Summer Bay is pushed to breaking point in Home and Away episode 8652, Part 2, as buried tensions surface and several residents find themselves forced

to confront truths they’ve been desperately avoiding. With emotions running high and loyalties tested, Thursday’s episode proves that no one escapes unscathed

when secrets refuse to stay hidden. The hour picks up with Leah spiralling after recent events leave her questioning everything she thought she knew.

While she puts on a brave face in public, it’s clear her world is quietly collapsing. Those closest to her begin to notice the cracks—especially Justin, who senses that Leah is holding something back. His attempts to reach her only seem to push her further away, creating a painful emotional distance that neither knows how to bridge.

Meanwhile, Levi and Mackenzie continue to insert themselves into a situation that doesn’t fully belong to them—and the fallout is immediate. What starts as concern quickly turns into confrontation, as their well-meaning interference sparks resentment. Summer Bay has seen this before: good intentions paving the road to heartbreak. Mackenzie, in particular, begins to question whether helping others has become a way of avoiding her own unresolved pain.

Elsewhere, Tane and Jo are desperate for space—but the Bay won’t let them have it. Their relationship, already under pressure, is pushed to the edge when outside opinions and lingering doubts threaten their fragile peace. Tane is torn between protecting his relationship and confronting uncomfortable truths about what he really wants. Jo, sensing his hesitation, begins to wonder whether love alone is enough to keep them together.

Back at the heart of the community, tension simmers as long-standing friendships are quietly tested. A seemingly harmless conversation takes a sharp turn, leaving one resident blindsided by a revelation they weren’t prepared to hear. Trust—once freely given—now hangs by a thread, and the ripple effects are felt across the Bay.

What makes Part 2 particularly powerful is its emotional restraint. Instead of explosive drama, the episode leans into quiet devastation: the pauses, the unsaid words, the looks that reveal far more than dialogue ever could. It’s in these moments that Home and Away reminds viewers why it continues to resonate—because real heartbreak doesn’t always scream. Sometimes, it whispers.

As the episode draws to a close, one character is left standing at a crossroads, forced to make a decision that could permanently alter their future in Summer Bay. The choice is left hanging, unresolved—but the weight of it lingers long after the screen fades to black.

With relationships under strain and truths inching closer to the surface, Episode 8652 Part 2 sets the stage for an emotionally charged finale. One thing is certain: Summer Bay is heading into dangerous territory—and not everyone will come out the same.