{"id":29411,"date":"2023-01-30T21:00:02","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T20:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1777077"},"modified":"2023-01-31T02:57:42","modified_gmt":"2023-01-31T01:57:42","slug":"eastenders-has-a-big-jack-branning-problem","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/eastenders-has-a-big-jack-branning-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"EastEnders has a big Jack Branning problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

The character has become a Phil Mitchell-level tyrant. <\/p>

By Laura Denby\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 30 January 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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**Warning: this article contains references of self-harm which some readers might find upsetting.**<\/em><\/p>\n

As Walford\u2019s resident detective, Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) should be the one EastEnders<\/a> character the locals can trust. But his short fuse has made him anything but that; and after tonight\u2019s developments, we can\u2019t help but wonder what road the BBC soap intends to take him down next.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be fair, Jack is having a very tough time of it. From the devastating discovery that his daughter Amy (Ellie Dadd) has been self-harming<\/a>, to the shocking revelation that 12-year-old son Ricky Jr (Frankie Day) is set to become a father<\/a> after having underage sex with Lily Slater (Lillia Turner), the bombshells just keep coming for Jack; and to say he isn\u2019t coping might be the biggest understatement in soap.<\/p>\n

But his only solution seems to be to shout orders at the top of his voice; and not only is this method not working, it\u2019s making Jack look like a total villain. In the latest instalment of EastEnders, he tried manipulating young Lily into having an abortion \u2013 despite the fact that the teen\u2019s parents Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) and Martin Fowler (James Bye) have made it perfectly clear that Lily is keeping her baby.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no doubt it\u2019s a huge decision to make, but Jack\u2019s awful attempt to show Lily how terrible her life would be with a child led to a furious outburst from Stacey and a violent threat from Martin. We couldn\u2019t be further from the days where former in-laws Jack and Stacey actually considered each other family.<\/p>\n

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Jack has done almost nothing but lose his temper lately.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Given that Ricky Jr had vowed to commit to fatherhood, the youngster was horrified when Jack\u2019s behaviour caused Stacey to put a ban on the Brannings having any role in the baby\u2019s life. As Ricky moved straight in with mum Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf), Amy broke down in tears and Jack\u2019s wife Denise Fox (Diane Parish) warned him that he was going to end up losing everyone in his life at this rate, Jack felt his family unit crumbling underneath him. And it was all his own fault.<\/p>\n

Sam has only been back in her son\u2019s life for less than a year, having returned to Albert Square<\/a> for the first time since leaving him with Jack in 2016. Yet she seems to be doing a better job as a parent at this point. Sure, she\u2019s got a lot to learn, but at least she\u2019s not stomping around like a tyrant making demands.<\/p>\n

EastEnders has, at times, remembered Jack\u2019s gentler side during the course of his family troubles. Star Maslen delivered a moving performance when his alter ego shared a heart-to-heart with troubled Amy last year, and Jack later took a moment to offer support to Ricky Jr ahead of his police interview.<\/p>\n

But no sooner had Jack made some progress than he was throwing his weight around yet again.<\/p>\n

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Jack has been adamant that Lily must have an abortion.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Undeterred by the many times he\u2019s already been disciplined in his police officer role, Jack made his colleagues\u2019 job a complete headache when he had a tantrum over the way his son\u2019s interview was being carried out.<\/p>\n

Jack\u2019s conduct isn\u2019t just on par with that of gangster Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) \u2013 it\u2019s now starting to look like Phil is the more reasonable man! Remember the moment, last year, when Phil took the time to listen to tormented son Ben (Max Bowden) in one of the pair\u2019s longest on-screen conversations<\/a> in years?<\/p>

More recently, Phil comforted stepson Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) after the latter was kidnapped by DCI Keeble (Alison Newman)<\/a>. Phil assured Tommy that he did not have to bottle up his emotions, before offering him a much-needed hug.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s not get carried away here \u2013 this scene only materialised because of Phil\u2019s criminal past, and his handling of Tommy\u2019s trauma was, at best, the bare minimum of what\u2019s expected as a parent. As for Ben, Phil\u2019s words of love were long overdue.<\/p>\n

Still, we can\u2019t ignore that Phil has suddenly become someone his kids can turn to, while Jack alienates his loved ones with his unruly temper. He\u2019s become a bully, and although he\u2019s clearly floundering amid the chaos of his life right now, it\u2019s time EastEnders found a way to scale back on Jack\u2019s over the top attitude.<\/p>\n

Otherwise stories like Amy\u2019s, as well as Lily and Ricky\u2019s, may be overshadowed by Jack\u2019s forceful approach \u2013 and that possible affair for long-suffering Denise<\/a>.<\/p>\n

EastEnders has worked closely with\u00a0Alumina<\/a>,\u00a0Mind<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Samaritans<\/a> to portray Amy\u2019s storyline as realistically and sensitively as possible. For support and information on matters raised within this article, visit the BBC Action Line<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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