6 Emmerdale Plot Holes in John Sugden’s Storyline This Week
Emmerdale is known for weaving intense drama, shocking twists, and heartbreaking revelations into its storylines. But every so often, fans spot cracks in the plot that leave them scratching their heads. This week, John Sugden’s arc has had audiences gripped—but it has also raised a number of questions that don’t quite add up. While the character’s latest actions have delivered suspense in spades, several inconsistencies are hard to ignore. From missing details to puzzling character behavior, here are six major plot holes in John Sugden’s storyline that are keeping fans talking.
1. The sudden shift in John’s motives
All week, viewers have been left confused about John’s ultimate goal. One moment he appears driven by revenge, the next by greed, and then suddenly by guilt. While soaps are famous for complex characters, the pacing of John’s changes feels rushed. Fans are questioning how he can swing so dramatically from one motivation to another without any real explanation. This inconsistency makes it hard to understand whether John is meant to be a calculated villain or a deeply conflicted man spiraling out of control.
2. Mackenzie’s unbelievable ignorance
For someone as street-smart as Mackenzie Boyd, his failure to notice John’s suspicious behavior is puzzling. Mack has always been portrayed as savvy and quick to detect danger, yet he remains oddly blind to the warning signs around him. Viewers are asking why Mack would ignore glaring red flags—cryptic conversations, unexplained disappearances, and John’s increasingly erratic actions. This lack of awareness feels less like natural storytelling and more like a plot device designed to keep Mack in danger.
3. The missing timeline around John’s “secret”
One of the biggest issues this week is the timeline surrounding John’s killer secret. Hints have been dropped about his involvement in a past crime, but the details are hazy at best. Characters speak as though everyone suddenly knows parts of the story, yet key information has never actually been shown on screen. This leaves fans struggling to connect the dots. Without a clear timeline, John’s past feels inconsistent, and his supposed big reveal risks falling flat if viewers can’t understand when or how it all happened.
4. The unrealistic police response
Given how serious John’s actions have become, fans are baffled by the lack of police involvement. In real life, several of his moves would have sparked major investigations. Instead, the authorities seem to be conveniently absent, allowing John’s schemes to play out unchecked. This kind of oversight is common in soaps, but it becomes especially glaring when the storyline is supposed to hinge on life-or-death stakes. The absence of any official investigation has left many viewers frustrated.
5. Charity’s inconsistent reactions
Charity has long been one of the most intuitive characters in the village, but her reaction to John’s behavior this week has been strangely muted. At times, she shows suspicion, yet she drops her concerns almost immediately without explanation. Given her protective instincts—especially where Mack is concerned—her lack of follow-through feels completely out of character. Fans have pointed out that Charity would normally dig deeper, confront John directly, or even rally others to expose him. Instead, her silence creates a glaring hole in the storyline.
6. The village’s selective memory
Perhaps the most glaring plot hole of all is how quickly the rest of the village seems to forget John’s past. Longtime viewers know that Sugden family history is filled with scandal, betrayal, and tragedy, yet many characters act as though John’s darker side has never existed. It’s as if decades of backstory have been conveniently erased to make this week’s twist more dramatic. For fans who have followed the show for years, this lack of continuity is hard to overlook.
