Moira Barton (Natalie J Robb) was feeling suffocated by her family in tonight’s episode of Emmerdale.
Last week, the beloved character was told she has a tumour on her brain. It’s called a meningioma, and the symptoms of this type of tumour include changes to personality, confusion, memory loss and seizures, all of which Moira has been experiencing in the past few weeks.
Although the tumour is non-cancerous, it has left Moira apprehensive about her future and concerned about the possibility of surgery and other treatments.
Moira has since returned from hospital and is trying to adjust to her new life. While her family are being supportive, tonight’s episode of the ITV soap showed Moira feeling a little bit smothered by them.
When Moira walked into the kitchen to find Amy (Natalie Ann Jamieson) and Matty (Ash Palmisciano) enjoying lunch, Amy encouraged Moira to sit down so she could make her a tea and a sarnie. Moira pointed out that she was more than capable of doing this herself.
Meanwhile, Cain (Jeff Hordley) was visiting Chas (Lucy Pargeter), who knows exactly what it’s like to be at the centre of a health ordeal following her breast cancer diagnosis. Chas helped Cain come to terms with the fact Moira’s tumour isn’t going away anytime soon, so it’s important he adapts to the changes, rather than search for the person Moira used to be.
With that, he returned to Butlers and told Moira he wouldn’t talk about the tumour, because he wants to respect his wife’s wishes. The kindness eventually led to Moira and Cain kissing and while this was a nice moment, it sadly didn’t last long.
When Cain mentioned Moira’s brain surgery, it sounded as though he had spent a few hours being supportive just to push her to making a decision.
Moira was hurt and told Cain she doesn’t want the surgery because of the risks surrounding it. From Cain’s perspective, he couldn’t understand why his wife wouldn’t want to go through with something that had potential to make her better.
Both characters are making important points but at the end of the day, the Moira who Cain knew before the tumour isn’t ever going to return.
If Moira doesn’t change her mind about the surgery, can Cain move forward and embrace the person she has become?
