Tonight Val came back from the dead for a goodbye scene with Eric and I've seen so many negative comments about it I just had to make this thread.

Firstly, people deal with grief in many different ways. How people come to terms with the loss of a loved one is entirely down to them as long as it gives them a sense of peace. I know personally many people who believe in spirit guides and reincarnation. Many people like to believe in heaven too. Pardon Emmerdale for thinking people would understand that Val wasn't really there and it was just Eric's way of coping!

Secondly it's important to remember this isn't the first time this is happened in soap so for a little history lesson, free of charge, here are a few examples ranging from touching to bat shit crazy.

Jack Sugden watches his family mourn his loss at his grave (2009??). 3 minutes and 10 seconds in

Marlon talks to Tricia on a park bench while she is actually in a coma and he has to decide whether to let her go or not - January 2004

Jack's final dance with Vera in Corrie 2010.

Bobby in the fridge in Home and Away - mid 90s?



Hayley sees Ken's ghost in home and Away - 2000/2001?



I'm sure there's many more but these are the ones off the top of my head.

I didn't really see it as Val's "ghost", I just thought Eric had put on their song and was imagining Val was there with him.

Well said Mavis.

I don't personally believe in 'ghosts' as such, but I don't think that's what this was. For me, it was just about Eric desperately needing to say goodbye to his beloved Valerie, and knowing her well enough to be able to imagine exactly what she would have said to him if she could have been there. He's distraught of course, and will soon no doubt be wracked with guilt at having been the one to lock her in there, but for the moment at least I think he found some comfort in that last 'conversation'.

I thought it was beautifully done, largely because of Chris Chittell's fantastic and understated performance and it made me cry. It's a massive Well Done ED from me, sad as it was.

It's actually just people on here who didn't like it, social media loves it there's lots of comments saying how much they loved it.

I loved it too. Like Vals death I was laughing at it because it was full of one liners.

Yes it representation of his grief.

On a side note why is Diane not ripping Doug and Rodney apart for imprisoning them then going to town to get drunk not keeping a eye out outside.

David Platt moved a crisp packet across the bar using his mind

I thought you could see it as either, Vals ghost or Eric's imagination with his grief, the song and cigarette pack triggering it .

I loved that we, the viewers, got to see a final Eric and Val scene. It made it even more sad, but I think it worked very well.

I loved it and I think it was very respectful of the Val and Eric relationship and it was lovely too see Val back to say her last goodbye too her true love. I have loved this week lots well done ED

It wasn't a ghost it was the real Val.

Great post op.

Well having watched the episode just now I'm a bubbly mess my eyes are so sore .the scene with val n Eric was lovely my partner of over a year has jokingly said I'm stone cold normally witnessed me crying like a baby ,I've had to put corrie on hold to pour my self a drink

But I will sure be voting for val n Eric in the future soap awards

I agree with most of the above. As I've said in another thread my initial reaction was oh no but it was so well done I actually felt very moved by it. To me it wasnt a ghost scene but a depiction of a man coming to terms with the fact that his wife really was dead. Credit to all concerned for producing some really good performances and writing.

Great post OP but Bobby in the fridge (H&A) wasn't a ghost. It was clearly explained to be a hallucination brought on by overdosing on amphetamines. I don't believe it was even left up to viewers imagination. It was pretty clearly explained the character was high on drugs.

Eric saw what he needed to see

I thought it was a perfect ending for Val I think she and Eric were great the acting was not overdone it was just the right touch,, it doesn't matter whether you believe in ghosts or not or that Eric was seeing what he wanted it was a perfect ending. I sat and cried and when she put the music on it was a touching end.....thankyou Val and Eric......

Great OP. Reminded me a lot of the Jack and Vera stuff in corrie. It worked very well and was a great 'send off' for Val.

I liked it. The way I saw it, it was Erics imagination as he needed to accept her death.

While moving the Jack Sugden one was weird as the actor had already died

Yes, i think it was done so it could be either. That is why we didn't get a shot of somebody looking through the window to see him talking to himself for clarification.

As a sceptic, I immediately said 'hallucination' but there are plenty of people that do believe in ghosts, spirit guides so why shouldn't those viewers be allowed to see it as an apparition?

So it WAS true. When she was given the HIV storyline i said well that's val then she won't be playing this part for more than 2 yrs tops, & was around right. My o/h is gonna be inconsolable.

The whole week was far fetched that cringey helicopter and now Val's ghost.

Where are you looking, on Twitter I've seen mixed reviews at best, some saying it spoilt the whole week with the ghost stuff.

We still don't know if the ciggerette was in the packet or not. It's like they want the audience to make their own minds up as if it was her ghost or Eric's imagination. I personally think it was Eric's imagination.

It wasn't a ghost Wouldn't Eric have freaked if her ghost suddenly appeared. Eric was clearly imagining Val and imagining the conversation and the best way of demonstrating that was showing us Val.

I'm usually quite cynical and I've been irritated by some of the goings on this week in Emmerdale but that was actually one of the more enjoyable and funnily enough realistic things.