EastEnders spoilers follow for Tuesday's (October 13) episode, which can now be streamed on BBC iPlayer. The episode in question will air at 7:30pm.
Ryder Hawkins (Felix Uff) was brutally attacked as a result of villainous dad Ned (Jamie Bamber), who took drastic and sadistic action to prevent his son from coming out.
Ned's cruel plan
The dynamic between the father and son duo isn't one built on respect and that's all down to Ned, who belittles and undermines well-meaning and good-hearted Ryder at every opportunity.
Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) was quick to pick up on such a thing after the Hawkins' moved in with her, and Ryder was aware that he'd found a true friend in his aunty Nic, which led him to come out to her.
With a smile and a hug, Nicola's reaction was nothing short of perfect and, offering advice to her nephew, she urged him to speak to his mum Gemma (Patricia Potter), certain that she would be supportive.
Ryder, however, was adamant that dad Ned could never know. But after Nicola suggested he call the guy he's been texting, Ryder was spotted by Ned kissing the man in the Square.
Mark's blackmail
Angered, the patriarch called his son's old football coach Matty, who subsequently called over to No.1 and offered Ryder a job, with Ned claiming that he's in danger of straying onto the 'wrong' path – and he hopes getting back into sport will prevent such a thing.
But with Nicola's words of advice giving him a newfound confidence, Ryder stood up to Ned earlier this week, which left him seething.
What's more, Ryder decided it was time to come out to his mum and thus asked her for a chat later that evening, which Ned overheard.
In a disturbing twist, the bully devised a plan and confronted Mark Fowler Jr (Stephen Aaron-Sipple). Revealing that he knows about his affair with Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), Ned used the discovery as leverage in a bid to get the former gangster to do a 'favour' for him.
Attack and aftermath
The favour in question? Attacking Ryder to give him a scare. Mark was horrified and refused but, with Lauren adamant that their secret affair can never be revealed, he decided to do as Ned demanded.
Ryder, meanwhile, headed out for the night and bumped into an emotional Josh Goodwin (Joshua Vaughn), who opened up about the death of Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan). Ned witnessed the interaction between the two boys and texted the location to Mark, who subsequently arrived and attacked Ryder outside The Prince Albert.
Ryder fought back at first so Mark used more force, leaving the newcomer unconscious on the road. Harry (Elijah Holloway) subsequently found him and brought him back to No.1, where Gemma and Rose (Marian McLoughlin) were horrified by what had happened.
Ryder broke down in tears, revealing what he was attacked at the Albert, with Ned allowing him to believe that the location was the reason for the assault, insinuating it was a random homophobic attack. In sinister scenes, he put his arm around Ryder, telling him that he's got him.
Will the truth come out? Will Ned's role in Ryder's attack be exposed? And will this development make Ryder reconsider opening up to his mum?
