Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) will do anything for Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) in Emmerdale, even confronting an armed criminal wearing an apron.
Mack and Aaron have been best friends for ages, but they bonded for life when Aaron saved Mackenzie from John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth).
While Mack was trapped in an underground bunker, Aaron was unconscious in hospital after being thrown from a gorge by his husband. As soon as he woke up though, he told Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) that John had kidnapped Mackenzie, ultimately leading the police to the bunker and then eventually, discovering that Mack was in a nearby hospital.
During his recovery, Aaron was supported a lot by Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) and after a bit of time as just pals, they decided to reunite. This happened moments before Robert’s secret husband Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill) text, creating a new problem.
Criminal Kev has been in the village for a few days now, after being released and sent to the Anderson household as part of an outreach project.
Kev was really looking forward to spending more time with Robert outside of the prison, but this feeling wasn’t reciprocated by him. He had to try and juggle his relationship with Kev and continuing his other one with Aaron, all while convincing both men that they didn’t need to worry about each other.
Aaron discovered Kev and Robert’s real connection when he saw them kissing outside the pub. Given his ordeal with John, Aaron absolutely wasn’t prepared to listen to Robert’s excuses and told them they were done.
Aaron’s view has not changed once since this happened. He has heard Robert out time and time again, but his thoughts haven’t wavered due to the fact Robert won’t dump Kev. He doesn’t want to break the heart of a dying man but also, Robert wants to stay with Kev until he dies so he can get his fortune.
As a result of Robert not proving himself enough, Aaron has washed his hands with him.
In tonight’s episode, Mackenzie decided to step in to try and tell Kev that Aaron and Robert are meant to be together. While winding John up about Robert and Aaron’s connection worked, it didn’t prove as successful with Kev.
After trying to talk to Kev, who was standing in an apron waiting for his lemon drizzle to finish baking, Mackenzie made his way to the café to update Aaron.
His nonchalant approach to speaking to Kev threw Aaron and local gossiper Nicola (Nicola Wheeler) off quite a bit, but it was then established that Mackenzie actually had no idea why Kev was behind bars.
As he processed Kev being in prison for 20 odd years for armed robbery, Mack couldn’t help wonder what Aaron was doing letting Robert continue his relationship with the bloke.
Tired and at the end of his tether though, Aaron was still of the view that he no longer needed to fight for Robert, because he chose Kev over him.
Is this really the end of their journey?
