In one of the most explosive turns Emmerdale has delivered this year, Robert Sugden is back — and he’s out for justice. With Nate Robinson’s murder still unresolved and Owen Michaels wrongly blamed, Robert’s relentless investigation is about to rip apart the false narrative… but not without consequences.

It all begins with a chilling suspicion: Jon Sugden, Robert’s own half-brother, isn’t just hiding something — he may have orchestrated a full-blown cover-up to conceal his guilt. Viewers already know that Jon is the real killer. He murdered Nate and staged Owen’s suicide, complete with a forged confession letter. But what Robert is about to uncover will not only vindicate Owen — it will drag him into a war he may not survive.

After learning that Jon had secretly visited Owen the day before he died — a detail Jon vehemently denied — Robert knows he’s on the right track. His next move is bold: he confronts Owen’s brother, Steve, and gets a bombshell confirmation. Steve reveals Owen couldn’t have committed the murder — he was with him in Hull the entire day Nate died.

But there’s a catch. Steve refuses to go to the police, afraid of exposing his own criminal activities tied to Owen’s past. Desperate for justice, Robert brings the information to DC Cole, only to be stonewalled once again. Later, Cole returns with a grim update — Steve has officially denied everything. Robert’s most solid lead is dead in the water, and he’s now a target.

Things spiral further when Steve publicly confronts Robert at the Woolpack, warning him to stop digging. But Robert won’t back down. Not when he’s this close to the truth.

Behind the scenes, Jon watches nervously as Robert edges closer to exposing him. With panic rising, Jon breaks into Keeper’s Cottage and plants surveillance equipment to spy on Robert — a dangerous move that yields something far more sinister than expected.

From the footage, Jon discovers a hidden connection between Robert and Ross Barton. Though the details are still under wraps, whatever he sees is powerful enough to launch his next act of psychological warfare. He lures Ross into a quiet confrontation and cryptically says, “You deserve to know what your brother’s done.”

It’s unclear what Jon shows Ross, but it’s enough to reignite old rivalries and blur the lines of loyalty. Is Ross now Jon’s pawn? Is Robert about to be framed again — this time by the very people he once fought to protect?

Meanwhile, ITVX preview scenes hint at a brutal climax. Robert is seen alone in a back alley, bloodied and unconscious, a familiar silver necklace dropped near his body. Some fans think Joe Tate has returned. Others believe Ross has been manipulated into violence. Or worse — Aaron Dingle, still emotionally tethered to Robert, may be dragged back into the chaos.

What started as a pursuit of justice is now a deadly chess match between two brothers. Jon has blood on his hands and a surveillance advantage, while Robert clings to the only thing he has left — the truth. But in a village where power, secrets, and revenge rule, truth might not be enough to survive.

Will Robert expose Jon before it’s too late — or will he become the next victim in this dark family saga?