The Branning curse might be far from over—and fans are already bracing themselves.

When Oscar Branning reappeared in EastEnders this week, it wasn’t a quiet return. After years away, the troubled son of Max and Tanya Branning arrived in Walford with a cigarette between his fingers, an ankle tag, and a mischievous grin. But beneath the bravado lies a storm brewing—one that could end in tragedy.

It all begins with a cryptic phone call that Lauren Branning receives, prompting her to leave Peter Beale without explanation. She heads straight to a youth detention centre to retrieve her younger brother, Oscar. His release shocks even Lauren—especially after learning that their mother Tanya has disowned him. The reason? Oscar’s friend attempted to petrol bomb their home.

The chaos doesn’t stop there. As Peter and Ian Beale track the siblings down, Oscar panics at the sight of a gang and hides. In a move that veers between reckless and brilliant, he hijacks a van and drives everyone back to Albert Square—a stunning entrance that sets the tone for what’s to come.

But it’s what happens next that has EastEnders fans rattled. Oscar, retreating outside during a tense family conversation, finds himself alone with Lauren. The two reflect on Abi’s tragic death—the moment she fell from The Queen Vic rooftop in 2017. A grim coincidence that eerily mirrors the death of their brother Bradley Branning, who also plunged to his death from that very same roof seven years earlier.

And now Oscar—brash, rebellious, and standing outside the same haunted pub—becomes the center of fan theories predicting a third fatal fall.

Social media exploded with ominous speculation. One fan predicted Oscar will meet his end in time for EastEnders’ 45th anniversary. Another pointed out that he’s now the only Branning sibling who hasn’t fallen from The Vic roof—a chilling observation that suddenly feels like foreshadowing.

But Oscar’s journey in Walford is just beginning. Upcoming scenes show a surprising vulnerability behind his reckless actions. Jack Branning opens up a difficult conversation with the teen, uncovering just how fractured Oscar’s relationship with his parents has become.

And just when it seems Oscar might be trying to integrate into life in Walford, he takes a turn for the manipulative. In a bizarre ploy, he fakes a fall at Ian Beale’s chip shop, hoping to score a payout. Stacey Slater watches in amusement, but things take a dark turn when a social worker witnesses the entire scene—jeopardizing Oscar’s fragile second chance.

As always with EastEnders, what lies on the surface is only a fraction of the truth. Oscar Branning is no ordinary teenage troublemaker. He’s the last surviving child of a shattered family, scarred by trauma and desperate for connection. But the shadow of The Vic looms large—and fate has a cruel sense of irony.

Could Oscar be the final name on a tragic list? Will The Queen Vic’s rooftop claim yet another Branning?

Or will this troubled boy be the one to finally break the cycle?