Karen Taylor let her guard slip in last night’s EastEnders, when she broke down in tears after another blow to the family she would die to protect.
On Thursday night (May 30), the matriarch was devastated in the aftermath of her sons Chatham and Riley being targeted by Dennis Mitchell in a “vicious and cruel” unprovoked attack.
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As poor Karen buckled under the strain, she sobbed – and viewers cried with her.
In a bid to cheer up grieving youngster Bailey, Karen had arranged a picnic in the park for the kids on the previous day.
But things soon turned sour when Denny Mitchell, a wannabe thug like his stepdad Phil, got hit in the face and Bailey claimed she was at fault, even though she was secretly covering for Ollie Carter.
Oh Bailey!
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Embarrassed that he was hit by a girl and egged on by his gangster dad, Dennis talked his mates into getting revenge on Bailey and the Taylor family.
In upsetting scenes, Chatham and Riley ended up in the firing line when Dennis targeted them with water balloons.
While they weren’t really physically hurt, the pair were clearly upset – causing Karen to swear revenge on whoever had hurt them.
After discovering that the water bombing had been posted online, Karen was left distraught and blaming herself for being “a bad mum”.
As Chantelle tried to calm her mum down, Karen cried: “They are trying to be brave. But this is my fault. For treating them like babies.
“If they’d been in a normal school like everyone else, they’d have been able to protect themselves and stop something like this happening. I just don’t know what to do.”
When Chantelle told her mum she was doing everything she could with the boys, Karen raged: “But I’m not, though, am I? I couldn’t protect them from that!”
Thinking about Bailey losing her mum, Karen sobbed: “Who would look out for them, if something happened to me?
“Who would do something like that, just because of who they are? Who would do that to my lovely boys?”
Karen has now discovered it was Dennis, and the Mitchell family is set to be pitted against the Taylor brood once again.
But until then, fans were heartbroken for Karen who just wanted to wrap Chatham and Riley – who have learning difficulties – up “in cotton wool”.
One wrote: “Aww Karen I just wanna give her a hug she’s been through so much.”
Another said: “I feel sorry for Karen.”
A third added: “Actually feel heartbroken for Karen. So didn’t deserve all this.”
My heart breaks for Karen #EastEnders @bbceastenders https://t.co/KKjY6jKAE0
— Allahrakhi (@AllahrakhiDivya) May 30, 2019
Actually feel heart broken for Karen . So didn't deserve all this #EastEnders @bbceastenders pic.twitter.com/srPDQUrCjb
— Callum Richards (@calric1998) May 30, 2019
Aww Karen I just wanna give her a hug she’s been through so much 🥺#eastenders
— tasha louise ▶️🧡 (@eds_afterglow) May 30, 2019
I feel sorry for Karen #eastenders
— lesley watkins (@lesleywatkin121) May 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/Sarah_Tessax/status/1134166813909159936
I think The Taylors could be the best family since The Fowlers. Karen is a modern day Pauline. Bloody brilliant. @loustar76 @DannyWalters_ @_Zack_Morris @clair_norris_ @bbceastenders #EastEnders
— Lee Collins (@LeeCollins24) May 30, 2019
Poor Karen, she shouldn't blame herself! 🙁 #EastEnders
— Simon Ramsay (@SARamsay1) May 30, 2019
“Karen is mum goals,” said one more. “Love how she’s so protective of her kids.”
After the emotional scenes, in which Mitch, Keanu, Chantelle and Keegan rallied around their mum, another fan declared the family “the best family since The Fowlers”.
He went on to say: “Karen is a modern day Pauline. Bloody brilliant.”
Although we’re not sure Pauline would have agreed!
I think The Taylors could be the best family since The Fowlers. Karen is a modern day Pauline. Bloody brilliant. @loustar76 @DannyWalters_ @_Zack_Morris @clair_norris_ @bbceastenders #EastEnders
— Lee Collins (@LeeCollins24) May 30, 2019
Spoilers tell us that Karen will confront Phil and Sharon in an almighty showdown in upcoming scenes.
But with many blaming the Mitchells’ parenting skills for Dennis’ behaviour in the first place, we have a feeling we know whose side viewers will be on!
Do you think Karen is a good mum? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!