Callum and Johnny's Affair: A Missed Opportunity for EastEnders?
If you thought the sparks between Callum Highway and Johnny Carter were going to explode into some TV gold, you’re not alone. But right now, plenty of EastEnders viewers are left wondering why this affair feels more like a soap afterthought than the emotional gut-punch it could have been. When these two shared a passionate kiss back in July 2025, fans expected a complicated web of emotions and fallout. Instead, things sped along like a runaway train, and the deeper layers just got left in the dust.
When the affair hit the fan and Phil Mitchell found out, EastEnders went straight for the big drama: violent confrontations, explosive arguments, and everything happening at a breakneck speed. Sure, that’s classic soap stuff, but the problem? The show never paused to dig into what makes viewers actually care—those difficult feelings and impossible choices behind closed doors.
Callum is still with Ben Mitchell—remember him? Fans haven’t gotten to see Ben’s pain, confusion, or even anger at any real depth. Instead of exploring Ben’s reaction, or what might have driven Callum back towards Johnny, the show has focused on loud scenes and quick reveals. There’s a sense that the writers just want to shock, rather than really put these characters through the emotional wringer.
Critical voices, including TV critics at RadioTimes, have pointed out that EastEnders had a perfect chance to tap into years of rich character history. Ben Mitchell isn’t just any soap partner—his relationship with Callum has been built up over years, filled with complex trust issues, love, mistakes, and forgiveness. Addressing Callum Highway’s betrayal and its fallout from Ben’s perspective could have made for must-watch TV. Instead, Ben’s side of the story feels almost like background noise, while Callum and Johnny’s storyline rushes ahead.
The show could also have used this drama to show Johnny Carter’s real motives. Is he only chasing old feelings, or is he acting out of loneliness? And what about Callum’s internal struggle—torn between his past with Johnny and his commitments to Ben? These are the sorts of questions that make soap affairs more than a simple twist—they help us root for, or against, the characters as we see them wrestle with real emotional stakes.
What Could Make EastEnders' Love Triangle Work?
So what’s the fix? For starters, slowing down the pacing would give this story a fighting chance. Instead of racing from one confrontation to the next, let the characters actually deal with the mess. Show us Ben’s heartbreak—and maybe even his anger or resentment. Let Callum grapple with his choices, and give Johnny a chance to be more than just a plot device. Fans want messy, drawn-out consequences, not just brief explosions of action before things move on.
If EastEnders weaves in the history between these characters, taps back into older storylines, and lets everyone’s emotional responses truly breathe, they could turn this rushed affair into something powerful. That’s what viewers are itching to see: not just drama for drama’s sake, but a love triangle with gut-wrenching consequences, messy loyalties, and a real sense of character growth. Time to give the audience a reason to tune in that goes beyond the next big twist.
