Christmas in Emmerdale is rarely peaceful, but this year the festive season descends into outright terror as one of the show’s most dangerous villains returns with a chilling agenda. John Sugden is back — and all he wants for Christmas is Aaron Dingle. What follows is a twisted psychological game involving obsession, captivity, and a second unhinged threat that leaves lives hanging in the balance and the village gripped by fear.

Fans have been eagerly awaiting John Sugden’s return ever since his comeback was confirmed, and the show wastes no time reminding viewers exactly why he is so feared. The murderous medic arrives in the village on Christmas Day, driven by a warped sense of destiny and a messiah-like hero complex. In John’s mind, he doesn’t destroy lives — he “saves” people from dangers he himself creates. That delusion makes him all the more terrifying.

John’s goal is singular and obsessive: reclaim Aaron Dingle at any cost. To do that, he is prepared to eliminate anyone standing in his way — including his own half-brother, Robert Sugden. Christmas cheer is no barrier to bloodshed, and Emmerdale ensures viewers get an extra dose of menace this festive period.

As if John weren’t enough, another threat resurfaces just in time to turn Christmas into a nightmare. Robert’s unstable prison husband, Kev Townsend — dubbed by fans “the murderous man bun” — returns to the storyline with deadly intent. Kev’s past is already soaked in violence, and his jealousy-fuelled obsession with Aaron has never truly faded.

Earlier this year, Kev left the village after attempting to attack Aaron with a sword, humiliated and heartbroken. Now he’s back — and this time, he’s watching. On Christmas Eve, viewers witness Kev spying on Aaron and Robert through the scope of a rifle, a chilling image that confirms just how far he’s spiralled. Soon after, terror escalates. A brick is thrown through Aaron’s windscreen. Trees outside the couple’s flat are set ablaze. And then comes the final, sinister warning: a Christmas card pushed through the letterbox, containing Kev’s wedding ring and a bullet.

The message is clear. Aaron is being stalked.

So when Robert suddenly goes missing on Christmas Day, suspicion immediately falls on Kev. After all, the signs all point in his direction. The mystery deepens when viewers see someone tied up in a dark room, bound like a Christmas turkey. It seems obvious who the victim is — until the truth is revealed.

It isn’t Robert who has been captured.

It’s Kev.

In a stunning twist, Emmerdale reveals that Kev has been abducted and imprisoned — not by the police, and not by Robert — but by John Sugden himself. The revelation raises a disturbing question: why would John kidnap a man who appears to be doing exactly what John wants — terrorising Aaron and destabilising Robert?

The answer, of course, is control.

John doesn’t share his toys.

While the village reels, John carries on with unnerving calm. He avoids tired villain clichés like evil monologues, instead slipping through cottages in the dead of night, whispering to a sleeping Aaron that they are destined to be together. The scenes are deeply unsettling, underscoring John’s belief that love justifies anything — even murder.

On Boxing Day, Aaron and Robert call DS Matthews to their home, desperate for updates on Kev’s disappearance. The news is frustrating and alarming. Despite the bullet, the ring, and the trail of threats, there is no concrete evidence tying Kev to Robert’s disappearance or the escalating intimidation. The police are at a dead end. Kev cannot officially be named a suspect.

Meanwhile, John watches from a distance, observing Aaron and Robert through the scope of his rifle like pieces on a chessboard. But back at the makeshift prison, his carefully constructed plan threatens to unravel.

Kev manages to break free from his restraints, collapsing onto the floor in agony. At first, John assumes Kev is faking — another manipulation tactic from a man he despises. But the truth quickly becomes clear. Kev is struggling to breathe. He is minutes from death.

For a moment, it looks like John might simply let him die.

Instead, he does something unexpected.

When Kev weakly begs for the medication hidden in his jacket pocket, John retrieves it and promises he won’t let him die. The decision seems almost merciful — until later, when John finally reveals why Kev must stay alive.

Kev isn’t a problem.

He’s a tool.

John unveils his master plan, explaining exactly how Kev fits into his twisted vision of the future. The details horrify Kev, who reacts with fury and disgust. When John offers him a piece of plain white bread as a twisted peace offering, Kev spits it straight back in his face. Any suggestion of cooperation is violently rejected.

The dynamic between the two men is electric — a battle of egos, obsessions, and murderous intent. Both are dangerous. Both are unstable. And both claim to love Aaron in their own warped ways.

For John, Kev represents chaos that must be harnessed. For Kev, John is a rival who must be destroyed.

The looming question now facing Emmerdale viewers is whether these two killers can ever truly work together — or whether their collision will result in catastrophic bloodshed. With Aaron and Robert caught in the middle, the danger has never felt more immediate.

As the early ITVX episodes unfold, tension tightens with every scene. John’s grip on the situation appears strong, but cracks are forming. Kev is unpredictable. The police are circling. And Aaron remains blissfully unaware of just how close he is to becoming the centrepiece of John Sugden’s ultimate fantasy.

One thing is certain: this Christmas storyline is not about goodwill or redemption. It’s about obsession, control, and the terrifying consequences of love taken too far.

With a life hanging in the balance and a master plan finally coming into focus, Emmerdale delivers a festive thriller that promises devastating fallout — and proves that in this village, the most dangerous gifts are the ones you never see coming.