‘I think I might love you’: Major Emmerdale couple admit their feelings in heartfelt scenes
Amid the drama of Tom King (James Chase)’s approaching trial and the machinations of Will Taylor (Dean Andrews) in his quest to destroy Kim Tate (Claire King), a far more wholesome and beautiful story has been playing out in Emmerdale this week as two characters declared their love for each other in their own awkward way.
Despite living together, Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) have never really spoken about their feelings and what they mean to each other before. Neither of them is particularly the sort to give flowery speeches, and they’re both very guarded and private people.
Since John arrived in the village it soon became apparent that he wasn’t an easy man to get to know.
His half sister Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins) found it an uphill struggle to get through to him as he seemed happier without any ties at all, living in his camper van and moving from place to place.
Gradually he’s settled in the village and into a relationship with Aaron and started working as a paramedic, but there was always one big question hanging over him. Who was Aidan Moore, the person whose dog tag John kept as a treasured possession?
When John and Aaron went on a camping trip together that question was finally fully explored, as John described how Aidan had been his first real love. Because they were both in the army they kept their relationship under wraps.
When Aidan tragically d.i.e.d in an explosion and medic John was unable to save him, he couldn’t grieve openly because the relationship had been a secret. He kept all the pain inside and found it difficult to move on.
In Wednesday (December 18)’s episode, that conversation had had a profound effect on John. As he and Aaron headed out to the woods to sit on a log once more (sitting on logs has become their new favourite thing), John once again spoke about Aidan.
He said he still misses him, but didn’t want to live in the past. He kissed the dog tag and threw it into the undergrowth.
‘Time to start looking forward – if you’re up for it,’ he told Aaron.
Aaron squirmed a bit as John challenged him to express his feelings. ‘Don’t make me say it, I’m not into all that touchy feely stuff,’ he said. ‘I’m in it for the long run.’ When he realised John wasn’t satisfied with that, Aaron finally, hesitantly, said the L word.
‘I think I might love you,’ he said. And John told him, ‘I think I might love you too.’
It wasn’t Shakespeare, but coming from two men who just don’t talk about their feelings, it was all that needed to be said.
