Emmerdale viewers are at breaking point—and the latest targets of their fury are Joe Tate and Dawn Fletcher, whose recent storyline has sparked an outcry across social media.

While every soap needs its villains and complicated romances, fans are making it crystal clear: this particular pair has overstayed their welcome. In fact, a growing number of devoted viewers have declared they are “beyond done” with both characters, slamming their arc as “soulless,” “unwatchable,” and “painfully forced.”

The source of the backlash? Joe and Dawn’s increasingly problematic relationship, one that’s dragged down both characters in the eyes of long-time fans.

In a fiery post on the r/Emmerdale Reddit forum, one frustrated viewer launched into a no-holds-barred critique, writing:

“Beyond done with Joe AND Dawn… can they please just go to Dubai as well and like, never come back??”

The post went viral among the community, gathering dozens of upvotes and sparking a flurry of agreement. The user continued:

“Soaps need their villains, I get that. But Joe? I’ve never detested a character more. He’s a morally bankrupt, irredeemable, soulless creature. Dawn used to be tolerable—at least she cared about her kids. Now she’s picking him over them? Disgusting.”

The sentiment echoed across the thread, where other fans chimed in with blistering takes.

One viewer remarked:

“Joe and Dawn together ruins both of their characters for me. Dawn’s only redeeming quality was her fierce loyalty to her children, and now that’s been obliterated. And Joe pretending to play happy families when it’s clear he doesn’t care about those kids? It’s offensive.”

Another added:

“They have zero chemistry. Not even a spark. It’s like watching two mannequins argue in slow motion.”

The criticism didn’t stop at performance or writing. Some fans theorized that Joe’s current arc wasn’t even written for him.

“This storyline feels like it was meant for Jamie—just without the Dawn angle,” one Redditor speculated. “Jamie was always a whiny brat, and Joe’s acting like that now. The whole thing feels off.”

Others pointed out how Joe’s return to the show lacked the complexity and intensity that defined his earlier appearances. Back then, he was manipulative but calculated, wrapped in layers of trauma, legacy, and entitlement. Now, many feel he’s devolved into a “joke character” with motivations that shift from episode to episode.

Dawn, once beloved for her redemptive arc from troubled addict to fiercely devoted mother, is also suffering under the weight of the storyline. Her decision to prioritize Joe over her children has triggered disappointment, even outrage.

“This isn’t the Dawn we rooted for,” one fan lamented. “She used to be brave, grounded, and flawed in the best way. Now she’s just another woman written to orbit a toxic man.”

The fandom’s weariness is especially loud considering how invested they once were in Dawn’s survival story and Joe’s villainous charisma. But now, with that goodwill evaporating fast, many are pleading with ITV to write them both off—and soon.

“If they want to go to Dubai,” one fan quipped, “let them. One-way ticket. No return. We’ll even help pack their bags.”

The showrunners have yet to respond to the backlash, but if the online reaction continues to snowball, it’s only a matter of time before producers are forced to re-evaluate the direction of Joe and Dawn’s storylines.

With Emmerdale entering another emotionally turbulent summer—fraught with farm feuds, fractured families, and legal battles—viewers are clearly drawing a line.

They’re here for drama. They’re here for villains. But they’re not here for what they’re calling “lazy character destruction.”