John Sugden Tightens His Grip

Emmerdale has never shied away from shocking twists, but John Sugden’s latest antics might push the soap into uncharted territory. Fans are now speculating that Mackenzie Boyd could become the victim of the first “soap death by AI.”

Earlier this week, viewers learned Mack had miraculously survived John’s brutal crossbow attack. Instead of finishing the job, John dragged his victim to a hidden forest bunker. Mack remains weak, stitched up and suffering from his wound, but John is not done playing games.

In Thursday’s episode, John fooled the Dingle clan with a faked AI voice note. The message was designed to sound like Mack himself, claiming he had left Charity Dingle for good because of all the tension surrounding Sarah’s surrogacy. The trick worked — at least for now.

Fans React With Outrage

The plot twist immediately set off a firestorm on social media. Many viewers could not believe the Dingles accepted the voice message without question.

On X (formerly Twitter), @Movedonnow pleaded: “Please hurry up with this story and don’t let Mack die.” Another fan, @RyanSoapKing2, speculated: “Are we seriously about to have the first soap death by AI on Emmerdale? Since it’s already out there about John poisoning Aaron’s drink tomorrow, I think there’s another McRat twist incoming.”

Others mocked the idea that no one in the village would recognize the voice as fake. @aaron_dingles quipped: “Not only do the residents not own Ring doorbells, but no one seems to use Life360 either — but sure, AI.” Another user, @TigerRol, joked: “The funniest thing here is they couldn’t recognise each other’s voices? Lol. Voice is an absolute giveaway.”

Is Charity the Key to Mack’s Survival?

Despite John’s elaborate scheme, many fans are confident Charity Dingle will be the one to see through the ruse. Mack’s disappearance and the odd message don’t sit right, and Charity’s instincts have saved loved ones before.

Viewer @HIOWweather1 summed up the mood: “No one will ever trust AI after watching this episode. I hope that the computer-generated version of Mack’s voice has something in it that is completely out of character for him. That could raise suspicion and finally result in a swift conclusion to this ridiculous and protracted storyline.”

With Mack’s life hanging in the balance, fans are begging for his family to act quickly. His injuries leave him in no position to escape on his own, and the longer John keeps him hidden, the greater the risk that Mack’s wound will turn fatal.

John’s Next Move Looms

The AI scheme may be clever, but it also raises the stakes. If the Dingles start to question the strange message, John’s cover will unravel. Spoilers already tease that John may turn even more dangerous by targeting Aaron with poisoned drinks. The possibility that two major characters could be caught in John’s web has left fans on edge.

For now, John appears smug, convinced he is always “one step ahead.” But in soaps, villains rarely stay untouchable forever. With Charity growing suspicious and the wider family desperate for answers, John’s reign of deception may be nearing its breaking point.

Fans Brace for the Fallout

The idea of Emmerdale delivering a “death by AI” storyline is both chilling and oddly timely, tapping into current conversations about technology and trust. Whether Mack survives or not, John’s fake voice note has already made soap history.

The only question left is how long the Dingles will believe Mack has left them — and whether they’ll uncover the truth before it’s too late.