EastEnders: Lauren Branning Slaps/Peter Beale Punches Junior Knight (6th January 2025)

[@stemple11100]

That’s David, Ian and now Peter who have punched Junior and he’s been prevented from fighting back each time. He’s got whatever the opposite of plot armour is 😂

[@lefez9015]

There's Ste Hay and then there's Junior 😂😂

[@tomhiggins6542]

Pete Beales Corpse will be next in line to whoop Jr

[@H.K.5]

@@lefez9015 Or Frank Butcher, the fact that neither of the Mitchell brothers ever laid a hand on him is insane. Grant had no issues beating up Eddie Royle who was around the same age as Frank.

[@JR-dt6ml]

I'm sorry Junior is becoming one of the shows biggest let downs for a "hardman".

[@ececlips9155]

Did you say the same about Al in Emmerdale?

[@JR-dt6ml]

@ececlips9155 Yes, I would actually, Al didn't have the best record outside of his fight with Cain. If anything, his fighy with Cain proved how wasted he was.

[@SoapBoss101]

@@JR-dt6mlor proved how daft the writing was

[@ececlips9155]

​@JR-dt6ml Agreed. I think Junior will pick up the pace soon enough though since the actor himself addressed that he's been punched so much. They did the same with Sean on his return. An SAS defeated by a police officer. Obviously Junior hasn't lost a fighter yet, he's not even been allowed to fight back.

[@JR-dt6ml]

@ececlips9155 Sean wasn't SAS mate?

[@lefez9015]

The writers must hate Junior with a burning passion. Ian, who hasnt thrown a punch since 2010 (only because Masood let him) and Peter whose only thrown a punch once in his entire life (back in 2013), can land hits with nothing happening to them 😂

[@JoshuaDillon03]

Juniors just a punching bag he’s been punched by David, Ian and now Peter who next Louie.

[@NoirFan84]

A lot of commenters are interpreting why Junior is always on the receiving end very poorly. I commented that Junior wouldn't be allowed to do anything more than grip Peter up yesterday. The show is restricting Junior because of his boxing background, the same reason George isn't allowed to punch normal residents either. It's annoying but I could see them doing this when he arrived tbh. It's not that the show regard him as weak, it's completely the opposite. It's that they regard him as too strong & skilled to allow him to go around hitting people. The three punches he's been on the receiving end of he's shook off like they were nothing anyway. There's probably not many situations Junior is going to be allowed to punch anyone in. Maybe in a life & death situation saving people from a villain or maybe against one of the characters who's seen as very tough also, but unfortunately we are probably always likely to see a lot of these restriction issues where Junior is concerned.

[@ececlips9155]

Well said. I'd say Lucas Johnson (proven fighter, won a 2v1 off-screen) and Al Chapman are the other two biggest examples.

[@NoirFan84]

@ececlips9155 As you saw in my comment yesterday mate, I stated how this scene would play out. I really don't know what people expected coming in. Junior wouldn't hit David because he saw himself as out of David's league so why people would think he was ever going to hit Peter I don't know. Besides, what would seeing him drop Peter prove? Nobody's going to rate him for doing that, people would probably hate on him more because the only feat he's got outside of dropping Rufus is dropping Peter. Does nothing to affect his hardman rating either way.

[@babbeyrosso4903]

If that's the case, then we probably should accept he won't be allowed to be a hardman. Also, does Junior have a boxing background? Most soap hardmen have a fighting background to a degree, Junior wasn't professional like his father if he was so I'm not sure that's a good enough reason from the writers plus the people have all hit Junior boxer or not he should be allowed to defend himself.

[@KKB226]

Great points made 💯. What’s your current top 5 EE hardman list?

[@NoirFan84]

@KKB226 1) Ravi 2) Jack 3) George 4) Martin 5) Junior That's based a lot on what they've proved so far mate but I reckon Junior could move anything up to 2nd if they give him the feats.

[@H.K.5]

If I was the lead writer in this show, I would’ve had Junior slap Lauren back. Peter rushes at Junior to avenge her and Junior knocks him down with a single punch.

[@ececlips9155]

Junior looked as though he was going to retaliate at Lauren that's why I think Peter stepped in. He's pathetic, he got dragged around the room and then acted like he could do something.

[@H.K.5]

@ececlips9155 I actually didn’t notice that, no wonder Peter rushed at him so suddenly.

[@Uksoapfan]

@@H.K.5 One time in about 1985 or 1986, Pauline slapped Arthur and he slapped her back. Different times though, no woke feminism to make Arthur look like Public Enemy No 1 if he did that to Pauline in 2025.

[@jaredporikos2197]

@@Uksoapfan boo hoo

[@Uksoapfan]

@@jaredporikos2197 And your problem is matey?

[@dannyohare3645]

Peter: Lauren that’s not how you hit the bad guy. This is! (Punch)

[@spencerreid2086]

Junior is just like his dad tbh you all thought he was gonna be a badass hardman based on his backstory but in reality he's anything but that.

[@ollye4513]

Both let down and Harry as well all mouth no action.

[@ececlips9155]

​@ollye4513 Harry isn't a letdown, I knew he was going to be a Joey Branning/Tyler Moon type of character. Just muscle and nothing to back it up. Junior literally dropped Rufus and defeated his gang with his dad. George got hit but Junior didn't, not even a scratch. Read NoirFan84's comments. He's too OP to fight other major characters so in time he'll probably just neg NPCs whilst outnumbered and that in itself (on-screen) is enough to rank him at the top.

[@sambrown2322]

Junior is nothing but a pound shop Will Smith 😂😂😂

[@East-Ender-Oaks]

If characters like Ian, Peter and David can land hits on Junior imagine what the likes of Martin, Jack and Ravi can do 😂 mans been a let down that no one really wants to talk about regardless of what the writers do his been a let down like it or not.

[@ececlips9155]

People are talking, even fans like me. He's been restricted.

[@LiamTate-b1v]

Even old Phil would put junior on his back

[@H.K.5]

@East-Ender-Oaks Well Junior never got sent flying like Ravi did when he got punched by Nish.

[@ececlips9155]

​@@H.K.5 To be fair, Nish in his prime was actually fairly decent.

[@H.K.5]

@ececlips9155 I’m not sure if prime Nish could’ve taken Peter tbh

[@Noah.2110]

He’s gonna end up being one of the punching bags in Phil’s gym

[@lefez9015]

How can Peter call Junior a predator but then also say that his mum said "He was a thing to do"? Makes no sense.

[@ececlips9155]

The producers and writers are pathetic, I have no expectation.

[@cfexplorations9583]

I think it's time to accept Junior isn't as hard as we thought he was, don't get me wrong his first feat against Rufus and his gang shows he can handle himself but he's now been punched by weasels like Ian and David and couldn't even overpower Peter. Like I said he can handle himself but as of right now he's certainly no elite and definitely would get battered by Ravi based on these performances so far.

[@ececlips9155]

He is a trained fighter. The writers are just messing up.

[@cfexplorations9583]

@ececlips9155 It's all well and good him having a backstory like 90 percent of EE characters do, we need to see it on -screen because getting punched by Ian, Peter and David and not doing anything back is absolutely ridiculous.

[@ececlips9155]

​@@cfexplorations9583Not doing anything back? He's been stopped all three times by his dad and people around him?

[@cfexplorations9583]

​@ececlips9155 Excuses mate, if this was Ravi who'd been punched by even one of David, Ian or Peter he'd be getting tore apart. And Junior had more than enough time to give Peter a smack.

[@tt99football56]

I think it might just be he knows he could floor them all, but doesn't want it to come to that. Maybe he hit someone in the past & it ended badly who knows.

[@salihreyhan3170]

Good on you Lauren and pater

[@Hate_JJYT]

Junior ain’t no Hardman there’s no excuse for whatever just happened 😂

[@ececlips9155]

He is a hardman, he's being restricted like how most of the male characters are these days. Most of the confrontations last year were all involving females.

[@Hate_JJYT]

@ececlips9155 I guess. Junior has been on the show for months now. He has thrown one punch and has got slapped about 5 times.

[@Hate_JJYT]

@ececlips9155 You’re not wrong about the restrictions Tbf.

[@ececlips9155]

​@Hate_JJYT 3 times. I know it's no better but let's not exaggerate. It's restriction, plain and simple. The same thing is happening to everyone that isn't Jack or any of the women at the moment.

[@Hate_JJYT]

@ I think it was David, Ian, Lauren that slapped him here & Peter. Of course Junior is redeemable but he’s not impressing so far fr.

[@Mohammed27204]

Bruh come on now. Why treating junior like a punch bag

[@24s..]

2:15 2:21 PETER VS JUNIOR

[@TomHicks03]

I love Peter don’t get me wrong but wtf was that punch? You know it’s bad when the better punch was Ian’s.

[@ececlips9155]

I don't know if they were bad or if Junior is just durable as hell because as soon as they hit him, he turns the tables and they get manhandled.

[@SoapBoss101]

@ececlips9155love that fact that u can turn a L and somehow make it a win😂

[@ececlips9155]

​@SoapBoss101 It's not a win or an L, throwing one punch doesn't mean anything unless someone ks out for the count. Your mate literally said Ravi lost to Nish just because he got punched when we know Ravi would slam Nish.

[@homebell4866]

Ian did boxing when he was younger and Junior obviously has been an Amateur And to be honest it would be better if Junior dodged the punch And doesn't actually get hit but we all know that the BBC is a touch racist 😮

[@lionel_mj5696]

​@@homebell4866vincent beat phil that's not racist ravi beat jack that's not racist lol

[@MizanurKhair]

I want Jay and Lauren to be together forever and get married.

[@dunkagamingTV1226]

Plz Stop

[@JamesTennant-h5v]

​@dunkagamingTV1226 he won't.

[@hayleyb988]

Lauren says to Junior your the reason i been crashed and George bring his son Junior at the back.

[@ollye4513]

Big disappointment. Come on writers let Junior punch someone. Harry as well thought he's a hardman just all mouth. Bring Sean back or Grant Mitchell. Be good if Joey Branning come back that be even better.

[@Leewilkins-qi3jl]

Lauren Branning Temper Tantrum

[@harleypierce-v6v]

Good slap by lauren but wtf was peter trying to do? 😂 Junior would squash him

[@jaylee8914]

Nah Junior is getting bullied by this point 😂

[@lefez9015]

Junior is hella strong.

[@H.K.5]

Peter isn’t a small guy either and Junior sent him flying.

[@LiamTate-b1v]

​@@H.K.5he is small

[@H.K.5]

@@LiamTate-b1v He’s like 6’1 and around 14 stone, how is that small?

[@CharlesSimmons179]

Ts annoying me let the man fight back

[@ececlips9155]

This is the third time. It's so annoying.

[@DylanBeale]

Junior 😂

[@Elipelip-mq9yf]

The writers are doing Junior dirty big time

[@ececlips9155]

It's annoying. He's fought back three times and then the fight gets stopped. It's annoying.

[@ollye4513]

I know big let down. I want to see Ravi vs Junior that be good fight

[@lukethomasdillon3762]

So far Junior is coming across about the same level as Max Branning in terms of toughness. He’s more of a womaniser character

[@ececlips9155]

I understand how you see it that way but you're wrong. Junior is a trained fighter. Max was just someone who could fight decently on the odd occasion.

[@H.K.5]

@@lukethomasdillon3762 That punch from Peter would’ve folded Max 😂 He couldn’t take a body shot to save his life.

[@TheDodoClubb]

@@H.K.5Jay winded Max with a boxing glove in 2011 at the age of 17 lol

[@H.K.5]

@@TheDodoClubb 17 year old Jay would batter current Jay lol. He peaked early.

[@TheDodoClubb]

@ he really did I remember people saying back then he’d mould into a Grant-like character with time lol

[@lionel_mj5696]

Juniors basically won 2 fights but they get broken up quickly ffs junior got a chin tbf he tanks punches but if is ravi landing a punch it would knock him out unconsious icl

[@harleypierce-v6v]

I think junior can take Ravi since hes a boxer and bigger than ravi. I wouldnt mind seeing them two hunks fight tho ❤

[@lionel_mj5696]

@@harleypierce-v6v ravi can box to i mean what ravi did to jack lol ravi shown his true skills

[@ThePrblmKd91Xx]

@@harleypierce-v6vyou literally just said Junior could take Peter, and now you’re trying to claim he’d have Ravi too? You clearly don’t have a clue what you’re talking about 🤫😂🤣🤦🏽

[@harleypierce-v6v]

@@ThePrblmKd91Xx Jesus calm down

[@harleypierce-v6v]

@@lionel_mj5696 True

[@abbieroseholden4174]

Junior is a creep

[@samanthab1923]

Lauren is such a Fish Wife. Total downer & never shuts up. They’ve made Peter into Ian Jr.

[@CharlesSimmons179]

Peter has no self respect, she literally had a one night stand with multiple men before they were last together, why give her another chance. She dated his brother

[@samanthab1923]

@ He really doesn’t. She is so unlikeable. Slept with Zack & I think she almost went with Junior once.

[@ollye4513]

I prefer Peter 2013 to 2015 he was hardman.

[@Uksoapfan]

Quite a pathetic punch from Peter.

[@TheDodoClubb]

Especially compared to his last punch in 2013 which was a proper hardman punch

[@Uksoapfan]

@@TheDodoClubb Also Peter is quite a big bloke nowadays, he is almost as tall as George, and a lot younger.

[@TheDodoClubb]

@@Uksoapfan the last Peter was George’s height and was a wimp lol good to see him have a bit of a feat and some courage

[@kaykay_2]

How was Cindy and Junior the reason Lauren got crushed?

[@lefez9015]

Because the fire (?) exit they needed to get out was blocked because Cindy and Junior were having their DISGUSTING fling.

[@MrCeiranevo]

Didn't witnes a punch from Peter

[@rorymckernan8502]

So Peter can punch Junior, but backed down from Ben. And i think Junior, could possibly take Ben

[@ececlips9155]

Junior is receiving the treatment Sean did when he returned.

[@H.K.5]

This Peter is way braver than the older ones, I’ll give him that.

[@lionel_mj5696]

​@@H.K.5I didn't see the punch😂

[@ThePrblmKd91Xx]

Junior couldn’t take Ben, he’s an absolute wet wipe.

[@H.K.5]

@@ThePrblmKd91Xx Yes he could 😂

[@ececlips9155]

Junior is shown to be durable, yet another punch he has tanked before fighting back, before getting stopped, again. NoirFan made a good point in how they've nerfed Junior so badly because on paper he should honestly be the best fighter in the show. He's well-built, a few inches shorter than George and has more combat expirence than everyone bar Phil, Grant and George. As soon as he fights back, why stop it? He was about to slaughter Peter like he was Ian, it's exactly the same choreography.

[@CharlesSimmons179]

Only character who'd have a chance with Junior is Ravi but they've not even interacted. I think they'd be friends to be honest though and then have a fight if he finds out about the dealing to his sister

[@ececlips9155]

@CharlesSimmons179 Agreed, Ravi should be the only one to have a chance. To the other point you made, both are at the lowest points in their lifes, both have lost their dads in different ways. Would be a great friendship IMO.

[@footballfanatic3481]

The counter for that durability argument is if you look at the characters that have hit Junior. David Wicks, Ian, and Peter Beale. I don't. It's that difficult to take punches from these guys and take it on the chin (literally) if Junior is punched by a legit hardman of the show such as Martin, Jack and Ravi heck even George his dad and takes the punches the same then I'd say that's an impressive durability feat but taking punches from 3 guys who arn't hardmen ain't really anything to go by well at least for me anyways.

[@ececlips9155]

@footballfanatic3481 I agree, completely. 100%. It's still a decent showing that he can take damage from cheapshots (David and Ian) and get the better of his opponent. I think we we're robbed of Martin Vs. Junior.

[@cfexplorations9583]

​@CharlesSimmons179 Ravi would batter Junior based on what we've seen so far.

[@guyanesedude18]

To be fair the crush was a failed storyline, lauren didn't get killed off! Fail