Emmerdale viewers rage over massive ‘plot hole’ in Tom King abuse storyline
Emmerdale fans have lost their temper with residents in the Dales following Tom King's vile physical and mental abuse of wife Belle, which has been going on for months
Emmerdale fans have spotted what they see as a glaring plot hole in the coercive control storyline involving Belle and Tom King.
The village vet has been mentally and physically abusing his wife Belle Dingle for months. Not only has evil Tom has been gaslighting her, he’s punched her in the stomach and stuck her hand under a boiling hot tap.
However, during Thursday’s (May 23) episode, he managed to manipulate the situation, leading an overwhelmed Belle to lash out at him. Much to viewers’ frustration, several villagers witnessed the incident and sided with Tom, overlooking a key detail from earlier in the storyline.
Fans of the soap pointed out that Tom had previously misdiagnosed a dog with cancer and was prepared to euthanise it without consulting his colleagues Paddy Kirk and Vanessa Woodfield. Despite confronting Tom about his error, Vanessa seemed to forget this when she saw him in distress after being pushed by Belle, rushing to his side along with Rhona Goskirk.
Fans on X were fuming at them for not picking up on Tom’s nasty ways, with one writing: “If Rhona and Vanessa don’t realise Tom is probably to blame, for Belle pushing him after the way he behaved to them, in the cafe, just hours earlier then how are they not declared brain dead”. Another asked: “Christ why are they all believing Tom”, and yet another pitched in: “did you just forget that time, Tom was about to put down a dog, that didn’t need to be put down.”
However, there were also those amongst the soap’s followers demanding an end to this harrowing storyline. “Control desk, we need the Tom storyline wrapped up ASAP,” one fan said.
Another agreed: “This Tom and Belle story is just awful to watch, now he’s the victim.” One viewer expressed their impatience with Tom’s storyline commenting: “I can’t wait until Tom and his really bad hair have been outed as the nasty, manipulative horrible human that he’s turned out to be.”
And another suggested more drastic actions against Tom. The viewer wrote: “They should bring back medieval torture for Tom.”
With Emmerdale bosses remaining tight-lipped on any details concerning Tom’s downfall, viewers are left wondering if justice will be served by some of Belle’s closest companions. Cain Dingle, her half-brother, was suspicious of a recent burglary at Dale Head, which as it turns out, had been orchestrated by none other than the insidious Tom.
Belle’s friends, Vinny and Mandy Dingle have also been hinted as possible supporters for Belle during her coercive control nightmare. Tom has ruthlessly singled them out in his efforts to increasingly isolate – and gain more control over – his partner.