Emmerdale (ITV1 pace) - ** NO SPOILERS ** Ding dong Belle

[TellingBone]

Awaiting the verdict

Is this the support group?

The jurors were discussing how Belle had made an application under Clare's Law so there must have been something behind her doing that.

Rare compliment from me for that final montage

I liked how it ended with Belle looking right at us all.

That ending got me 🥹

Perfect ending

How can someone not be affected by the issues raised in an episode like that?

Sorry - that statement bugs me.

I wonder if those women from the support group are the real survivors?

Good stuff!!

It’s been a long haul 😞

So is this the conclusion because someone on the previous thread said it didn’t conclude tonight

Ending was very good.
Christmas dinner at the Dingles, Belle with Piper on her lap. Perfect.

Well technically I guess it could go on forever as Tom will be out in 18 months and back to terrorise Belle.

From Digital Spy

“Flashbacks showed Belle hearing moving stories from the survivors at the meeting. These scenes featured actors recounting some emotional real-life testimonies from those affected by domestic violence, as part of the show's off-screen work with charities like New Beginnings Peer Support.”

Thanks @JewelleryCat

I was surprised by some of the comments on the last thread. I found that a very difficult watch (some lived experience) and the ending with so many women and their stories made me cry very hard 😢.

Sadly, domestic abuse is still not taken as seriously as it should be and that sentence was nowhere near enough. I just hope they don't bring him back. I am relieved that storyline is over though. I also understand why they have had to drag it out as long as they have because that is real. It's insidious and slow burning before you realise what is happening.

So now bring back Piper and get Belle on the road to recovery ❤️‍🩹

Wonder if, in the future, Tom escapes while being transferred to a prison, finds his way to Emmerdale and lies in wait for Belle?

I bloody hope not!

💐 @TheFormidableMrsC

I hope that's finally the end of it all and we don't have Tom getting out in 18 months and it starting up again.

I couldn't understand how the Gemma case was brought up but not the business with Tom and Chas when he was younger.

Yes I thought that. It's not like he didn't have form. I wouldn't have thought the Gemma thing was a necessary disclosure for this case.

@RaraRachael I don't think Chas ever made it official with the police as she felt sorry for him losing his dad. Not certain on that though. So there would be no record so to speak. But agree that Belle's previous conviction was totally irrelevant as she was not on trial.

DH actually watched it with me, he never watches it, we both were shocked at it only being 3 years, we think he'll be back.

I guess the 3 year sentence is reflective of real life cases in that abusers don't get long enough in jail.

What bugs though is that Amelia was asked if Tom was ever physical towards her and she replied no. But what about when he was dragging her out the front door and she was crying and saying he was hurting her? All witnessed by Jimmy.

I thought the same. Absolutely ridiculous she didn't mention that. However, abuse is still so minimised and normalised and excused. Amelia could have brought that up and the horrible way he spoke to her, putting her down and his controlling behaviour towards her.

Hi @JewelleryCat that was me! I was looking at the TV schedule for Friday and it said "The court day begins, the jury gathers and a verdict is delivered"! I just checked again (Sky) and it's still saying that for tonight's episode. Must've just been an error.

Apologies!!