Last night’s ep saw Ben scrambling around to try and get the Panesar brothers off his back, while also showing his softer side as well, a nice reminder that he’s a character with layers and motivations, and not just a monster who steals cars for money.
Screencaps for this episode can be found here.
It’s early morning, so early that Ben’s still in his dressing gown and glasses (finally, they make a return!), as he gets on the phone to Jason, the man he sold Kheerat’s car to, to ask if he’s sold it on yet. Judging by Ben’s signature fist clench, he has. Quite interesting that he’s immediately trying to comply with the brothers’ demand, as normally he’d be trying to talk them round, get a way out of it somehow. Perhaps he’s not used to a business plan backfiring, wasn’t prepared for it to go wrong; or he feels genuinely threatened by Kheerat and Jags and what they might do.
Lola approaches Ben at the Arches with Lexi and says she needs another 50 quid for a coat and pair of boots, on top of the 50 Ben gave her this morning. Of course he’s having to fork out money when he’s already panicking about the car he’s trying to get back. Sure enough, once Lola leaves Ben to take Lexi to school, he gets a text from Kheerat (when did they exchange numbers?) in reply to his text saying the car is gone, asking for 65 grand, 10k upfront. Uh, Lola? Ben’s gonna need that 100 quid back. Ben’s on edge, and he’s paranoid, having asked Lola before she left if anyone’s been asking for him. I think he still has that feeling of someone watching him.
Taking Lexi into the cafe, Ben sees Tubbs at the table and sprints over to talk to him, leaving Lexi poking at Karen’s jumper that she’s covered in pom poms. Ben asks if there’s any cash left from the stash he gave Tubbs, but it’s all gone on ‘idiots gagging for cash loans.’ Ben tells him he needs 10k, and Tubbs reckons he should get it as he’s due a big collect from a gambler and a small one from the Taylors – and at this Ben glances over at Lexi and Karen, who’s being sweet with Lexi and explaining that she glued the pom poms on herself (and had to laugh at Lexi saying her mum would be jealous if she had one – it is rather Lola!)
Rainie interrupts them and asks Ben if he’s got any jobs going – this is when stories overlap and we move into Rainie looking for cash. Ben says no (but rather politely considering their history), and Lexi joins him at the table. Tubbs isn’t a very good businessman – a woman right there looking for cash while he’s running a money-lending business and he just lets her walk off!
Later on in the pub, Ben’s on the phone to Tubbs about the money he still needs. Tubbs says he’s in the middle of something, and Ben’s frustrated (and obviously still panicking.) It’s at this moment that Karen sidles up to him at the bar and gives him a jumper with pom poms like the one she’s wearing, for Lexi, since she liked Karen’s so much. Ben’s so taken aback he doesn’t even respond as Karen walks back out again, and the sigh he gives feels like him trying to fight his good side, but failing. He asks Tubbs if he’s visited Karen for the money yet – he’s on her doorstep. The money Ben needs is literally in reach as he knows Karen is probably on her way back to the house, but he tells Tubbs to forget it. And he’s very much torn over it, as if he doesn’t want to be soft, but seeing the jumper Karen made his daughter was too much and that side won. It shows he can make the right choice – in this case letting Karen off with the money collection, even though he really needed that money.
Our Callum scene of the episode now – and it was literally 3 seconds long, just long enough to tell Rainie he’s just popping out. It reminded me of the other episode where he had 3 words of dialogue, when he saw Tiffany off at the station (‘cross my heart’), and that time he had no lines at all, but stood there helping to put up a banner for the Walford 10k while Whitney proclaimed it looked straight to her.
It’s unclear why he featured for this tiny moment, but I suppose it served as a reminder that he’s still there while Rainie battles her addiction, leading to the scene with Kathy we’ll see on Thursday where she asks him about Rainie’s progress.
Ben returns home to Lola shouting at the TV (relatable), and he spots a toy car on the table in front of her. Lola doesn’t know where it came from, and she’s confused by Ben’s panicked expression. A glass smashes outside and Ben runs to the door, still thinking someone’s watching him. He’s looking for them to reveal themselves so he can sort it out – he hates not being in control of the situation. And it’s not just about him either – the fact that they’re able to get into his house, where his family and his daughter live, is a scary thought.
He’s about to head back inside when he catches sight of Martin leaving the house across the street. Martin sees him too and they have a bit of a stand off before Martin gets the duff duff. Ooh!
This ep certainly showed how important Ben’s family is to him – they motivate him, play a part in his decisions and the idea of them in danger sends him into a panic. And we’ll see more of that in tonight’s ep.
On another note, big congrats to Max for winning Best Bad Boy at the Inside Soap Awards last night! How fitting to win it at the start of what seems to be the return of Bad Boy Ben!
EastEnders is also up for a PinkNews award in Drama, being a TV Series that’s significantly represented issues affecting the LGBT+ community. You can vote for them here!
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