If secrets are poison in Emmerdale, then someone’s been slowly dosing Joe Tate with venom. The June 25 episode dropped multiple bombshells—Joe’s mysterious tormentor, Robert’s abduction, Cain’s seething rage, and Bear’s emotional exit—but it’s the unraveling vendettas that leave us with one question: Who’s really pulling the strings?

Let’s start with Joe Tate, a man many in the village would rather see vanish. After Lydia’s party revealed Joe’s ugly truths—his involvement in the limo crash, the illegal kidney removal—he was literally pushed out a window. You’d think that might’ve ended the backlash. But in true soap fashion, someone wants more. Much more.

In a chilling opening to the episode, Joe wakes to find his window wide open—and all of his vital medication gone, including those stashed away in “safe” locations. First suspicion? Little Lucas. But Sam Dingle quickly quashes that theory, revealing the kids were already at school. That’s when Joe’s eyes narrow on Billy Fletcher.

Just the day before, Joe’s car had been keyed. And Billy’s name is at the top of the revenge list.

Joe storms into the Depot, accusing Billy in front of Kerry. Billy, never one to back down, turns the threat around and promises to put Joe “back in his wheelchair” if he keeps pushing. The tension is electric, but not everyone’s convinced Billy is the real villain. Joe’s fury is met with smirks and laughter in the Woolpack later, where Kerry and Billy mock him—until Sam makes a throwaway comment that gives Joe a very dark idea.

Sam jokes that Joe needs “a new Graham.” It’s a reference to Joe’s former enforcer, Graham Foster, the kind of man who made people disappear. Joe doesn’t laugh. Instead, he makes a call—to a dodgy contact. The mission? Teach someone a lesson they’ll never forget.

But the big question is: who’s really messing with Joe?

Billy is the most obvious suspect. He has motive. He has access. And he has anger. But in soaps, the most obvious suspect often ends up being a red herring. The more Joe pushes, the more innocent Billy seems.

Then there’s Dawn. She pushed Joe out of a window once already. Could her apparent love be a façade? Maybe she can’t accept Joe’s past, or maybe her guilt is too heavy. With full access to his room, she could easily tamper with meds or stage a setup. Could her love be a long con?

Another suspect? Clemmie. Joe once threatened her, and while they seemed to bury the hatchet, she may be secretly craving Billy and Dawn’s reunion. The timing of Joe’s meds going missing—right before school—means Clemmie had a window of opportunity. She lives there. She knows the layout.

Even Sam Dingle isn’t entirely clean. His strange presence at key moments—calmly offering advice, nudging Joe toward action—could point to a deeper role. Is he working with someone? Is he helping Joe self-destruct?

And then there’s Kerry. With a dead daughter thanks to Joe’s negligence, she has every reason to ruin his life. She was by Billy’s side during the confrontation, and she’s always had a sharp tongue—but could she be orchestrating something darker?

The mystery grows by the minute, but Emmerdale isn’t content with just one explosion this week.

In a parallel storm, Robert Sugden finds himself in the back of John’s van—drugged, kidnapped, and nearly injected with a suspicious syringe that’s all too similar to the one used to kill Nate. But Robert wakes just in time and fights back, confirming that this rivalry with his brother is far from over.

And here comes the twist: it was Victoria who helped orchestrate Robert’s capture. She thought a night in the van would calm things down. Instead, it reignited a feud. She pleads with both men to let go of the hate, to stop dragging her into their war. And for a fleeting moment, they agree.

But once she leaves, the truth surfaces. Neither of them believes in forgiveness. Robert tells John point blank: he’s not sorry. John fires back with mistrust. It’s official—this feud is back, and it’s personal.

As if that’s not enough, Jacob and Sarah’s IVF plans get outed to Cain, who is barely holding his temper. And Bear makes a quiet exit, heading to Ireland, leaving Paddy with more questions than comfort.

But make no mistake: the real pressure cooker lies in Joe Tate’s house. A saboteur lurks in the shadows, dismantling his stability one pill bottle at a time. Whether it’s a lover, a friend, or an enemy-in-plain-sight, someone wants Joe broken.

And Joe? He’s ready to hit back—with force.