EastEnders has delivered a major plot twist as Louie Beale, previously seen as a sweet and protective child, is exposed as a schoolyard bully. In Tuesday's episode (10 February), the character played by Jake McNally threatened Ollie Carter with gum, calling him a 'crybaby' while his grandfather Max Branning's back was turned.
For weeks, viewers have watched Linda Carter struggle to get her son Ollie to attend school, suspecting he was being bullied. The culprit was revealed to be Louie, who had seemed caring towards his blind baby brother Jimmy. The scene in the cafe showed Louie menacingly waving a wad of gum in front of Ollie, a stark contrast to his usual demeanour.
Fans took to social media to express shock at the sudden change. One said: 'Why is Louie evil all of a sudden?' Another commented: 'Louie being Ollie's bully feels out of the blue. He's been so caring towards Jimmy, you'd assume he'd have a degree of sensitivity, particularly with Ollie's autism.'
However, some viewers defended the twist, noting that children can behave differently at school. 'Kids can be real demons at school even if they seem fine at home,' one fan said. Another praised the young actor: 'The little actor who plays Louie is so good! He was so despicable in the scene with Ollie.'
The revelation comes after a flash-forward New Year's episode focused on the Brannings and Beales, where Louie was notably absent. This led some fans to speculate that the character had died, with one asking: 'Is Louie dead?' Another added: 'Where is Louie? No has Louie died?'
