EastEnders fans react to 'missed opportunity' as Oscar Branning debuts
EastEnders fans all said the same thing after newcomer Pierre Moullier made his debut as Oscar Branning.
The 24-year-old actor is the latest star to take on the role of the Walford resident, and fans of the BBC soap opera were quick to flood social media with their opinion on him following an early iPlayer release. The character, who is the son of returning soap legend Max Branning (Jake Wood) and Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner) has not been seen on the London-based serial since 2017, and at that time, he was played by Charlee Hall.
At the time, he had come to visit his dad for Father's Day but upon his introduction, Oscar revealed that he had been spending time in a youth detention centre. Opening up to sister Lauren ( Jacqueline Jossa), he revealed that their mother had kicked him out after he robbed a car with a man that was nicknamed Fat Mike.
Oscar explained that he had given Mike's name to the police in a bid to reduce his own sentence, but it backfired when Mike found out. Knowing Mike was out for revenge, Oscar quickly switched the numbers round on his house and his neighbour's, and next door's property was petrol-bombed.
But despite the dramatic circumstances surrounding Oscar's return, viewers were quick to praise the new actor for his comedic delivery. One viewer wrote on X: "Bloody love a fun, chaotic entrance episode and Oscar Branning ticked all the right boxes. Pierre Moullier was giving Jake Wood meets Rob Kazinsky - so much great energy."
Another said: "The casting for the new Oscar Branning has been brilliant if Eastenders is going in a more comedic direction with the new exec producer am all for it because it's actually funny #EastEnders." One viewer claimed that there was a "missed opportunity" because scriptwriters could have made a joke about the infamous moment Tanya Branning accidentally called Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) by his real name during a live special in 2010.
They joked: "Absolutely loving the new Oscar Branning, but @bbceastenders you missed a great opportunity for him to say Adam instead of Brian! - just like his mum did!" But one user was quick to condemn any fan who would compare Oscar to the departing Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier) and joked that they would be "allergic to fun" if that was the case.
They wrote: "Oscar Branning is gonna be jokes I can't wait for this dude to arrive, people who don't like the look of him or call him the next freddie slater are allergic to fun." Pierre's casting was announced just under a month ago, and at the time, the actor - who has appeared in various theatre productions before - noted just how "surreal" it was to be joining the cast.
He said: "It's pretty surreal to join EastEnders - it keeps hitting me that I'm actually on Albert Square. When I found out I was joining the Brannings, it was so exciting as they are such an iconic family, and I love that there are so many skeletons in the closet. Oscar is so much fun to play, and the audience should be prepared for the unexpected as he's a complex guy!"
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