Emmerdale’s latest episode saw the residents of the village breathe a sigh of relief as it seemed Mack would pull through following his recent stabbing by traumatised wife Charity.
However, the viewers of the show were left with another feeling after Friday’s episode – one of déjà vu about the whole story!
Charity has been plagued by anxiety and nightmares since she shot and killed gangster Harry Harris last Christmas. Things spiralled out of control this week when, during a nightmare, she lashed out and stabbed Mack.
It’s been clear Charity has been suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), which sees people suffer anxiety, flashbacks and sleepless nights after they are involved in traumatic events.
However, Emmerdale fans watching this week realised that this isn’t the first time the soap has seen a traumatised Dingle woman stab someone by mistake and leave them fighting for their life.
Back in 2015, it was Chastity, not Charity, who was wielding the knife, while the victim was Diane Sugden rather than Mack.
Viewers took to social media as they realised the similarities between the two plots.
“Didn't Chas stab Diane after having a PTSD episode?” questioned one as the memory came flooding back. While another sarcastically commented: “Old scripts never die, they just get recycled on Emmerdale.”
Not another regurgitated storyline. Didn't Chas stab Diane after having a ptsd episode? 🤔 #EmmerdaleFebruary 23, 2024
This Charity PTSD story is a almost a carbon copy of Chas stabbng Diane years ago. #emmerdaleFebruary 22, 2024
Poor Emma Atkins, playing Charity and having to use a secondhand script from Chas stabbing Diane whilst suffering from stress caused by the saintly Emma. Old scripts never die, they just get recycled on Emmerdale. #emmerdale.February 23, 2024
And these viewers with long memories were spot on.
2015 saw a series of big dramatic events finally get on top of Chas. Not only had she been convinced for a time she’d murdered Carl King, but she was later held hostage in the Woolpack by Cameron Murray before almost drowning in the flooded cellar.
But it was when Robert Sugden was then shot as he stood right in front of her that Chas’ terror really kicked in. We saw her becoming convinced that someone was stalking her (in fact, she was sleepwalking and moving things around in the Woolpack herself).
Then, late one night, Chas thought the ‘intruder’ had returned to the pub, grabbed a knife for defence – and accidentally stabbed Diane!
As Diane was rushed to hospital, Chas was released on bail, but later had a psychotic episode where she hallucinated various village residents, leading her friends and family to realise that she needed professional help.
Sadly, in current-day Emmerdale, Chas is off on holiday at the moment, or perhaps she might have spotted her cousin’s troubles before things came to a head.
We saw Charity face the police, and try to explain herself, but will she be able to convince them that what happened was just a terrible accident?
Here’s hoping for Charity’s sake that the police have the same long memories Emmerdale viewers obviously do!
Emmerdale screens on ITV1 on weekdays at 7.30pm, including an hour-long episode on Thursdays.
See our TV Guide for full listings.
