Despite being at d.e.a.t.h.’s door for the best part of a year, Nish Panesar is once again back in EastEnders for another obsessive stab at ruining Suki’s (Balvinder Sopal) relationship with Eve Unwin (Heather Peace).
But it’s now becoming less of an affectionate panto ‘boo, hiss!’ and more of a ‘really? Again!?’
Nish’s storyline crescendo appeared to be unfolding last year, when he went full on violent against his ex and was only stopped in his tracks with a well placed wine bottle wielded by Denise Fox (Diane Parish).
As the leading suspect for the Christmas Day d.e.a.t.h, it was a curveball to then see Nish survive and Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) k.i.l.l.e.d in his place.
It was a welcome twist to keep us on our toes and I was fine with another chapter to Nish – after all, I was very much keen for a villain of that type to see justice behind bars rather than a grisly m.u.r.d.e.r that could villainise the victims of his abuse.
However, a year on, he is still hanging on and it’s becoming a little exhausting.
Terminally ill, Nish has continuously veered between wanting to make amends and wanting to pretty much k.i.l.l his enemies, including his own kids at times.
The Panesars are a switched on bunch and full-on witnessed him attacking Suki, so it has been a little bit of a stretch to see characters like Avani, Nugget and even Ravi – who has seen the absolute worst of the k.i.l.l.e.r – have the wool pulled over their eyes.
Navin Chowdhry, a TV stalwart, plays Nish brilliantly, both at times of subtle, gaslighting menace and also outright explosive, violent rage so I understand the temptation to keep him around.
But this vendetta has been milked dry now, so it’s a little disappointing to see an elaborate and sudden prison escape from a man on his last legs, who has inexplicably managed to persuade a doctor to go along with his plans.
He’s out once more to savage Suki and Eve’s wedding plans, having only just recently sacrificed himself for Suki, who made it fairly clear she wouldn’t leave her soulmate for him.
Still, he’s had one of his characteristic changes of heart and now wants a last stand a la many a soap villain.
Development in Suki and Eve’s relationship has stopped and started a lot, often overshadowed by both the Six aftermath and the Nish situation, but they are finally in a place where fans of the partnership, affectionately known as SukEve, can enjoy them as a pairing.
One of the main criticisms of the otherwise brilliant Six storyline is having men at the centre of what was sold as an empowering women plotline.
R.a.p.i.s.t Dean and k.i.l.l.e.r Nish have been able to use the secret to their advantage and as a means to further abuse women.
And, rather than say Eve or Kat get in on the secret, it was uncovered by a range of men instead, including Jack, Phil and Johnny.
So for Nish to now be the central focus of attention in a lesbian wedding storyline is a misfire.
Not just because the revenge thing has been done (seriously, if he is as competent a villain as we think, surely he’d have just done it by now!?), but because EastEnders has an opportunity to have soap’s first successful, drama-free lesbian wedding, which is long overdue.
Past attempts of women marrying each other have ended in jiltings or deaths, with Sophie and Sian falling apart last minute in Corrie, years before Rana was k.i.l.l.e.d by a collapsing factory on her big day.
It would have been refreshing to see a wedding spotlight the couple themselves, focusing on their preparations and ceremony for what they are, two women navigating what has been a complex but loving journey and then finding themselves and their love for one another.
Fans would certainly have thanked them for it, as would the much-needed representation.
But we have a male abuser and killer on the run and no doubt set to loom in the shadows for a while as he takes ages to carry out revenge once again.
I have loved Nish as a character and, behind the scenes it’s clear Navin is beloved by everyone.
But sometimes it’s more sensible to know when a tenure has reached its peak, allowing it to go out on a high.
Of course, it’s early days and the wedding could play out any which way with the focus shifting back to where it belongs.
But right now, initial reactions to seeing Nish break out seem to be ones of exasperation rather than excitement.
And I get it.
