she died, using it to blackmail a ton of cash out of him, but her anger only intensified when she learned he was in a new relationship with Linda.
Next week, though, she’s in a much more peaceful headspace – initially, anyway…
While Max is wrapped up in the drama tornado surrounding the Carters, Cindy’s feeling celebratory as her annulment from Max finally reaches its final stages.
That is, of course, until she hears that Max has popped the question to Linda, and every bit of fury and vitriol she’d seemingly suppressed comes rising to the surface once again.
She finds an unlikely ear in Ravi, who’s life Max also took a sledgehammer to with his actions, and he counsels her on what her next move should be, leaving her mulling over his words and contemplating what action to take.
Later on, Max braces himself for round #386 with Cindy, but is surprised as she presents peacefully, asking only for a signature on some paperwork, which he happily gives her.
Perhaps Ravi encouraged Cindy to move on with some grace and decorum. Probably not, though…
EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday, November 16 at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer.


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