Joe Tate unknowingly ‘confirms’ his own downfall in Emmerdale as Dawn is left reeling

Is Joe Tate really this oblivious? (Picture: ITV/Metro)

I never thought I’d see the day where I’d write about Emmerdale’s Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) being so blinded by love that he’s actually failing to see what’s going on right in front of him.

But here we are.

This week, Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley) kickstarted her plan to destroy her partner. She now knows that Joe blackmailed Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins), put Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb) in prison, and cut down Holly Barton’s tree. Dawn has confronted Joe about his behaviour but he’s consistently lied to her, and now she’s had enough.

Dawn, Moira and Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) concluded that taking everything from Joe was a far better option than having him killed.

The first part of this revenge began yesterday, and saw Dawn rant to Joe about what a nightmare business partner Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) is, and how she’d quite like to buy Take a Vow from her.

Joe jumped at the chance to be the hero and told Dawn that he’d give her the money. She then arrived at Wishing Well and revealed to a very satisfied Belle and Moira that Joe’s cash would be in her account the next day. She wasn’t going to use it to take the business from Belle, she was going to keep it for the future.

Dawn was forced to have an awkward conversation with Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle) in tonight’s episode when son Lucas casually revealed that his mum is pregnant with Joe’s baby. All Billy could worry about is what will happen to Lucas, Clemmie, and Evan when the new baby is born, pointing out that Joe will focus far more on the Tate heir rather than the other children.

Dawn briefly alluded to what she was planning against Joe, but couldn’t tell Billy the full story in case he reacted badly and ruined it all.

The conversation did, however, give Dawn another idea.

Dawn wants to completely destroy Joe (Picture: ITV/Metro) Moira and Belle are now helping Dawn (Picture: ITV)

In a chat with Joe, Dawn wondered if he’d neglect her other children once his baby had arrived. Joe made a few jokes, but was also surprised that Dawn had asked such a thing if they’re meant to be so madly in love with each other. He reassured her with words – and then did the one thing he’s really very good at whenever a problem arises.

He threw money at it.

Joe told Dawn that in order to prove he will love Clemmie, Lucas, Evan and the new baby all equally, he will set up trust funds for each of them, meaning they will be financially stable for a very long time.

Dawn was grateful but also staggered. Joe really loves Dawn, and the twist in tonight’s episode, plus the way he just casually transferred her a large sum of money for Take a Vow, somewhat suggests the affection he has for her is clouding his judgement.

Joe is a Tate though – is he really digging his own grave here and being this naïve?

Does Joe have any inkling as to what Dawn is up to?

Or is she going to succeed this quickly in taking everything from him?

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