There’s a storm brewing over Emmerdale, and at the eye of it is John Sugden — a man whose calm smile is beginning to crack, revealing the chilling layers beneath. What started as simmering tension between brothers has now evolved into something far more dangerous. John is no longer simply feuding with Robert — he’s hunting him. And in next week’s explosive episodes, he takes a step that could change everything: he seeks help from Ross Barton in his sinister mission to bring Robert down.

The warning signs have been there for weeks. Robert’s return to the village was never going to be easy, but no one could have predicted just how dark things would turn. John’s obsession with keeping control — of his secrets, of Aaron, of the perception that he’s the “good Sugden” — has taken a twisted turn. Beneath his steady demeanor lies a mind capable of manipulation and violence.

Robert, always sharp and intuitive, began picking up on strange inconsistencies in John’s stories. Odd coincidences. Villagers praising John for acts of heroism that didn’t quite add up. And the more Robert digs, the more uneasy he becomes. His suspicions mount, but when he voices them, they’re dismissed by those around him. Chas thinks he’s spiraling. Victoria thinks it’s bitterness. But the audience knows the truth: Robert is right to be afraid.

In a moment of desperation, Robert manages to glance at John’s phone while it’s left unattended — and though we don’t see what he finds, we see what it does to John. The mask slips. For the first time, he knows Robert’s on to him. And he doesn’t panic. He plans.

Rather than confront his brother head-on, John makes a calculated move. He plants a listening device inside Robert’s home, eavesdropping on his every word. And what he hears isn’t just confirmation of Robert’s suspicion — it’s fuel for his growing rage. But John doesn’t want to simply expose Robert. He wants to destroy him.

So he turns to someone unexpected: Ross Barton.

Ross and Robert have a fractured history. Once allies, then rivals, and now something murkier. John is betting on that bitterness. In a new spoiler clip, John approaches Ross with a proposition, the content of which remains unknown — but the tone is unmistakable. This isn’t a warning. It’s an invitation. To team up. To settle old scores. To take Robert down once and for all.

But is Ross really the kind of man to be manipulated by a killer? Or will he become the very person who finally sees John for what he is?

As the storyline intensifies, the lines between paranoia and reality blur. Robert is isolated, discredited, and being watched. John is spiraling deeper into obsession, willing to use anyone — even someone as volatile as Ross — to execute his plan. And Aaron, caught in the middle, may soon learn that the real danger isn’t his ex — but the man pretending to be his brother.

This is no longer about jealousy or rivalry. This is the beginning of a takedown. And if no one believes Robert now, the question is — will anyone survive long enough to tell the truth?