This week’s EastEnders marked the first episodes under the reign of new executive producer Ben Wadey – and he’s kicked off this new era with a bang and with the return of Zoe Slater.

It’s been a tense week of reunions, secrets and lies, and it’s only the beginning, as Michelle Ryan will be back in Walford for good later this summer. Here’s why Zoe’s return week was a big success:

1. Zoe’s back

In the era of streaming first, soaps are rarely appointment viewing anymore – but those rare moments are very special. When the early release of an episode is dropped, we know that it’s for a good reason, and this was the case for Monday’s instalment of EastEnders.

It’s a shame that leaks over the last couple of weeks meant that many viewers went into the episode expecting to see Zoe. While the level of surprise would have been off the scale if the secret had been kept under wraps, the collective viewing experience was still so exciting.

Added to this, there were many clues in the episode that suggested the return would be Hayley, wrongfooting us along the way. But Kat saying to Tommy, “I’m your mother” – a clever nod to that iconic moment – seconds before the first glimpse of Zoe, was excellent television.

2. Stacey’s back too

It was a total joy to have Lacey Turner back and for Stacey to be heavily involved in Zoe’s return episodes this week. Lacey’s maternity leave has been somewhat fragmented, after she returned early to rehearse and play a pivotal role in the live episode in February.

Since Martin died, Stacey has been consumed by her grief, so seeing her trying to help another Slater feels like the start of a hopeful new chapter for the character. Plus, with Lacey set to take an extended break from the show later this year, we’re appreciating Stacey even more…

Related: Best streaming services

3. Michelle Ryan stole the show

The idea of Zoe coming back has always been a dream for long-time EastEnders fans, but the reality could easily be disappointing. It’s been 20 years since Michelle played Zoe, and it might have been too difficult for her to slot back into the iconic role. But judging by her performance this week, it’s like she’s never been away.

This is a very different Zoe to the young girl who fled Walford two decades ago. Michelle herself explains that while Zoe used to be the “softer” Slater, she now has a fire and anger that we haven’t seen before. But Michelle still completely embodies Zoe, and it was a thrill to see her go toe to toe with experienced hand Lacey in those first scenes.

4. Alfie’s back in the fold

Regardless of whether or not you’re a Kat and Alfie fan, their reunion last year – cemented by their third marriage this month – was essential for Zoe’s return plot to work. Over two decades ago, Alfie and Zoe were bonded by their love for Kat, and he clearly still thinks of her as a daughter. Having Alfie at the heart of this story feels right and adds to the nostalgia of it all.

It might seem strange that it was Alfie who Stacey called for help, but it actually makes total sense. He’s the only one who will do anything to help Zoe because it’s what Kat would want – even if that means lying to his wife in the process.

Related: 8 huge EastEnders changes as the show’s new era begins

5. Kat and Zoe’s reunion was held back

Even though we knew full well that we probably wouldn’t get a reunion with Kat during Zoe’s brief appearance this week, the show didn’t half make us believe that we might. The scenes with Kat in Stacey’s flat and Zoe just behind the door were so tense, and it even looked like Kat had seen her daughter when she charged into the bedroom.

While Zoe insisted that she doesn’t want to see Kat, she heard her mum talking about her concerns for Tommy through the wall. This showed Zoe a new, deeply maternal side to Kat, and adds another layer to this complex relationship.

Some viewers found it frustrating that we didn’t get to see them on screen together this week, but that just makes the drama to come even more enticing. It’s such a huge soap moment, so we’re more than happy to wait…

6. Questions were left unanswered

There’s so much we still don’t know about Zoe, such as where she’s been over the years and what she is running from. While on the phone to Stacey after she made her escape from the flat, Zoe explained that she had done something bad that no one would forgive her for – especially Kat.

Stacey and Alfie remain clueless about Zoe’s huge secret, as do we, but there’s no doubt that all will soon be revealed when she finally sets foot in Albert Square again. Plus, the popular fan theory circulating at the moment is that Zoe could be the mother of disturbed teen Joel, who admitted this week that his mum abandoned him when he was little.

Tommy is currently being influenced by Joel’s misogynistic behaviour and has found himself caught up in his new friend’s latest incident. Could Kat and Zoe’s lives be set to collide in more ways than one?

7. There’s much more to come

The best thing about this week’s episodes is that they gave us a teaser of what we have to look forward to in the coming months. With Alfie secretly jetting off to Barcelona to bring Zoe home, we can only imagine how furious Kat will be when she discovers that he and Stacey have been lying to her. But will Alfie come back with Zoe, or will his rescue mission prove tricky?

In a social media post, Michelle has teased that she is currently doing night shoots for a new block of episodes that have “high stakes”, so her proper return shouldn’t be too far away. It’s an incredibly exciting start to Ben Wadey’s tenure and bodes well for the new era of EastEnders.