Just as we had taken in the shock of Robert Sugden’s marriage to Kev Townsend, Emmerdale has aired another major development. Informed that his husband is dying of a heart condition, Robert vowed to stand by him – but it turns out that Kev’s illness is treatable, and that he could actually have decades left.

This wasn’t the only twist in the tale, as after a passionate encounter, Robert and true love Aaron Dingle agreed to embark on a secret relationship while Robert does the honourable thing.

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But while fans will no doubt be furious at Kev’s deceit, this bombshell is the perfect curveball, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Until now, many fans have been truly baffled by the sudden change in direction for Robert. After months of either pining for Aaron or pleading for another chance with him, it’s been jarring to see Robert’s genuine affection for Kev, and we couldn’t quite comprehend that he wasn’t as free and single as he claimed to be when he returned.

The ambiguity surrounding Robert’s complex emotions regarding Kev, who went out of his way to protect him in prison, have made this arc difficult to follow.

Just two months after he screamed his heart out while cradling an unconscious Aaron at the bottom of a gorge, Robert’s passive reaction when Kev used Aaron’s trauma against him felt particularly off from the man who had supported Aaron through it all – let alone the fact Robert disclosed it at all.

Then there was Robert’s apparent belief that Aaron was genuinely over him – something it was difficult to buy into, given the constant push and pull nature of their relationship.

Finally, in a welcome change of pace, Robert’s devotion to Aaron resurfaced in all its glory when it was revealed he’d tried to recycle his speech from their wedding for use at his and Kev’s vow renewal.

Yet it was that tense cliffhanger, as Doctor Liam Cavanagh confronted Kev, that truly changed everything. Not only did it give us what we’ve been missing by finally establishing how Robert’s feelings differ from Kev’s, it also clarified where Emmerdale intends to take the story from here.

Yes, there’s frustration as we’re left wondering just how long Robert will be kept in the dark. But Kev faking that his condition is terminal tells us he knew all along that Robert’s heart simply isn’t with him.

Robert isn’t torn between an equal measure of love for him and Aaron – he’s conflicted out of loyalty to saviour Kev, who knows full well that his ‘impending demise’ is the only thing keeping them together.

The truth about their bond will be unearthed in an upcoming episode detailing Robert’s experience behind bars, and a lot hinges on this standalone special to fill in the gaps, both for their union, and for Robert’s lost years.

Actor Ryan Hawley has promised a “pivotal” instalment ahead. The narrative has already been turned on its head, though, with the revelation about Kev’s health.

This was the right move, giving us just enough insight into the dynamic between Robert and Kev so we won’t be entering those flashbacks entirely unprepared.

We can’t brand Kev a full-on villain at this point, or we’d long since have pinned that badge onto Aaron with his own violent tendencies – as well as most of the villagers for their many embellishments. But neither is Kev, having just threatened Liam into submission, the good guy here.

As much as that moment has shaped the next chapter, it also hints that, despite how wrong his actions obviously are, Kev is more of an enigma than ever. Is he trying to control Robert, or is he doing this out of desperation and a distorted view of love after decades locked away?

With various sides to Kev already showcased on-screen, from quirky to vulnerable and looping back to frightening menace, Chris Coghill has certainly made an impact in the role.

Before this week, all we had to go on was the guarantee of an expiry date for Kev, and it can only be a good thing that we won’t be able to predict his fate after all. In an era where leaks are more prevalent than ever, the element of surprise is a welcome novelty for the genre.

As Ry

an shared, this is all about rooting for Robert and Aaron to “triumph against adversity”, and we’ll be doing so all the more now we know what they’re up against. With Robert trapped in what he feels is an impossible situation, we’re also expecting a chance for Aaron to step up and be Robert’s rock

The journey, as chaotic as it always is, is the best part of any soap romance – and while we have no idea what’s coming, Kev’s jaw-dropping secret has given us a new understanding of how he fits in as a mere footnote in the Robron love story.

More than that, though, Kev’s manipulation has allowed us to look at Robert himself with fresh eyes, and see that everything he’s done recently rests on him being the victim of a whopper of a lie.

Emmerdale has pulled off an almighty plot twist, and its timely reveal has restored our faith in Robert’s future.