Christmas in Emmerdale is rarely peaceful, but this year the festive season curdles into outright terror as Kev Townsend’s chilling return casts a long, dangerous shadow over the village. What should have been a time of love, celebration, and new beginnings instead becomes a nightmare of gunshots, threats, and psychological warfare, with Aaron Dingle and Robert Sugden at the very heart of the storm.

The build-up to Christmas had already been fraught, but nothing could prepare viewers for the sheer menace that Kev brings with him. Back in the village after a long absence, Kev wastes no time making his presence felt. From the moment he appears on screen, it is clear this is not a man seeking closure. Old wounds remain raw, and unresolved obsession simmers just beneath the surface. Kev has never accepted that Robert chose Aaron over him, and that bitterness has now twisted into something far more dangerous.

In one of the most harrowing sequences of the week, Aaron and Robert are seen enjoying a rare moment of calm, repairing a fence and talking about their future. It is a quiet, domestic scene, deliberately lulling both the couple and viewers into a false sense of security. Unbeknownst to them, Kev is nearby, concealed in the bushes, watching. His fixation is no longer emotional alone. This time, he is armed.

The crack of a gunshot shatters the tranquillity. Aaron and Robert fall to the ground, convinced in that instant that they are about to die. Although neither is physically injured, the psychological damage is immediate and profound. They know exactly who is responsible. When the police arrive, however, the official explanation points elsewhere. Poachers, the officers suggest. A random incident. An unfortunate coincidence.

Robert knows better. Worse still, he is carrying a secret of his own. Just the day before, he had met Kev privately and told him, unequivocally, that he loved Aaron. Rather than bringing closure, that admission appears to have pushed Kev over the edge. Determined not to expose his role in provoking Kev’s rage, Robert puts on a brave face, shielding both Aaron and the police from the truth. It is a decision that weighs heavily on him, especially as events continue to spiral.

The danger escalates later when Victoria arrives at the mill with an envelope she found on the doorstep. What might initially look like a Christmas card quickly reveals itself to be something far more sinister. Inside is Kev’s wedding ring, embedded in a bullet. The message is unmistakable. This is not a warning shot. It is a promise.

As fear tightens its grip on Aaron and Robert, elsewhere in the village Christmas dreams are also being cruelly dismantled. Jacob Gallagher and Sarah Sugden arrive at the registry office expecting what they believe will be a joyful surprise wedding, following their gender reveal celebration. Instead, they are left stunned and humiliated when they discover Eric Pollard marrying Carrie White instead.

What should have been Jacob and Sarah’s moment is hijacked entirely. The revelation leaves them devastated, their happiness overshadowed by yet another of Eric’s schemes. It soon becomes clear that Eric’s motives are far from romantic. His sudden marriage to Carrie is a calculated move, designed to siphon money through her and secure Jacob’s financial future. While some villagers are unaware of the truth, the uncomfortable displays of forced affection between Eric and Carrie provide an unsettling mix of dark comedy and moral discomfort.

Behind Eric’s bravado, cracks begin to show. Sarah confronts him in the café, her anger raw and justified. When she walks away in tears, guilt flickers across Eric’s face, however briefly. Carrie, observing everything from the sidelines, starts to realise just how expendable she is in Eric’s world. The marriage that was meant to secure stability instead exposes deep fractures and emotional fallout that will not be easily repaired.

As Christmas morning dawns over Emmerdale, the village appears deceptively peaceful. Frost glistens on the fields, and the hills glow beneath a pale winter sun. But the calm is an illusion. Fear hums beneath the surface, particularly at the mill, where Aaron barely sleeps. Every sound sends his heart racing. Robert sits beside him, haunted by the memory of the gunshot and the knowledge that Kev is still out there.

When the police return, their reassurances ring hollow. Despite the bullet-filled envelope, there is still no concrete evidence tying Kev to the attack. Aaron and Robert are advised to stay indoors, to be vigilant, to wait. But waiting feels dangerous. Kev thrives in uncertainty, operating in the space between fear and proof.

Determined not to be cowed, Robert agrees to Victoria’s suggestion of Christmas dinner at The Woolpack. It is an act of defiance as much as tradition. Kev wants them hiding. Robert refuses to give him that power.

The village gathers, forcing smiles and exchanging festive pleasantries that barely mask the tension. Sympathy and fear follow Aaron and Robert wherever they go. Then, without warning, the lights go out. Darkness engulfs The Woolpack. Screams pierce the air. Glass shatters. Phones flicker to life, casting frantic shadows across terrified faces.

In the chaos, Aaron is briefly separated from Robert. Outside, footprints appear in the fresh snow near the pub’s side entrance. By the time the power returns, the intruder has vanished. No one is hurt, but the message is clear. Kev can reach them anywhere, anytime.

As night falls and police patrol the village perimeter, Robert makes a quiet, resolute decision. Sitting beside Aaron, he admits they cannot continue living in fear, waiting for Kev’s next move. Somewhere beyond the village, unseen but watching, Kev Townsend looks on as Emmerdale’s Christmas lights glow against the darkness.

Christmas is far from over. And neither is Kev.