BTG: February 2025 Discussion Thread

[janea4old]

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("Day One" image via Sheila Ducksworth on twitter/instagram. Also Jon Lindstrom is posting it)

Edited February 24 by janea4old

[BetterForgotten]

Since the press has started to post detailed reviews, I am going to repost my thoughts from the screening from the first episode that I saw at the Paley Center last week. Don’t ready “beyond” this if you don’t want spoilers. 
 

I will watching the live episode today as well and add more if I missed or forgot anything 

 

Beginning/Credits:

-  CBS/NAACP/P&G spent money - The first episode opens with a sequence of Nicole driving into the country club with ‘Best of My Love’ by The Emotions playing

- In terms of credits, Michele Val Jean’s “Created By” credit is first. Queen

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- MVJ was also the only writer I saw listed, I didn’t see the whole writing team listed - breakdown writers, or a scriptwriter. I am guessing MVJ wrote this first episode entirely by herself. I know that first script leaked online a while back but the credits listed there don’t fully match what was listed in the writer credits for this first episode. I’m also wondering if the televised credits will differ, I guess we’ll see in a few hours

- Steve Williford is the only credited director for the first episode 

 

Some Episode/Character details with my opinions (If this is too spoilery for most of you, let me know and I can edit):

- The first episode can be quite exposition heavy at times; That’s understandable, I guess, since these people and relationships have been going on for years and we’re just being introduced to them

- Dani is not presented as a very sympathetic character, honestly, IMO. She’s bitter, controlling, and pretty childish at times. Yes, she’s understandably hurt by Billy and Haley’s affair, but she doesn’t seem totally innocent either and her marriage was never as rock solid as she likes to pretend it was pre-Haley. Anita and Nicole pointed out to her that Bill has cheated on her before, but she always overlooked it. She’s just upset this time that he actually left her for the other woman, ruining their seemingly perfect facade. Also, her mothering skills in relation to Chelsea specifically are also very questionable. It’s almost like Dani wants to live vicariously through Chelsea’s modeling career. 

- Haley’s betrayal hurts Dani because Dani basically considered Haley as almost another daughter before the affair, and Dani got Haley the job working for Bill in the first place. Haley seems very naive, but you never get the sense she’s totally malicious either in the first episode. She loves the security that her new life affords her, and seems to just want to fit in. As I had said before when watching the trailers, she has some shades of B&B’s Brooke Logan in her. 

- Bill is sleaze-ball from the start; None of Dani’s family ever liked that man. However, Timon Durrett is sexy and has amazing screen presence. Probably the most obvious standout character for me in this premiere episode. 

- Nicole is presented as having a totally perfect life, but you know something is simmering below the surface…

- Tamara Tunie brings a big royal flair to the show; Anita is wise, and loves her family, but also seems like the type you don’t want to cross - girl grew up in the projects after all! I am excited to see her fully fleshed out in the weeks to come. As I mentioned, Tunie infuses a lot of subtext into her performance in this first episode. The skill of a great actor and matriarch. Her scenes with Nicole and Dani are the highlight for me in this first episode. The look she gave Haley at the end (I won’t spoil what happened yet) was hilarious and priceless. 

- I don’t really have much to say about Vernon and the gay grandson, Martin. They had some scenes in the diner before going to the country club, but the grandson seems like the type that places his career aspirations before anything else. We don’t see his husband “Smitty” in this first episode

- The 3 granddaughters are OK - even with limited acting experience, they all do have a nice charisma. I did kind of role my eyes at the Naomi and Jacob’s over the top sex scenes after a while though. Jibes Hordges is pretty hot though! 

What I didn’t really like:

-  By far the worst and most painfully boring part of the episode was the white couple. Sorry, based on the first episode, Jen Jacob and Ben Gavin have ZERO chemistry as Ashley and Derek. Their scenes took away energy from this first episode and were totally isolated. I am willing to give them more time, but I do not have a good first impression with these characters, their relationship, and the actors. It felt like this couple was tacked on because someone told them they needed a white couple on the show for some people in America to be able to digest this show better…

- Karen Hugher’s guest spot was OK, and at times when you observe her reactions in the background, it can be funny. But, I am not sure this cameo was totally needed. 

All and all - it’s episode #1. Don’t go in expecting something groundbreaking right away. You don’t meet every single yet, but the foundation is definitely being laid for what is to come. Please go in with your soap viewing lens, but also realize this is a new daytime soap launching in 2025. The pacing can be quicker in some instances, and I think the way they film and use music may take getting used to for some daytime soap opera purists. But my advice is to judge this show on its own merits and its own unique identity that it’s trying to establish. I am definitely excited to learn more and follow through residents of Fairmont Crest from here though! 

 

Edited February 24 by BetterForgotten

[Liberty City]

@BetterForgotten Not quoting in case people don't want to read it, but wow... what a breakdown!! It makes me even more excited than I was waking up this morning!

[Vee]

Nothing there surprises me tbh. The obligatory supporting cast white couple definitely seem dull (particularly Jen Jacob) but if that's the only standout issue I'll take it. They're easy come easy go.

[Errol]

Doing a write-up on non-spoiler things, but I just wanted to say this:

"This portion of Beyond the Gates is sponsored by..." is in!

"Beyond the Gates will return in a moment, here on CBS" is in!

YAY!

[Liberty City]

OMG! WE'RE REALLY GOING BACK TO THE GOOD 'OL DAYS, AREN'T THEY!?!?!

[BetterForgotten]

They kept those on the Paley screening as well, but obviously there were no commercials lol. It was voiced by Tamara Tunie. 

[Soapsuds]

OMG I'm melting!!

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[Errol]

Not just Tamara, but other actors have done the voiceovers as well, including Karla, Clifton, Daphnee and a few others who were used throughout the first week's episodes.

Oh, and the first week only shows 2 iterations of the opening title sequence, so maybe as the weeks go by we'll see more. 

Each iteration only displays 12 cast members, primarily those appearing in the episode.

[Soapsuds]

I guess they couldn't get Dan Region for the voiceovers?

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[janea4old]

 

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Edited February 24 by janea4old

[YRBB]

So excited to watch live today! Entertainment Weekly gave it a very good review as well, which I mostly skipped because I don't want to know particulars - I want to be surprised as much as possible.

Took off this afternoon and will be parked on my couch. LET'S GO BEYOND!

[Marco Dane]

YES!!!!

I need ABC to bring this back as well!

[BetterForgotten]

As painful as it is to get though both Y&R and B&B these days, I am going to watch the full CBS soap block today to see how everything flows, lol. We have not had a real soap block in such a long time, I figure I might as well try to experience it on this historic day. 

Edited February 24 by BetterForgotten

[dragonflies]

It's BTG day and my Dad's 79th Birthday(in heaven) too!!