Is Joel dead in EastEnders? Fans ‘rumble’ his attacker – and its not Avani

EastEnders finished their Wednesday show with a dark cliffhanger, as Joel Marshall was left lying in the road after being attacked by someone on the square, leading some to wonder if he was dead

EastEnders‘ Joel Marshall has been left lying in the middle of the road, and some fans aren’t certain he’ll ever wake up.

During Wednesday’s show, the teen was lured to a party in the park, only for the rest of the teens to tie him up and pour warm beer over his head. They left him tied to a fence, but when they returned, he’d been set free. Cameras then cut to where Joel ended up – unconscious on the floor.

The way Joel was lying had some fans questioning if he was alive or not. “Do you think Joel is dead or do you think he will pull through?” one fan asked online.

In response, some argued that he could be, but that they weren’t sure, saying: “That’s what I’m assuming but cuz it was so dark I could barely see what was on his head”.

Another said that they didn’t want his story, in which he went down to manosphere pipeline, beat up his stepmother Vicki and posted revenge porn of Avani online, to end in his death. One fan said: “If Joel is dead it would be an awful end to a well written story.”

Regardless of whether Joel is dead or alive, someone attacked him. All signs appear to be pointing towards Avani having done it, as she almost attacked Joel last week and has been furious that he was back in Walford. But eagle-eyed fans have suggested it is her friend Amy instead.

“I feel like Amy is up to no good in the Joel assault,” a viewer wrote. “That will create a nice dynamic with Jack while Denise is struggling.”

Another agreed that her behaviour as the ringleader of the revenge plan against Joel had been “bizarre”. A third agreed that “Amy in particular seemed to get so much joy out of” pouring beer on Joel that they “wouldn’t be surprised at all” if she had hit him as well.

Others suggested the attacker could be Barney, who used to have a crush on Avani, especially since his mother has killed someone before. “I reckon they’re double bluffing us and it’s gonna turn out to be Barney,” a fan said. “He’s got his mother’s killer instincts after all.”

A second added: “He is very protective over Avani and they are close friends; so it wouldn’t be too much of a reach that gentle soul Barney makes a rash decision like this – thinking that if Ross & Joel see how hated he is then they will decide to leave and Avani will feel free again.”

While many fans are sure Avani wasn’t involved, they do still think she will come under suspicion: “I’m calling it now Avani and Denzel kissed when they went off for there heart to heart and they are going to want to keep it a secret so everyone will kinda think they did the attack.”

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