In Emmerdale, the waters are getting murkier, and at the center of the new chaos is John Sugden, a character who has turned out to be much darker than anyone thought. Introduced as a member of the legendary Sugden dynasty, John seemed destined to bring glory back to a historic name now in decline. But behind his apparently caring exterior lies a much more complex soul, capable of extreme acts to maintain control and feed a salvific ego that oscillates between heroism and madness.
The turning point came when the body of Nate Robinson was found in a frozen lake. Attention immediately fell on John, who had already aroused suspicion for his surprising ability to handle the “disappearance” of Anthony Fox, the man killed by Ruby, the man’s abused daughter. On that occasion, John had approached the task of making the body disappear with an almost disturbing coldness, as if he were used to such gestures.
Despite his appearance as a protective man, especially towards his boyfriend Aaron, John has shown more and more signs of instability: outbursts of anger, a tendency to obsessive control and a mysterious past that torments him, in particular linked to his former comrade Aiden Moore, believed to be dead but in reality still alive. These signs have gradually built a portrait of a man with a well-hidden dark side, ready to emerge at crucial moments.
Nate’s death, in fact, occurred during a moment in which John was trying to save him, an action that would seem noble, if it were not for what happened immediately after: instead of reporting the incident, he hid the body. A gesture that suggests a modus operandi already tested. And this is not a coincidence. The hiding of Nate’s body is not an isolated action, but part of a disturbing behavioral pattern that also involves other characters such as Chas and Jacob. John, in fact, deliberately caused an allergic reaction to Jacob and drugged Chas, all to show off as a savior.
This hero complex is what makes John a fascinating and atypical villain. He does not kill out of sadism like Meena Jutla, but is driven by the pathological desire to be seen as the solver, the savior, the man everyone should admire. However, the means he uses to achieve this goal are deeply disturbing. He does not hesitate to manipulate, hurt and even kill in order to maintain the image of the “good” in the eyes of the village.
Aaron, unaware of the dark side of his future husband, risks being John’s next emotional victim. Their engagement, which seemed like an opportunity for both of them to find happiness, is destined to end in tragedy. With John increasingly at the center of mysteries and cover-ups – including that of Anthony Fox’s murder – the castle of lies he has built risks collapsing at any moment.
What makes John even more dangerous is the fact that, despite his crimes, he continues to move in the shadows, respected or even admired by many in the village. The apparent tranquility that he manages to transmit makes him an even more disturbing killer, because he never gives the impression of being a threat until it is too late.
With this gripping and tension-filled plot, Emmerdale confirms itself as a soap capable of renewing itself and surprising even the most experienced fans. The figure of John Sugden represents a new generation of antagonists: more subtle, more realistic, more dangerous precisely because they do not present themselves as such. The next episodes promise further revelations and twists that could definitively overturn the balance of the village.
The final question that the public asks is: how far will John be willing to go to maintain his illusion of being a hero? And how many more will have to fall before the truth finally comes out?
