Welcome to the first-ever "Beyond the Gates" monthly discussion thread here on Soap Opera Network where fans of the daytime drama series can share and respond to everything about, within, and beyond the gates of Fairmont Crest and the Fairmont Crest Country Club.

The brand new series stars Tamara Tunie, Clifton Davis, Daphnee Duplaix, Karla Mosley, Alex Alegria, Lauren Buglioli, Brandon Claybon, Timon Kyle Durrett, Sean Freeman, Ben Gavin, Marquita Goings, Jibre Hordges, Jen Jacob, Maurice Johnson, Trisha Mann-Grant, Mike Manning, RhonniRose Mantilla, Ambyr Michelle, Colby Muhammad and Arielle Prepetit.

"Beyond the Gates" is the first brand new soap opera set to debut on a broadcast network in more than 25 years, since the launch of “Passions” in 1999, and the first-ever one-hour Black-centric daytime drama series.

The series is developed and produced by the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture, led by Sheila Ducksworth, in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Michele Val Jean is the creator, executive producer and showrunner alongside executive producers Sheila Ducksworth, Julie Carruthers, Robert Guza Jr., Leon W. Russell, Derrick Johnson, Kimberly Doebereiner and Anna Saalfeld.

"Beyond the Gates"

Premise: Set in a leafy Maryland suburb just outside of Washington, D.C., and in one the most affluent African American counties in the United States. Here you’ll find a posh gated community with winding tree-lined streets and luxurious mansions to call home. At the center of this community are the Duprees, a powerful and prestigious multi-generational family that is the very definition of Black royalty. But behind these pristine walls and lush, manicured gardens are juicy secrets and scandals waiting to be uncovered. And those who live outside these gates are watching closely. These are the places where our characters live, love, work and play. Those who have “made it” and those who haven’t are all trying to navigate life … and some with more grace than others.

Premieres Monday, February 24 at 2:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT on CBS. Stream Live and On Demand on Paramount+/Paramount+ WITH SHOWTIME. Weekdays.

"Beyond the Gates: Welcome to the Neighborhood"
Five-day, five-part half-hour daytime special airing during the week of February 17-21, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT on CBS. Stream Live and On Demand on Paramount+/Paramount+ WITH SHOWTIME.

Episode One: Unveiling Fairmont Crest (Monday, February 17)

• In the premiere episode, “Beyond the Gates: Welcome to the Neighborhood” opens its doors to Fairmont Crest, a world rich with history, culture and secrets waiting to be uncovered. Get to know the cast and creative minds behind this groundbreaking series as they share what makes “Beyond the Gates” a first-of-its-kind storytelling experience – both in front of and behind the camera.

Episode Two: Creating the Cast (Tuesday, February 18)

• Episode two dives into the making of “Beyond the Gates”, revealing the dedication and vision that brought this epic series to life. Meet the Dupree family, the heart of Fairmont Crest, and uncover the intricate stories that shape their world. Go inside the casting process that built the show’s powerhouse ensemble, with over 40 dynamic characters brought to life by an extraordinary lineup of talent.

Episode Three: Fashion and Flair (Wednesday, February 19)

• In episode three, step behind the curtain to explore the artistry of “Beyond the Gates”’ wardrobe, hair and makeup departments. Take a tour of the show’s high-fashion wardrobe, where every look is meticulously curated to reflect each character’s personality, status and story. Get the inside scoop on the secrets behind the show’s stunning hair and makeup, including a peek inside the wig cabinet housing more than 40 custom-designed wigs.

Episode Four: A Day in the Life (Thursday, February 20)

• Episode four shows viewers a day in the life of the fast-paced world of “Beyond the Gates”, where the cast tackles an intense filming schedule – shooting up to 100 pages a day. Discover the stamina, skill and dedication it takes to bring Fairmont Crest to life, from memorizing lines to delivering powerhouse performances under pressure. Plus, meet the leading men and women of “Beyond the Gates” and get an inside look at what really goes into filming those steamy love scenes.

Episode Five: Sneak Peek and Guest Stars (Friday, February 21)

• In episode five, get ready for an exclusive first look at “Beyond the Gates”’ explosive premiere. With high stakes, deep secrets and unforgettable drama, this sneak peek sets the stage for a season filled with twists and surprises. Plus, hear directly from the cast and creators about what’s in store for Fairmont Crest. Then, unlock the ET Vault to revisit where we first met the stars of “Beyond the Gates” and where you may have seen them before.
• Additionally, don’t miss a special behind-the-scenes look at some of the show’s exciting guest stars – including “Entertainment Tonight” co-host Nischelle Turner. Go on set as she steps into Fairmont Crest for a must-see cameo, giving fans a glimpse of the fun and surprises still to come.

Official Websites

CBS.com / Paramount+

2 minutes ago, Liberty City said:

Omg....

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men in glasses?! Yeah. Give me that Clark Kent kind of vibe...

 

And he's a journalist, too!!!

1 hour ago, All My Shadows said:

Tamara Tunie is playing Anita Dupree as if this show's been running for 30+ years. Stepped right into that role and owning it completely from Day 1.

Yes! Tunie is playing Anita to the hilt! Sometimes actors who soap hop seem to play the same character on every show, that is definitely not the case here. Anita could not be more different from Jessica. I can also see how Tunie is drawing inspiration from classic divas like Lena Horne and Diahann Carroll.

I had a wonderful time watching the premiere of Beyond the Gates!

I'm happy that Nicole was the first character we saw to introduce us to the show. Dani may be the firecracker, but it's Nicole who I have my eyes on. I actually wrote down who was introduced in chronological order and the first five main characters we saw were all women. As a gay man, I couldn't be happier that it feels like women will be at the center of this soap. And as a gay man, Jacob and Martin are gorgeous, but it's my man Andre - who gives me Shemar Moore vibes, who I'll be crushing on the most. He's is perfection. 

But, I enjoyed everyone. I didn't have a problem with the white people like you all did. I watched their scenes with interest wondering how they'll figure into the story. I noticed Ashley had one of those ominous, "I'm never going to lose you" lines to her husband , which made me think he's going to die sooner rather than later. She instantly connects to Naomi/Jacob and Andre, who we know from the promo will soon connect with Dani so if Ben does die (maybe grasping at speculative straws), Ashley could be embroiled in Dani's chaotic life quite easily. It makes me wonder if MVJ will take the Bill Bell or Agnes Nixon approach when it comes to integrating the cast.

I'll reiterate that Karla Mosley gave me Vicky Wyndham vibes, especially in her scenes with Haley. And though I'm sure MVJ got her inspiration elsewhere, the way Vernon called Dani his "best and brightest" was exactly what Grandpa Shawn Brady called Kim, much to Kayla's chagrin on Days of our Lives.

I actually thought Haley was the greenest actor of them all, Martin seemed a bit robotic, and Chelsea's voice needed to be less mousy, for lack of a better word. But again, I'm well aware people need time to adjust, especially the newcomers. Especially true in the actors finding chemistry with each other because some of the dialogue didn't flow as naturally, coming off stilted. The perfect example of this is when Dani told Haley "Shut up, I'm talking," but it felt like Dani had been silent for ages by that point. Once the actors become more familiar with each other and find a comfortable rhythm things will pop more successfully.

I stayed home to watch and I'm glad I did. There's just something about watching a soap at midday that just brings with it so much nostalgia.

I'm going to start with a few low points:

- The opening was disappointing. I didn't love it when I watched the clip on here and watching on TV did nothing to change my mind. I love the idea of it, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

- Some of the acting was rough, but I also understand that this will take time especially with such a large and fairly green cast. The seasoned players were great.

- I feel like the opening needed to be more grand and faster paced to set the stories into action. Besides a lot of exposition, it felt like a standard soap episode. I feel like Dani's scene throwing the coffee mugs needed a flashback to her catching her husband having an affair in their bed and as the episode progressed it's revealed this woman was actually her daughter's friend. 

Some of the positives for me:

- The sets were beautiful. The costuming was great. 

- The soap vets were phenomenal.  Daphnée was so good. 

- The end of the episode with Dani finding out her ex husband has decided to take residence in her community was solid soap. 

 

I'm excited to see how it all develops and what this first week has in store. 

 

11 minutes ago, BetterForgotten said:

They should just ask Lynn Herring to play Vanessa’s mother eventually, lol

I was thinking of Barbara Crampton.

1 minute ago, Soapsuds said:

I was thinking of Barbara Crampton.

Yess!!!!

Also, with Martin's embarrassed look towards Haley, I wonder if he'll be the first one to sympathize with ostracized Haley, only amplifying Dani and Nicole's sisterly relationship. Or maybe that's where Smitty will come in?

And this is jumping the gun by a lot, but I wonder if Bill's secretary could eventually become similar to Sofia Landon's Diane Ballard from GL? If they slow burn like GL did, it could be great.

Edited February 24Feb 24 by Bright Eyes

Here's my spoiler-ish review/recap of the first week, which talks about things we might have already seen or will see soon:

Opening the Gates: Everything You Need to Know About ‘Beyond the Gates’ Right Now

https://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2025/02/opening-the-gates-everything-you-need-to-know-beyond-the-gates

4 minutes ago, Bright Eyes said:

Dani may be the firecracker, but it's Nicole who I have my eyes on.

Definitively. Nicole isn't as outrageous as Dani, but it's obvious there are things going on beyond the surface. I think her getting shut down despite being the successful sibling will rear its ugly head eventually. Maybe not in year one, but there's no way there's not going to be conflict here. Especially with Dani and Nicole's kids being "best friends". How would Nicole, the award-winning psychiatrist, deal with Dani's kid leading her kid astray? 

12 minutes ago, Errol said:

And he's a journalist, too!!!

Yessssssssssss. I have my thoughts but won't reveal them, yet...

1 hour ago, BetterForgotten said:

A globe for ATWT/AW and a light for GL?

2 minutes ago, Errol said:

Here's my spoiler-ish review/recap of the first week, which talks about things we might have already seen or will see soon:

Opening the Gates: Everything You Need to Know About ‘Beyond the Gates’ Right Now

https://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2025/02/opening-the-gates-everything-you-need-to-know-beyond-the-gates

6 minutes ago, Soapsuds said:

I was thinking of Barbara Crampton.

How about Sharon Gabet... 

Just now, Alan said:

A globe for ATWT/AW and a light for GL?

That’s been the standard P&G logo for a long time. I’m not sure if the significance of the candle light - could be a GL reference, but someone at P&G will need to clarify!

It’s nice to see a P&G logo after a soap after all this time. It’s not the classic PGP logo, but it’s a spiritual successor. 

I cannot wait to watch in this on Paramount+ tonight!!!