Emmerdale’s dramatic plotlines often keep fans glued to their screens, but this time, viewers have been left scratching their heads—not over a shocking twist or villainous scheme, but because of a glaring plot hole that’s impossible to ignore.

Belle Dingle took center stage in a recent episode as she set off on a mission to track down Nate Robinson, who everyone believes had fled to Shetland to start afresh. But things didn’t unfold quite as planned—and fans are far more baffled by Belle’s journey than by the mystery surrounding Nate’s disappearance.

Let’s rewind. Nate hasn’t been seen in the village, and while most of the Dingles believe he’s just skipped town, viewers know a much darker truth: Nate is dead. His body lies at the bottom of a lake, the victim of a deadly encounter with John Sugden. And John, in a desperate attempt to cover up his crime, is willing to go to any lengths to keep that secret buried.

But back in the world of the unaware villagers, Belle felt compelled to take matters into her own hands. After hearing how much Nate’s ex, Tracy, was struggling to hold it together, Belle decided she had to intervene. Drawing on her past bond with Nate, Belle convinced herself she could reach out and talk sense into him. That meant one thing: a road trip to Shetland.

According to the storyline, Belle drove from Yorkshire to Shetland in search of Nate—and somehow managed to make the return trip in less than a day. But geography-savvy fans were quick to point out the impossible logistics of that mission.

In reality, getting to Shetland isn’t as simple as hopping in the car. The journey involves hours of driving to the Scottish coast, followed by a long ferry ride—about 14.5 hours one way. Realistically, such a round trip would take close to 36 hours or more, even under ideal circumstances. Yet, Emmerdale seemed to bend time and space to allow Belle to go there, confirm Nate wasn’t there, and return home all within a 24-hour window.

The result? A massive backlash from viewers who took to social media to express their disbelief and frustration over the implausible timeline.

“Having Belle drive (yes, drive) to Shetland and back again in 24 hours may be the most unrealistic thing Emmerdale has ever done,” one fan posted, pointing out that the ferry ride alone is nearly a full day each way.

Another viewer mocked the situation with a touch of humor: “Did Belle use the Millennium Falcon to go to Shetland?”

Others were equally perplexed, commenting on how fresh and composed Belle looked after what should have been an exhausting and grueling journey: “Belle looks remarkably good considering she’s just done a round trip to Shetland within 24 hours!”

Social media lit up with variations of the same sentiment: “So Belle has been to Shetland and back within 24 hours??” and “Belle, that was a quick trip.”

The uproar over the storyline doesn’t just stem from a lack of realism—it’s also indicative of fans’ deeper investment in the show’s consistency. Emmerdale is known for pushing the boundaries of drama, but when basic details like travel logistics get wildly overlooked, it pulls viewers out of the story and risks undermining the tension and emotional weight of otherwise compelling plotlines.

This particular narrative misstep lands at an especially critical moment. Nate’s fate remains hidden, and Belle’s trip was supposed to heighten the mystery around his whereabouts. Instead, it’s generated laughs and groans rather than suspense. While the Dingles are now aware Nate never actually made it to Shetland, the bigger mystery—where he really is—remains unsolved. But with such an implausible twist thrown into the mix, that mystery has lost some of its potency.

Meanwhile, viewers are left wondering when—or if—Nate’s body will be discovered and how long John Sugden can keep his murderous secret from surfacing. Belle’s ill-fated and lightning-fast journey has, ironically, slowed down the tension in the storyline. What should have been a critical moment in uncovering a character’s disappearance has instead become the butt of jokes and internet memes.

For now, Emmerdale continues to lean into its complex drama, secrets, and betrayals—but the Shetland debacle is a reminder that even in a world of soap opera exaggeration, some things still need to make a little sense. And next time someone plans a long-distance rescue mission, fans will be watching the clocks as much as the characters.