Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) has issued a sinister vow to Caleb Miligan (William Ash) following the death of Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley) in Emmerdale, setting the stage for a revenge plot.
In the episode dated August 31, Joe confronted Caleb after leaving the hospital and making his way into the village. Caleb told Joe that his plan was never meant to end this way, but his words did nothing to ease Joe's anger.
Joe's grief turns to vengeance
Joe's fury stems from Caleb and Ruby Miligan's (Beth Cordingly) involvement in Dawn and Billy Fletcher's (Jay Kontzle) plot to leave Emmerdale. The couple had assisted the plan because they were eager to see Joe with nothing.
Caleb's hunger to beat Joe had left him a controlling man. He had told Billy that he couldn't exit the village until Joe and Dawn's wedding day, because he wanted what was supposed to be the happiest day of Joe's life to be the absolute worst. Billy had no choice but to comply, as he had learned that Kev Barton (Chris Coghill) was the person who attacked him weeks earlier and knew that if he didn't follow Caleb's orders, Dawn could learn he had lied about Joe.
A tragic wedding day
Last week, Jimmy King (Nick Miles) crashed his car into the marquee where Joe and Dawn were supposed to get married. Prior to the collision, Dawn was in the tent with Joe, begging for another chance at their relationship. She had plotted to run away with Billy and their children, believing Joe had attacked her ex at the depot. Dawn eventually learned the truth and raced back to Emmerdale before it was too late.
Jimmy's car smashed into the marquee, knocking him, Dawn and Joe unconscious. Jimmy died as a result of his injuries. For a moment, it looked like Joe wouldn't survive either, as the marquee exploded with him inside, but debris protected him from the blast.
Dawn's death and Joe's spiral
In the hospital, Joe supported Dawn as she went into early labour. In yesterday's episode, the couple were relishing the arrival of their baby boy, but the happiness didn't last. After fetching Dawn some water, Joe returned to her room and discovered something was very wrong. Doctors and nurses rushed in, but Joe soon learned that his partner had died.
Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) felt lost in today's episode, as his moral compass has always been driven by what Joe wants and needs – but the one thing Joe wanted and needed most, Graham couldn't give him. As Graham and Kim Tate (Claire King) wondered how to move forward, Joe confronted Billy and then turned his attention to Caleb.
Joe has never been one for confronting his emotions in a healthy way, so it wasn't surprising that he menacingly told Caleb that he doesn't intend to stop until he gets what he deserves. As Joe spirals, the question remains: what's next for him?
