Emmerdale viewers will celebrate next week when Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) are finally reunited after years apart. The long-awaited moment between the former couple comes with a devastating twist that will leave fans heartbroken despite getting what they've been demanding.
Robert returned to the village in May after serving six years behind bars, with fans pleading for the duo to reconcile ever since. He unsuccessfully tried to prevent Aaron's marriage to John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth), his half-brother, and was forced to watch his former partner wed the man he sees as a threat.
The animosity between Robert and John escalated dramatically when Robert assaulted the healthcare worker with a spanner, resulting in John's hospitalisation. Robert pledged to cease his campaign against John, though the sentiment isn't reciprocated.
Victoria's ultimatum triggers breakdown
The tension escalates when John successfully manipulates Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins) against Robert by embellishing an incident involving her son Harry Sugden. When Victoria cautions Robert that he's facing his final opportunity, he suffers a complete emotional collapse.
Ryan Hawley revealed Robert's vulnerable state: "Victoria threatens him because he's not changed. He's not doing anything that she's been telling him to do. She says he's out on his own. Robert has a complete breakdown and smashes everything in his room and then Aaron comes in and stops him."
Following his emotional collapse in his former spouse's embrace, Robert ultimately acknowledges it's time to depart the village, confessing his return was an error. Nevertheless, Aaron disputes this and discloses he has been battling his genuine emotions ever since Robert's return.
The reunion fans wanted
Aaron's intervention during Robert's breakdown leads to their emotional reunion and the former couple becoming intimate. Despite the reconciliation that both Robert and Emmerdale viewers have been yearning for, Ryan explained that his character understands it isn't something lasting.
He said: "It's kind of a take it as it is just in this moment, kind of thing. They even say to each other that they don't want to think about any of that now because it's complicated. But this leads into the next phase of the story. They take it for what it is."
The devastating twist
Despite the romantic reunion fans hoped for, they'll be devastated to discover Aaron intends to escape the village with John. Robert's reaction to losing Aaron again will be crushing, given his motivation for returning.
Ryan admitted: "He'll be devastated. Robert came back to the village for Aaron in truth. Aaron was his reason to come back and to exist. He'll be worried about Aaron's safety but at the same time, I think at this point he's starting to doubt whether or not he's right about John. John's gaslighting and manipulation has gotten through to him because every one is saying the same things to Robert, that he's wrong about John and he's just jealous."
Murder investigation pressure
Meanwhile, John becomes anxious as police inform Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) that Nate's murder investigation has been reopened due to a discrepancy with Owen Michaels' suicide note. Growing increasingly anxious that the murder investigation will incriminate him, John makes a chilling phone call.
The storyline continues to explore John's manipulation tactics, with his gaslighting affecting even Robert's certainty about his suspicions. Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm.
Sources used: "Express", "leicestermercury.co.uk", "dailystar.co.uk" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
