Belle finally snapped in tonight’s episode of Emmerdale, after a very tense stand-off between her and abusive husband, Tom.
Tom had locked Belle in Wishing Well Cottage and beaten her, leaving her hurt and scared. Despite her fear, Belle managed to get Sam’s shotgun and use it to force Tom to let her out.
She ran away and hid in a derelict building, but Tom was on her trail and he soon found her. In scenes that seemed straight out of a horror film, he climbed the stairs, dragging an axe behind him, then smashed his way into the room.
Confrontation!
Tom got the gun from Belle and for a moment it looked like he’d won. But as he was admiring his own reflection in a mirror, everything changed. “It’s sad that we’re not going to live happily ever after,” he said. And then he collapsed on to the mattress!
Belle had whacked him in the back with the axe!
It looks very much like Tom’s a goner but we’re really hoping he pulls through. Here’s why we hope the manipulative abuser survives:
It’s too easy for Tom to die in Emmerdale
Remember when Lydia’s rapist, Craig, died? It was too easy, right? It felt like he’d escaped rather than having to face the reality of what he’d done. He’d essentially got away with it. It was unsatisfactory and feels a bit unfinished even a year on. We definitely don’t want to see the same thing happen with Belle and Tom’s story.
Tom needs to face justice in Emmerdale- he can’t die
Tom has done so many bad things and broken so many laws, that we want to see him face justice – properly. We want to see him answer for the things he’s put Belle through. And we want Jimmy and Amelia, and anyone else who’s suggested Belle could be making all this up, to listen.
![Alone at the Dingle’s Belle King [EDEN TAYLOR-DRAPER] waits for Amelia Spencer [DAISY CAMPBELL] but is horror-struck when Tom lets himself in, blocks her exit and proceeds to lock the doors...](https://cdn.emmerdale-insider.com/uploads/2024/09/26_09_emm_tom_belle_01-1.jpg)
Belle’s not to blame
Yes, hitting someone in the back with an axe isn’t great. But Belle was pushed to her absolute limit. She was terrified for her own life and she did what she had to do.
But the law is the law, and if Tom dies, she’ll have to face justice herself. Plus, of course, Belle’s killed someone before, albeit accidentally. She’d definitely be hauled off by the police if Tom dies – but that just seems so very unfair!
Belle can’t cope with a trial
Belle has an inner strength – we saw that tonight – but she has been through so much. She is frail and she’s battered – physically and emotionally – and we don’t want to see her have to face more ‘abuse’ in the witness stand.
![Alone at the Dingle’s Belle King [EDEN TAYLOR-DRAPER] waits for Amelia Spencer [DAISY CAMPBELL] but is horror-struck when Tom lets himself in, blocks her exit and proceeds to lock the doors...](https://cdn.emmerdale-insider.com/uploads/2024/09/26_09_emm_tom_belle_02-1.jpg)
Belle really doesn’t deserve to go to prison
Poor Belle has been through enough torment this last year. AND she’s been to prison before. We want to see her rebuild her life and put this awful experience behind her. Sending her to jail just prolongs the agony.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
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