Emmerdale cruel John Sugden twist 'foreshadows' final showdown with Robert

There was a worrying scene on Emmerdale on Friday night that saw John Sugden seemingly plot revenge on his brother Robert Sugden. Despite them appearing to clear the air, or at least come to an agreement, John's true agenda was revealed to fans.

This week John was left in hospital after Robert attacked himduring a tense showdown. Robert had no idea though that John was recording the moment he struck him at the back of the head with a spanner.

Viewers learned this on Friday, when the end of the episode showed John watching it back on his laptop. It comes amid fans believing Robert's own real plan was given away in the episode, and he might not be playing nicely has he's claimed.

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We'd already seen John feign fear over Robert visiting him, before Robert practically begged his villainous brother for forgiveness. John threatened him, telling him that if he went back on his word in regards to dropping his vendetta as well as leaving Aaron Dingle alone, he "knew" what he would do.

Robert obviously didn't know that John had set up the attack after goading him, leading him to his camper van where a camera was recording. In the footage we only see the moment John walks towards home and is struck by Robert with the tool.

John falls to the ground as Robert watches on. It likely also caught the moment Robert wiped the tool and hid it, but even the attack alone is enough for John to get Robert locked up given the crime he spent six years in prison for.

Fans had actually noticed the mirroring of events, as in 2019 Robert attacked Lee Posner in similar circumstances. Robert had confronted Lee after he raped his sister Victoria Sugden, and Lee goaded him until Robert snapped.

John orchestrated Robert's latest crime, and now he has him exactly where he needs him. But John is ready and waiting for his brother to turn on him again, keeping hold of the video evidence to use if necessary to get rid of Robert.

But could it all be foreshadowing a major showdown? Maybe the current battle between the brothers is just the beginning and a taster of John's comeuppance at the hands of Robert.

Robert more than any other characters is well and truly onto John and his dark crimes. If he manages to find the proof and expose him, John will hopefully face his downfall and be punished for his actions, including the murder of Nate Robinson.

So will it come down to another John vs Robert battle at the end, and was the attack and John's actions, with John threatening revenge if Robert goes against him, all a massive hint of what's ahead? If so, it could be a major tease that the storyline will conclude with Robert taking John down as fans are hoping for, and John's final attempts to come out on top.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , and Threads.