Revenge has always been Joe Tate’s weapon of choice — elegant, ruthless, and always personal. This week, his vendetta against Billy reaches terrifying new heights as he calls in a dark figure from his past. But in doing so, is Joe setting a trap for Billy — or for himself?

Things between Joe and Billy have been deteriorating for weeks, with tensions rising over Dawn and the children. Joe, slick and calculating, tried to pay Billy off to disappear — but Billy doesn’t bend easily. Their hatred came to blows when Billy shoved Joe from his wheelchair, proving just how physical and raw this feud has become.

Then comes the catalyst: Joe’s Porsche is keyed, an act of revenge that feels intimate and petty — exactly Billy’s style, in Joe’s eyes. And yet, that’s only the beginning. Joe is soon horrified to find his medication missing — a theft that could seriously endanger his life. The intruder knew exactly what they were taking, and Joe’s convinced Billy is behind it all.

When confrontation fails, and Joe is left humiliated once again, he decides it’s time to go nuclear.

Enter Shaun — a criminal associate from Joe’s dark past, known for underhanded tactics and zero moral restraint. Their reunion on the outskirts of the village feels like something from a crime drama, and that’s no coincidence. Joe wants Shaun to do what he can’t: send a message Billy won’t forget.

But Emmerdale isn’t the same place it was when Joe first wreaked havoc years ago. People talk, secrets slip, and revenge often bites back harder. With Shaun back in the picture, things could escalate fast — and with deadly consequences.

Will Billy strike back? Will Dawn find out the lengths Joe has gone to? And is Joe really in control — or has he already started something he won’t be able to stop?