Just as love seemed to be blossoming for Jo Langham and Tane Samuels, her past storms back into town – and this time it could destroy everything. In a jaw-dropping turn of events, musician-turned-newcomer Eddie Shepherd has rolled into Summer Bay, and his arrival threatens to up-end Jo’s secret relationship with Tane and trigger explosive family fallout.

Jo and Tane’s romance has only just begun. After months of emotional hesitation, the pair finally decided to give things a go – quietly, away from prying eyes and Jo’s protective father David Langham, who’s still reeling after his wife’s death. Tane even chose honesty, revealing his police record and last year’s baby drama to Jo in a bid for transparency. But their fragile peace is about to shatter.

Eddie walks in with a guitar and a surprise: he’s Jo’s ex-boyfriend. Suddenly, the song he’s signed to record with Remi’s record label appears eerily inspired by Jo’s struggles. Moments later, he casually asks David about Jo’s current love life. David, ever the doting father, invites Eddie around for dinner – unaware that this move may trigger a storm.

It gets worse: Jo receives a call from Tane on the very night she’s supposed to have their date – only to cancel it at the last minute, just as Eddie shows up at her place. Tane spots Jo and Eddie walking together on the beach, locked in conversation. Lacey watches from the surf club stairs, piece by piece realising the past is crashing into Jo’s present.

The tension between loyalty and love is reaching breaking point. Jo, still grieving her mother and loyal to her father, is now caught between the safe, new love she has in Tane and the familiar pull of her past with Eddie. Tane, braced for the walls to close in, asks her the one question he dreads: “So, where does that leave us?”

Family dynamics are spiralling out of control too. David sees Eddie as a comforting figure for Jo – but he has no clue he’s also the one threatening the relationship. Lacey, too, has questions: has Jo really moved on? Or is she just trying? With Eddie around for at least a month, the countdown to emotional disaster is on.

As screenings approach the season finale, it’s clear the stakes have never been higher: Will Jo stay loyal to Tane and her father’s hopes, or will she rediscover a past flame under the guise of a soundtrack? Can love survive in Summer Bay when the music plays a different tune?

One thing is certain: Jo’s secret hasn’t just returned – it’s about to explode.