To say that Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and Max Branning (Jake Wood) have had a difficult father-daughter relationship in EastEnders would be an understatement of seismic proportions.
Without even diving into the deep, troubled history of the Branning clan, Max’s return last year did nothing but drive a wedge even further between them.
His re-emergence at Lauren’s surprise wedding to Peter Beale (Thomas Law) did nothing but cause ill-feeling and his second comeback ended up with an ill-advised Christmas bunk up with Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), a fist fight with brother Jack (Scott Maslen), the absolute destruction of Lauren’s son Jimmy’s christening and a revelation about the true parentageof Linda Carter’s (Kellie Bright) daughter, Annie (Lois Hawkins).
To her credit, Lauren expected nothing less from daddy dearest.
Max has recently been wrapped up with other issues, namely pursuing Linda while hiding the secret that he knew who was behind her son, Ollie’s (Harry Farr) bullying ordeal, being soundly dumped when the truth was revealed, and trying to rectify it by kidnapping a terrorising sleazy Tim Walton (Tom Ratcliffe) who’s sexual blackmail of Linda’s other son, Johnny (Charlie Suff) resulted in their own relationship.
He’s also had his hands full with trying to protect his son, Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) from secret murderer girlfriend Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness), forming an unholy alliance with previous lover-turned-enemy-turned-who knows what, Cindy.
Yeah, he’s been a busy bee, has our Max.
Next week sees Lauren shaken at the prospect of losing her job when she learns that the car lot is up for sale. With two young mouths to feed, she’s horrified at the prospect of losing her job, but is galvanised when cousin Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine) suggests that she purchase the business herself.
When she attempts to get a business loan, though, she’s soundly rejected by the bank. Returning home, she’s struck with an idea when Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) suggests she ask her dad for the money, though is disappointed all over again when he also turns her down.
After teaming up with Oscar to make jibes at an incredibly sulky Lauren, Cindy turns her attention to Max and needles him over him refusing to invest in the business and, by extension, Lauren. Having heard enough, Max busts a U-ey, and tells Lauren that he’s changed his mind – he will invest in the car lot.
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As the Branning-Beale faction head to the Vic for some celebratory bubbles, all seems well within the family, and between Lauren and Max particularly, for the first time in quite a long time.
Individual conversations make it apparent, though, that Lauren and Max have very different ideas about how their working relationship will look.
As Peter attempts to bolster Lauren before her first day in charge, her face falls when she arrives at work to find her dad. He won’t be playing a silent partner: he’ll be running the business himself.
With Lauren crestfallen, will that aforementioned wedge be driven even deeper between father and daughter?
Or will a working relationship be everything they need to rebuild their fractured bonds?
