EastEnders spoilers 12 to 15 October as Ryder opens up
Ryder opens up to Nicola about the man he is seeing as Ned continues piling pressure on his son over football and his future.
Ryder opens up about his private life in EastEnders as growing pressure from Ned leaves him struggling with the expectations being placed upon him.
Ned begins the week in celebratory mood as he rallies the community after becoming co-owner of Harry’s Barn. For Ryder, however, attention quickly turns back towards football when an old coach encourages him to return to the sport.
The suggestion increases the pressure he is already feeling from his dad, but Nicola begins looking at the situation differently after learning about one of Ryder’s former teammates.
Nicola discovers that the player faced struggles after coming out, helping her better understand why Ryder has been reluctant about returning to football.
Ryder later decides to open up to Nicola and tells her about the man he has been seeing. He also shares his concerns about Ned’s influence over his life, making it clear that football is not the only issue troubling him.
After being encouraged to be honest with the people closest to him, Ryder resolves to have an important conversation with his mum that evening. However, he has no idea that Ned has overheard him asking to speak with her.
Ned continues putting pressure on Ryder to conform as the Hawkins celebrate their successful event, meaning the tension between what Ryder wants and what his dad expects from him remains firmly in place.
At the same time, Ned is causing trouble elsewhere after discovering Lauren and Mark’s secret meetings. He uses what he knows to blackmail Mark and makes a shocking request, forcing Mark to reluctantly carry out his orders after Lauren tells him to do whatever is necessary to protect their secret.
For Ryder, however, the focus remains on finally talking openly about what has been happening in his life. His conversation with Nicola marks an important moment as she begins to understand more about the pressures he has been dealing with.
EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Image credit: BBC
