This article contains discussions of sexual assault and domestic abuse, including coercive controlling behaviour, that some readers may find distressing.
Dr Caitlin Todd’s days are numbered in Emmerdale, after a flashforward revealed that she will soon be murdered.
Of course, the despicable character, played by Caroline Harker, had to have a shelf life following her sexual assault on Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins). But the decision to kill Dr Todd repeats a tired pattern concerning soap abusers.
The storyline had a strong start, with solid performances from Harker and the ever-outstanding Atkins. Confirmation of Todd’s demise, though, has shifted the tone from soulful to brash and abrupt.
The village has already been awash with all manner of villains meeting their maker, all in lieu of giving those wronged the natural justice they deserve.
So far across 2026, John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) has been murdered in self-defence by half-sister Victoria (Isabel Hodgins), while modern slavery ringleader Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) killed sadistic adoptive mum Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths), only to be bumped off himself. Also slain in recent years were child abuser Anthony Fox (Nicholas Day) and rapist Craig Reed (Ben Addis).
In an era where ‘whodunnits’ are more prevalent than ever, this pay-off lacks the intensity we crave.
Juggling villains on a concurrent basis, the contrast of John’s pantomime wickedness with Ray’s sinister edge and Celia’s remorseless nature could have been a genuine coup for Emmerdale, had they all faced their own, unique consequences.
I envisioned Ray, having been notably groomed into his unsavoury lifestyle, pleading guilty at the last minute; and John’s worst nightmare coming true as he was blocked from ever using his medical training again as he languished behind bars.
In the midst of all this, Celia’s death would have had much more impact as the solitary casualty.
Unfortunately, rather than the guilty parties going on trial, Ray’s traumatised target and eventual killer, Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards), was forced to explain himself, while Vic fled with the weight of her split-second decision on her shoulders.
Now, yet again, the villain is set to become the victim, and it’s not just Emmerdale that is guilty of flipping the narrative.
In Coronation Street, Theo Silverton (James Cartwright) was poised to stand trial for domestic abuse until Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) pushed him to his death, side-lining a healing journey for Theo’s husband Todd Grimshaw after a sensational portrayal from Gareth Pierce.
The impact this had on Todd was, at least, addressed on screen.
Joel Deering (Calum Lill) also met his demise, escaping a long, drawn out punishment for abuse and attempted murder.
EastEnders snuffed out its own resident abuser, bully Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) and, most recently, racist killer Eddie Knight (Christopher Fairbank).
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Meanwhile, Hollyoaks serial killer Jeremy Blake (Jeremy Sheffield) and controlling rapist Abe Fielding (Tyler Conti) had their own definitive exits.
Corrie, at least, has made a point of jailing predatory teacher Megan Walsh (Beth Nixon), her true colours on full display as the jury saw through her.
By comparison, the last time an Emmerdale villain got the appropriate comeuppance was in 2024. Tom King (James Chase) was sentenced for coercive control and assault, giving way to empowerment and closure for Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) as she later visited him to secure a divorce.
Back in 2022, psychopathic Meena Jutla (Paige Sandhu) punctuated her flawless final scene with a tantrum as she was dragged away to the tune of a 75 year sentence for murder.
These distinct, satisfying versions of retribution live on in our memories, showcasing personalised paths to prison for each individual character – and all without repetition or resorting to that fatal flaw.
Emmerdale must look back on those archives and take inspiration the next time a villain strikes, rather than adding to its mortality rate.
The fate of Caitlin Todd, though, is already set in stone. And it’s even more disappointing when you consider that Emmerdale had the chance to make history with her reckoning.
Charity felt she should have been safe around a fellow female. Her rapist being a woman has, wrongly, made her feel like a fraud, and even legal terminology won’t acknowledge the severity of what happened to her. A court case highlighting that women are also capable of such crimes would therefore have made a real statement and possibly changed perspectives.
It’s clear Harker would have excelled in the dramatic trial scenes. Her alter ego could have used her reputation as her defence, only to falter when several survivors found the courage to fight against her as her conviction sealed the end of her career.
But alas, this was not to be. The police were unable to pursue a case, and harrowingly this does reflect reality for many.
Charity found a slither of peace after a heart-to-heart with fellow Todd victim Helen (Nicole Evans). Yet the ill-judged murder of Dr Todd will take the focus entirely away from Charity’s ordeal and recovery, leaving a sour taste that needs to be remedied by both Emmerdale and the genre at large.
What was once a suspenseful, intriguing twist has sadly become a predictable, go-to dispatch plan for evil figures. It’s an overused trope that overshadows the initial impact on our favourite characters and ultimately fails to stick the landing.
As a result, Dr Todd’s arc is reduced to a soap tale as old as time – a corpse and an inevitable list of suspects.
For information and support, please visit Rape Crisis or The Survivors Trust.
You can access free and confidential support from Refuge’s 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 and digital support via live chat Monday-Friday 3-10pm via nationaldahelpline.org.uk.
Read more:
- Emmerdale airs lethal incident for Cain Dingle in early ITVX release
- 5 Emmerdale spoilers: Dawn Fletcher under suspicion ahead of exit and Serena Sugden risks being caught out
- Emmerdale exit revealed for long-running character after over 20 years in popular role
- Emmerdale star teases “complex year” ahead for Charity Dingle after nightmare labour
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.
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