Max Branning

"It ain't about the money Lauren! It ain't ever about the money...... it's about revenge!"

- Max reveals his revenge plan to his brother Jack and daughters Lauren and Abi

Max Branning is a fictional character and recurring protagonist of the British soap opera EastEnders.

He first appeared as a central character in 2006 and went on to serve as a major protagonist from 2007-2013 before becoming an anti-hero in between 2014-2015, a minor character in 2016, and the secondary antagonist in 2017 until redeeming himself in 2018.

History
any of Max's storylines focus on his interactive relationships, including his marriages to Tanya Branning, Kirsty Branning and recently Rainie Branning, as well as his extramarital affairs with Lucy Beale, Emma Summerhayes, Carmel Kazemi, Stacey Slater and Fi Browning. Max has also embarked on feuds with his brothers, Jack Branning and Derek Branning, as well as local residents Harry Gold, Janine Butcher, Phil Mitchell, Jay Brown, Charlie Cotton and Ian Beale.

In 2008, Max became central to a whodunit storyline that saw him run over by a mystery assailant who was eventually revealed to be his daughter Lauren Branning. He has also had to come to terms with the death of his son Bradley Branning, being framed for attempted murder by Carl White and Emma's death by conning Ben Mitchell into signing over the garage. In October 2015, Max was wrongly convicted for Lucy's murder. Since his release from prison, Max has been taking revenge on all his neighbours. This has resulted in the Carter family losing the freehold of the Queen Vic, the arrest of Vincent Hubbard, forcing Jane Beale to leave after starting a fire that left her critically injured, the death of Steven Beale - whom Max has been blackmailing in the midst of his vengeful plot - and conspiring with Fi's father James Willmott-Brown to subjugate Albert Square under his nefarious control.

Quotes
"I'm going to drag you all down, one by one."

- Max threatening Jane after she uncovers his vendetta against her family.

"You never found her in here, NOW GET OUT!!"

- Max attacks Steven during the former's attempt to kill Jane, resulting in the latter's death.

"That's why there all on my list, Ian top of my list, Phil, Jane, you what's worse, you know whats worse is YOU and YOU and YOU!"

- Max revealing the people who betrayed him.

"That's why I've done it Lauren. That's exactly why I've done, and that's exactly why everyone's got to pay! EVERYONE I KNOW HAS GOTTA PAY!!! (Lauren: I don't ever want to see you again). It's about me Lauren. CAUSE I AM THE WRONG ONE!!"

- Max's breakdown as he angrily justifies his vendetta to Lauren, who responds by disowning her dad.

"Get that Beale brat that thing in your stomach, and GET OUT OF HERE! GO!!!"

- Max shouting at Abi after insulting her for conspiring with the Beale family against him.

List Of Victims

 * Jack Branning — Max framed an assault on his brother,Jack to get his stepson, Matthew taken off him.
 * Carmel Kazemi — Max was in a relationship with her,the only reason to find articles to help him destroy the Square.
 * Vincent Hubbard — Max put drugs in his car which resulted in his arrest.
 * Steven Beale — Blackmailed him to commit arson and shoved him into the edge of a table which resulted in his death
 * Jane Beale — Left her to perish in a restaurant fire but she managed to survive, he later forced her to leave the square
 * Carter Family — Conned them out the Queen Vic.
 * Ian Beale — Attempted to kill him by strangling him with Christmas lights but was stopped by his daughter, Lauren.

Trivia

 * Max Branning was originally announced as the main antagonist for 2017 since his "revenge plot" served as the central storyline of the year. Though this initially appeared to be the case over the course of the events, the plan was actually depicted to hide the show's true main villain.