EastEnders Viewers Disagree Over Max’s Actions Before Zoe’s Death

EastEnders viewers are divided over Max’s involvement in Zoe’s final hours, with some accusing him of ignoring obvious warning signs while others believe he had no reason to realise she was dying.

Thursday’s episode brought renewed scrutiny of his behaviour as Kat continued searching for answers, while Cindy’s knowledge of Max’s encounter with Zoe threatened to expose another of his secrets.

Did Max Realise Zoe Needed Help?

Max encountered Zoe while she was suffering from a head injury, but apparently believed she was intoxicated rather than seriously unwell.

His failure to seek assistance has divided viewers, particularly because he subsequently concealed their encounter while Zoe’s family struggled to understand her death.

Viewers Clash Over Max’s Responsibility

One viewer criticised Max for overlooking Zoe’s condition, writing: “he did ignore her saying “help me” and the bloody gash below her hairline.”

Another argued that his personal problems had distracted him: “He assumed she was drunk because he was too preoccupied with his own predicament to pay attention.”

However, another viewer defended his understanding of the situation: “he had absolutely no way of knowing just how dire her situation was.”

A fourth questioned the accusation that Max deliberately abandoned Zoe: “even I can’t spin that he “left Zoe to die”.”

Another viewer suggested the circumstances could reasonably have been misunderstood:“you’d just assume they were heavily drunk”

The comments reveal disagreement over whether Max should have recognised a medical emergency, rather than establishing that he deliberately left Zoe to die.

Could Max’s Silence Make Things Worse?

Even viewers who believe Max misunderstood Zoe’s condition have questioned his behaviour since her death.

His decision to keep the encounter secret has left Kat without potentially important information about her daughter’s final movements, while Cindy’s involvement threatens further difficulties for Max and Linda.

His latest behaviour has also attracted criticism because of his willingness to make serious promises while concealing information.

For Kat, discovering that Max saw Zoe before she died could be devastating, regardless of whether he understood how badly she was injured.

The question now is whether Max will finally explain what happened or continue concealing an encounter that has already divided viewers.

EastEnders airs on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer.

Image credit: BBC