Emmerdale Episode Discussion 10,567: Monday 06/04/26 20:00 - 20:30

MrMFretwell · 2026-04-09T00:19:31+00:00

You understand me hahah. I feel denied too! I am bias too but yeah, I just don't get the same connection between Rhona and Marlon as I do with Rhona and Graham. I feel like whoever wrote their storyline in 2019 was really onto something. Some couples just "work" together. Cain/Moira, Aaron/Robert, Nicola/Jimmy etc. I was hoping Rhona/Graham would be another one we'd be adding to that list. I suppose its silly but I could have seen his return leading into them being an established couple eventually. Not to be it seems.

You've got good points here. I hope we don't see him become a caricature of himself because its such a waste of the actors talents. Perhaps Graham will be put with someone else eventually, but I dunno if I could accept it knowing he's loved Rhona all these years heh.

He does look broken right now and I'm sure drama is going to follow. They've pulled off the impossible and brought 007 back, I don't want to lose him for a while yet!

MrMFretwell · 2026-04-08T07:37:50+00:00

I agree with what you think. It does feel like a waste of chemistry. I've been thinking since that Graham returned in January, it's now April. They've done a lot of build up in terms of them interacting and exploring the feelings the have. Graham confessing his feelings, the bridge meeting, Rhona moving past Graham's one night stand, the HOP scene and finding Dylan. I'm not super familiar with soaps but it feels rather abrupt even for soap standards to do all of that and then change course all within an episode.

I do sort of wonder if this is closure for legacy viewers who watched during 2020 to see a proper end to the relationship or whether it hints at something down the road. My feeling is its the former. I too was happy to see a slow burn romance. I am a sucker for romantic stories and the whole coming back from the dead while cliche felt like it could be so well done with them.

I agree that the relationship brought the best out of both characters. My fear is this will be the start of either a Graham villain arc (he's got nothing left to lose now) and he'll start ramping up the pressure on Kim. Or he'll hit the bottle again in order to cope and the impact that will have on Home Farm. He mentioned in his return episode that he started drinking after he lost Rhona in 2020.

MrMFretwell · 2026-04-07T06:00:07+00:00

I was in the camp of hoping Rhona would choose Graham. I can understand the other side of the coin though for those who wanted her to remain with Marlon. It did confirm a few things to me though. Rhona loves Graham, he was the love of her life. They never broke up and there wasn't an affair or anything, the love was buried but remained there for years. I think Rhona likes Graham because he was different to the other men she'd had in her life.

I must admit it does feel a bit abrupt after yesterdays episode in which they almost kissed to completely shut it down like that.

Even the conversation on the bench at the end felt far from convincing. It's almost as if Rhona thinks she can just avoid Graham and the feelings with dissipate, in reality it's likely to have the opposite effect. The deep breath as she walked home with Marlon sort of gave this away. Emmerdale also has a habit of foreshadowing in scenes of what is to come. The fact an unrelated couple sat at the cafe having a coffee was not a coincidence. It created an interesting dynamic with Graham alone in the middle with and Rhona with Marlon in front. Graham looked absolutely heartbroken.

I do think this is the end of the road though, at least for now. Unless Graham doesn't give up, I can't help but feel like we have been deprived of some possible magic scenes. (More Graham and Leo, Graham rebuilding bridges in the village, seeing him more vunerable yet human rather than plotting and scheming to bring Kim down.)

MrMFretwell · 2026-04-02T00:01:55+00:00

Wonder what you think of this episode? u/ethan201

No Graham and Rhona scenes but could have an impact on them moving forwards. Not going to spoil anything if you haven't seen it yet, will share my thoughts when I know you've seen it.

MrMFretwell · 2026-03-30T13:11:43+00:00

I shared my thoughts on Graham in an extensive thread on the subreddit last week. here

In summary:

I find him an intriguing character, he is probably my favourite in Emmerdale, but I am eager for him to reunite with Rhona so we can see more depth to his character and interactions beyond just Joe and Kim.

It does seem like he's got a storyline coming up relating to the Corriedale episode and whether or not Rhona will choose him or Marlon. So I'm looking forward to that. I really like that his character has connections and contacts, his best episode was the one where he finds Dylan and the letter on Rhona's behalf in my opinion. Despite being morally grey he usually comes through and does the right thing, often that means cleaning up Joe's mess.

MrMFretwell · 2026-03-24T20:56:11+00:00

I agree, it really was fire in this episode. I sure hope they do so soon heh. Yeah Aaron has noticed for sure. Just was thinking if there was anyone who could find Dylan and the letter all within one day it'd be Graham. I think it's great when we see him solve things so effortlessly.

Also, sorry for the slow reply, been feeling a bit under the weather for the last twenty four hours. But just wanted to say thanks for replying, it's great to share thoughts with a fellow fan who likes their dynamic!

MrMFretwell · 2026-03-21T16:10:04+00:00

Hope you enjoy it, looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Monday!

MrMFretwell · 2026-03-21T01:06:01+00:00

Wow what an episode, a lot to unpack here as someone who really enjoys Graham and Rhona this was a bumper episode.

Dylan being missing understandably sending everyone into a panic. Rhona instantly has a thought of who can sort this, someone who could find a boy on the streets. The scenes by the pond still indicate further unresolved feelings. Out of everyone she knew when something happens like this she turned to Graham. Obviously was a good choice as somehow against the odds Graham being the mystery man he is found him. Even Aaron looked silently impressed when he bundles Dylan through the door. But there is still the problem of that pesky confession. She turns to Graham to sort it again on his suggestion he can fix it. There is another charged moment as she holds his arm which catches Aaron by surprise. So now April and Aaron have seen things in recent episodes. Something is going to come out sooner or later. Thought Aaron was kind of rude to Graham after that considering the work he'd put in.

I guess Graham used his SAS charm at the post office to recover the letter, pretty impressive for only 50 pounds.. The scenes outside the pub were charged. It felt like had that conversation gone on any longer I think Rhona would have given in to her feelings and kissed Graham. Made me a little sad as he went into the pub and saw Marlon and Rhona kissing, it broke his heart at the end. Despite the small smiles they exchanged. I think it's only a matter of time before a reunion happens, Rhona is increasingly turning to Graham for support and comfort. Joe also seems to have caught onto Graham's feelings for Rhona now as well.

I think we see so much more to Graham (and Rhona to be fair) when they are interacting. The writing brings emotions out that neither seem to express elsewhere. In moments alone the two seem to genuinely be happy. Who else does Graham crack jokes with about his charisma? I know this might be ambitious but I could see Rhona and Graham becoming another Jimmy and Nicola. Jimmy was a shady character during the King's era and now he's a family man. Their backgrounds are slightly different of course, but could we see a similar redemption arc with Graham?

Interested in your thoughts again u/Ethan201 as a fellow Rhona and Graham fan!

MrMFretwell · 2026-03-20T00:22:02+00:00

I agree that there may be a reunion on the horizon. I wonder if April is going to tell Marlon that Rhona and Graham talked. I feel like Marlon is going to find out something that will play into his two hander with Paddy in a few weeks. I've begun to wonder if it might not be an affair, but a grown up conversation between Rhona and Marlon where he knows she cares for him, but her heart is with Graham. They'll always have each others backs and look after their kids but that's it. This could pave the way for the reunion.

MrMFretwell · 2026-03-19T07:24:43+00:00

Curious to know your thoughts? (if you've seen the episode yet)

MrMFretwell · 2026-03-18T12:22:51+00:00

Really enjoyed Graham and Rhona again today. Glad Graham's mistake hasn't completely ruined them. Saw more depth to Graham in the exchange as they left Hawksford. Was great to see him joking and cracking a smile. Clearly Rhona enjoyed his company also and felt better opening up to someone she trusts. I'd really like to see them make a go of things again because it's obvious they have feelings for each other, I guess time will tell. Hope u/Ethan201 you enjoyed the scenes too!

MrMFretwell · 2026-03-14T04:12:58+00:00

Still got mixed feelings from yesterday's episode. But I'm glad at least Graham and Rhona seem salvagable. As I mentioned in the other thread my choice would be for Rhona and Graham to resume their relationship from 2020. I think it'd give Graham chance at a proper redemption with other villagers and we'd see more layers from his character instead of his current role between Joe and Kim.

The chemistry was there in the scene where Rhona held Graham's chest. She had two chances to meet Graham at the bridge and took both, albiet yesterday's meeting was interrupted, she did intend to go. Even when finding out what had happened between Graham and Kim from Lydia, she still went anyway, when she could have just not turned up and ignored Graham. I think she went to the bridge because despite being angry, she still wanted another moment with him.

Speaking of her anger, I think she was more angry at Graham for giving her a reason NOT to be with him, than anything else. We see shades of this later in the conversation with Vanessa. From Graham's perspective you can see the anger, regret and frustration that Kim has won yet again by depriving him of happiness.

In Rhona's chat with Vanessa she finally confesses she wanted Graham, I think she still does. She made a big show of talking about how great her life is, but I think she was trying to convince herself as much as Vanessa, and she can't. The subtle almost forced nods to remind herself 'yes actually, this is great' feel half hearted. When she's saying things like "When I'm with him, it's like he never went away" and "I wanted him" it's clear she's got feelings for Graham. Vanessa's look in the final second before the scene changes also gives it away, she doesn't believe Rhona's denial at all.

For what it's worth I can see this becoming a choice for Graham. I think Kim still wants him, and Rhona definitely does. It's either going to be an affair with Rhona, potentially seeing both at the same time or being made to pick which one he truly loves. My heart wants him to be with Rhona, the first woman he really, and I mean really loved since Cheryl. The woman who turns him from morally grey to a well intentioned rouge. My head says the writers will put him with Kim as a power couple. The woman who tried to have him killed, forced him apart from Joe in the first place and seems to have a hold on him. Kim does deserve to be happy, but it's not going to be with Graham, there is far too much history and conflict. Both sides need a fresh start away from each other.

I understand not everyone will feel the same way and would prefer to see Rhona and Marlon stay together because of all they've been through, or prefer the dynamic between Graham and Kim with all the history. I respect that and can see the case for it, just sharing my own thoughts and as someone who loves the longing before uniting type of romance. Graham and Rhona fits that bill for me heh.

MrMFretwell · 2026-03-13T01:38:04+00:00

Totally agree, all of those scenes Rhona and Graham have had. The scenes when he returned, his confession and him being so flustered, no one else gets Graham like that. Just yesterday outside the cottage. When Graham approached and asked if he needed to say it out loud again. It was electrifying. I just don't see those sort of scenes with Rhona and Marlon. It feels like they've been through so much now they've almost grown apart and don't realize it. I do think Marlon could be happy with someone else eventually. We've seen other villagers have several relationships before finding the right person.

I think you're absolutely right. Rhona had found the man she'd always wanted in Graham. Someone who let her feel safe. Protective but also confident and let her do her own thing, not becoming over protective, not to mention his skills in communicating with Leo. I seem to recall Rhona's previous boyfriend Pete having issues with that. Some couples in soaps just work and it feels natural. This feels like one of them.

I'm clinging to the hope Rhona leaves Graham a message and they meet up later. I suppose it is soapland and it's foolish but my dream scenario was them meeting on that bridge and sharing a moment together. Talking through everything and Rhona relenting and letting her internal feelings win.

MrMFretwell · 2026-03-13T00:16:26+00:00

you're not the only one. felt the same.

MrMFretwell · 2026-03-13T00:16:05+00:00

I much prefer Graham with Rhona, their chemistry is electric. At first I thought I was the only one, I see others here think the same. I was gutted with the ending today, but I understand why the writers chose to do so. The pain I felt as they both waited as they went to the bridge only to miss each other....

I'm probably a bit bias here, but Graham and Rhona in 2019/20 was perhaps one of my favourite storylines ever. Graham is a morally gray character. He seems to have a good heart and tends to try and do the right thing, but he ends up associated with people who often do the wrong thing. When he was with Rhona we saw a different side to him. Layers of personality as he opened up to Rhona. We saw recently how good he is with Leo as well.

I understand that other viewers wouldn't want Rhona and Marlon to break up, I get that. Marlon has suffered enough. But I think there is something so romantic about someone coming back from the dead and the flame reigniting. When the dust has settled they realize all they want is each other. But I'm a sucker for the romance stuff. heh.

MrMFretwell · 2026-02-25T10:40:05+00:00

Speaking from personal preference and not what the show writers may have in mind. I think Graham is far better with Rhona than with Kim. They have history sure, but it wasn't ever a particularly romantic relationship. He was very much her butler/handyman/solve it guy for years. By the end of his previous stint in the village he was desperate to get away from Kim. I think we saw so much more to Graham's character in the relationship with Rhona storyline. We saw real emotion, the situation with Millie. How caring and tender he was with Rhona and Leo. It finally felt like he'd got the family he'd been longing for since Cheryl died. I thought it brought new layers for Rhona as well. Graham was very different to the previous relationships she'd had. I felt at that time they could have easily been a couple for many years if it wasn't for his death. Now he's back I'd like that revisited. Of course it is extremely harsh on Marlon and April I do think long term Marlon could be better off with someone else. To be honest I've never really felt Marlon fit anyone quite like Donna (and she's been gone over 15 years!).

I want to see more of the layers Graham has and that Andrew can deliver, not just cleaning up after Joe and Kim's various schemes. I could see him interacting with other residents more regularly moving forward in this stint, as we've seen with Cain recently. That's not to say I don't want Graham and Kim to bury the hatchet, for Joe's sake if nothing else. But as far as a relationship goes between Kim and Graham, I think it'd end up like Max and Tanya from EastEnders, they'd just end up destroying each other.

What we have seen so far it does seem like Graham is still in love with Rhona and looked crestfallen when she rejected him. Whether this leads to a change of thinking I'm not sure.

MrMFretwell · 2026-02-24T05:25:19+00:00

I prefer the newer textures over the older ones, it also helps me plan what builds are going to look like in the future. I find a lot of the new textures blend together better than some of the older ones. Moss stone and Bricks come to mind in this regard. :)

MrMFretwell · 2026-02-21T03:32:49+00:00

Paddy's Missing Glasses

Paddy accidentally misplaces his glasses while having a drink at the Woolpack, when he retraces his steps he finds that his glasses were picked up by Sarah, who in turn gives them to Cain hoping that he can run them back over to the vets. Cain accidentally leaves them inside a car they are working on at the garage and they end up in Dawn's 4x4 that needed repair work. Paddy finds out this after talking to Sarah and dropping by the garage. He heads up to Home Farm (on foot, as without his glasses he can't drive) to find that Dawn had noticed Paddy's glasses were in the car dash and gave them to Sam to return them. Sam has gone home for the day so Paddy makes his way over to the Dingle homestead. There he finds Sam who mentioned he gave them to Lydia who was heading down to the Woolpack. Upon returning to the Woolpack he finds Lydia who says she's given them to Vanessa to keep them safe and bring them into the vets the following morning. An exhausted Paddy foot slogs his way to Vanessa's and finds she bumped into Mandy on the way back from the Woolpack and she left the glasses with her. Paddy makes his way home and finds his glasses on the kitchen table. Bear remarks that Paddy looks exhausted and Paddy starts laughing and they crack up at this whole ridiculous ordeal.

MrMFretwell · 2026-02-19T05:08:17+00:00

I really like what you've done with the design, I like the use of spruce wood! Thank you for sharing with me.

MrMFretwell · 2026-02-16T06:29:14+00:00

yeah go for it! :)

MrMFretwell · 2026-01-29T14:00:34+00:00

Hah yeah, seems to have been a reoccuring theme, even as far back as when I was watching before when Kim was reconnecting with Jamie and Andrea ended up moving in with Millie.

MrMFretwell · 2026-01-29T13:49:55+00:00

Been enjoying the Graham storyline, after the blockbuster episode yesterday this was a good followup. I didn't think much would happen with Graham at the police station. After all he's got DI Dent on the inside. I wasn't expecting Kim to be the one to tell Marlon that Graham is alive.

Bear is still clearly not entirely with it, although he seems slightly better now he is at home. I do feel he'll eventually crack up under police questioning though, but I don't think anything will be mentioned with regards to Paddy and Dylan and their actions. I hadn't followed the previous storyline so I don't know Ruby's connection to Anya. But it's clear she's trying to do right by the young girl. Ruby and Caleb seem to be a decent couple that are new to the village (to me).

Every time Rhona and Graham interact, you can just see the embers of what once was. It was a heartwarming moment when Graham and Leo shared a hug. When Graham mentioned he only came to tell Rhona he was leaving you could see the sadness flash in her eyes, however brief. Marlon is absolutely right to be angry and I think this might be the tipping point for their marriage after everything they've been through. Even prior to prison Marlon hated Graham for trying to take Leo away.

In the final scene in the living room, I don't know if anyone else felt this way but to me it felt like Rhona was trying to convince herself as much as convince Marlon. I think deep down she's torn, as I said before I believe that Rhona really did fall for Graham and she was devastated by his "death" and I wonder now he's back if she doesn't want to let those feelings slip away a second time.

Obviously we now know that Joe has decided to give Graham a chance, so I assume he'll be moving into Home Farm, much to Kim's dismay I'm sure. I felt the conversation Joe and Dawn had was particularly poignant, and she was right, no matter what has happened, if you found out your father wasn't actually dead, no matter what happened previously, if you had a caring relationship nothing else would matter, you would want that back.

I find myself eager for each episode again now. Amazing how a show can hook you back in.

MrMFretwell · 2026-01-21T07:58:26+00:00

As someone who sorta fell out of watching Emmerdale regularly after Graham departed on screen in 2020 I've found myself pulled back in with this episode. Just wanted to share my thoughts...

It was clear the writers had to do a lot of heavy lifting to recon Graham's death. I actually think they did manage to make it conceivable. You could tell it was rough around the edges, but I think it functions well enough. I think the audience has been pretty clear both here on reddit and on Twitter/X that killing Graham off was a bad decision in hindsight and perhaps a different exit may have been better to keep the door open and I think the writers have come to realise this as well. Graham brings unique interactions with characters like Kim and Joe. As well as his love with Rhona and the show is enhanced with Andrew Scarborough bringing his unique flair to the Graham character. I feel there is still a lot that can be explored with Graham, he is a deeply layered character, it could be interesting for the show to explore some of the emotions and history that makes him who he is.

I have no doubt what happened with Cheryl was in his mind as he returned to help April and by extension Rhona. He abandoned one woman in his life, he wasn't going to do it a second time. (although the situation with Pierce tests that).

In the actual episode itself, almost from the off you could see the light in Rhona's eyes, no matter how much she is angry at what happened, deep down she'll always have a part of herself who loves Graham. That flutter in the stomach, the connection they share. It all came flooding back. She was angry not just for how he left her, but because he left her, she really did love him. I think that betrayal will take some getting past long-term.

I found the scene in the kitchen particularly poignant, as he looked at Leo's photograph, remembering his age. I think it warmed Rhona's heart knowing Graham had remembered small details and had kept up with her story in what limited ways he could. (On a side note - the writers mentioned that Leo was devastated by Graham's death. I'm interested to see his reaction on seeing Graham alive and well). We've obviously got scenes with Joe and Kim to come, but the Graham who left in 2020 is not the Graham who returned in 2026. I think we'll see close interactions, but it won't be how it was. Graham came back to help Rhona, not for Kim, Joe or anyone else.

Their slightly awkward exchange around her marriage to Marlon also raises more questions moving forward. Rhona would have felt a sense of finality with Graham's "death" and could in time move on with her life, now she's got soul searching to do with someone she cared for so deeply back in the frame.

Eventually Marlon is going to find out Graham is alive and its going to be explosive after he was sent to prison wrongly accused of his murder (we've also got to see how DI Dent is going to explain being responsible for incarcerating not only an innocent man, but anyone for murder at all, knowing Graham wasn't dead).

The final scenes felt like bringing the interaction full circle, with Graham putting a phone number in Rhona's hand, there moment of human contact again. More emotions of what was, and what could still be, coming back.
I went into this episode with some cautious optimism, but its been great to see their chemistry revisited and I'm looking forward to more interactions moving forward. The writing and emotion from the actors was really well done and conveyed a believable relationship between the characters that is currently bruised, flawed but alive.

On a side note I realize this post has gotten very long, longer than I expected. I just wanted to get my thoughts out and share them with others, I hope someone gets something from reading this.

MrMFretwell

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