Ep 2. The Anniversary Walk

In EastEnders season 1 episode 2, entitled "The Anniversary Walk," the residents of Albert Square prepare for the annual Walford to Epping Forest sponsored walk, which is being held to mark the anniversary of Arthur Fowler's (Bill Treacher) death.

The episode sees the arrival of Robbie Jackson (Dean Gaffney) and his family to Walford. Robbie's mother Carol (Lindsey Coulson) is struggling to cope with the recent death of her husband, and Robbie's brother, Billie (Devon Anderson), is a troubled teenager who is causing his family a lot of worry. Robbie's arrival also causes some tension for market trader, Mark Fowler (David Scarboro), who is furious to discover that his half-brother has returned.

Meanwhile, Sue Osman (Sandy Ratcliff) is still struggling to come to terms with the death of her baby, which she blames on her husband, Ali (Nejdet Salih), who she believes put the baby at risk. Sue is avoiding Ali, and he is slowly becoming more and more isolated, which is affecting his mental health and causing him to act erratically.

Elsewhere, Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) is starting her new job at the local hair salon, run by Tricky Dicky (Paul Bradley). She is quickly popular with the clients, and Tricky Dicky is impressed by her work. However, Sharon is still struggling to deal with the grief of losing her adoptive mother, Angie, and is using alcohol to cope.

The episode culminates in the sponsored walk, which sees all the residents of Albert Square come together to raise money for a good cause. However, the day does not go smoothly, with tensions running high between some of the characters. The walk also sees the arrival of the notorious local gangster, Nick Cotton (John Altman), who causes trouble for some of the residents.

Overall, EastEnders season 1 episode 2 is an intense episode that deals with a range of difficult issues, from grief and mental health to family tensions and personal conflicts. It sets the stage for future episodes, introducing key characters and storylines that will shape the direction of the show in the coming months. With its strong acting and compelling drama, it is a must-watch for fans of EastEnders.