In the latest episodes of Emmerdale, the atmosphere in the Dales village becomes suffocating as John Sugden – the once-admired doctor – gradually reveals his ruthless nature.

After months of manipulation and division, he is now holding Mackenzie Boyd hostage in a secret bunker.

From there, a series of events quickly leads John to face the risk of being exposed to the light.

While John tries to distract by inviting Aaron to help him renovate the cabin, he still sneaks into Mack’s cell.

There, he reassures the prisoner that “the end is near” – a threat that is both cold and terrifying. Mack refuses to give in, shouting straight at him: “Hypocrite! Murderer!” During the struggle, Mack accidentally drops a small object on the floor. This seemingly harmless detail could become the key to his daring escape plan later.

On the outside, Mack’s sister Moira is increasingly suspicious of her brother’s mysterious disappearance. With her sharp intuition, she does not believe the superficial explanation that Mack “ran away on his own accord”. Every probing look, every persistent question from Moira makes John sweat. If she follows the trail, John will find it difficult to hide the truth for much longer.

Viewers clearly feel the tension surrounding John from many sides. On one side is Moira with her uncompromising vigilance, on the other side is Mack desperately trying to find a way to escape. Emmerdale has cleverly turned John – who seems to have the upper hand – into a hunted animal, trembling at the risk of all his crimes collapsing at any moment.