Review of the week: Joe’s back! Will’s dead! And Ruby’s tugging our heartstrings
No one has had a very happy Christmas in Emmerdale!
This week’s Emmerdale review is sadly lacking in festive cheer! Because it really wasn’t a merry Christmas for anyone in the village. There was death, a lot of secrets, quite a bit of shouting, and generally a lot of drama!
Which is just the way we like it.
Here’s what we thought of the Christmas action in our Emmerdale review.
Joe Tate’s back!
The big news this Christmas in Emmerdale was the return of Joe Tate! YAY! It was revealed that Joe was the person pulling the strings, as Will tried to escape Peter’s plan. We were delighted by the news as it always felt like there was some unfinished business when it came to Joe.
And he’s certainly come back with some secrets. He’s clearly not well and we’re desperate to know what that’s all about.
We want to know why he’s back, obviously. And why he’s turned his revenge plot from Charity to Kim (also, what’s with all these younger men harbouring hatred for Kim for YEARS? Bit odd, isn’t it?)
We’ve got a lot of questions and we know we’re going to enjoy finding out the answers.
Emmerdale review: Will’s dead (sob!)
And as if that wasn’t enough drama up at Home Farm, shortly after Will and Kim had renewed their vows, and Joe had strolled back in, Will was struck down by a heart attack.
He was struggling with chest pain, but Kim wasn’t sure he was being genuine. And in a brilliant bit of cyclical storytelling, she powdered her nose while watcihng him on the floor – just as she did with Frank.
BUT, Joe’s arrival made Kim realise Will was being truthful and snapped her into action. She desperately tried to save her husband’s life, while they waited for the paramedics, but there was nothing they – or the professionals – could do. It was a really clever callback to Kim’s evil takedown of Frank, except this time Kim was devastated. It felt like karma for her actions all those years ago.
We’re going to miss Will but we have a feeling his death is just the beginning of some even bigger drama – and it’s not looking good for Kim.
We’re rooting for Ruby
Emmerdale’s had some pretty sinister baddies over the years (not you, Jade), but we reckon Anthony is the most evil of all.
Poor Ruby is clearly terrified of her father. Her reaction to being left alone with him on Christmas Day was shocking and we can see why.
He’s so charming to everyone else, while making sly, pointed comments to Ruby as she quivers in fright, that it makes us shudder.
We were delighted when Cain interrupted Anthony tormenting Ruby mentally, and when he realised how scared poor Ruby was. We also loved him confiding in Ruby about his own abuse at the hands of Shadrach.
This awful storyline isn’t easy to watch, but it’s being handled brilliantly and we’re looking forward to seeing how it plays out. We’re totally invested in Ruby’s torment now. Beth Cordingly, who plays Ruby, is so clever in showing us every side of her character, even when Ruby’s friends and family can’t see it. We’re all in with this one.
April’s missing in our Emmerdale review
It’s early days in April’s story, but so far, this drama doesn’t have us gripped. At the moment, everyone just seems to be doing a lot of shouting and finger pointing.
No one – not even the police – seems to be thinking clearly or rationally about where April could have gone, or why. It’s infuriating and frustrating. DS Foy would have found April by now, that’s all we’re saying.
Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
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