BTG: February 2025 Discussion Thread

[BetterForgotten]

It just feels like Y&R drags because Josh Griffith’s writing is so damn boring…

[AMCOLTLLover]

I’ve finished the First Episode of This Brand New Soap !

It was damn solid and an exciting start! So much ground has been built with storylines and characters without feeling too much packed into it. It came natural.

My Favorites already are Nicole, Vanessa, Vernon, Dani (in a way) and  Martin.

The Setting of Dani‘s storyline with Bill-Hayley is that typical soap Trope but it works and doesn’t come off Like: We saw this 373636 Times on Soaps. 
Vernon making personal Connection with the Community and showing his grandson was well done. I was really intrigued how genuine that scene felt with Bessie!

Only criticism I have is Karla Mosley as Dani! Some Of her Acting and facial expression and delivery of her lines felt questionable and hammered. But she did make me feel sorry for her but I don’t know what it is but sometimes she came off so corny and forced. BUT she still made me invested in her storyline with Bill and Hayley and I can’t wait to see where this is heading. But I cant say her acting has improved from B&B to BTG. Sorry.

Ashley… don’t care and I Hope she ain’t too isolated from the rest of the Community and will just be the trope nurse-Doctor for this show lol

The corniest scene in a Long time was THE SLAP and everyone from Dani‘s Family walking one by one out and giving Hayley a judgemental Look. Come on. 
 

Can’t wait for Episode 2

Edited February 24 by AMCOLTLLover

[dragonflies]

That wasn't a slap it was a balled up with my fist PUNCH lol

[Errol]

While I'll never be the one to use the phrase under any circumstances, the person I watched the show with this weekend called it the DEI aspect of the show. Take what you will from that.

[AbcNbc247]

From the very first moment we heard that we were getting a new soap, the one thing I didn't want was for it to be written like a big, stupid joke. And I couldn't be happier that it isn't. 

There did seem to be a little camp, but at the same time, everything was taken seriously. Not treating this like a big joke was definitely the way to go. I know things may change in the coming weeks as BTG finds its footing but the writing style is one thing that I hope doesn't change at all.

Overall, this was a really good debut. The pacing was perfectly fine to me as well. And hopefully, they keep that. And I like that they're basically starting mid-story with the aftermath of Dani and Bill's divorce and Bill and Hayley's upcoming wedding. AW did something similar when it debuted.

The one thing that really stood out to me and that I enjoyed the most were the relationships that Dani has with the people around her, particularly with Vanessa and Nicole. Vanessa definitely seems like the friend that she needs right now. As for Nicole, I can see the two of them having an Sami/Eric-like sibling relationship, where Nicole is always the first one to call Dani out on her BS, but is also always the first one to step up and defend her when someone else is coming at her. I'm looking forward to the first Nicole/Bill scene, whenever that may be. And the first Vernon/Bill scene as well. And agreed, Dani did seem a little more clingy and needy than I thought she would be, but I'm still on her side lol. Bill and Hayley better watch out. Btw, I loved the slap at the end too 

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Derek and Ashley (i.e. the white couple) didn't bother me at all. It seemed like one of those standard B-plots that are always part of a soap and I didn't mind it. But I do agree that the actor seemed a little green though. Maybe he's not used to the pacing of soaps. But I admit I felt the same way about Bradley Clayborn as well, particularly in his first scene at the diner. Neither of them are at the level of Garren Stitt lol but we'll see where they go from here. I'm looking forward to seeing if he has any chemistry with Mike Manning.

And yes, the actor playing Jacob is gorgeous 

[Liberty City]

And it was delivered with intent.

[Taoboi]

All I have to say is those side looks told so many tales that I'm looking forward to seeing on this show. Not to mention the eye-candy. I love slow burns so I liked the first episode. I felt like they held a lot back and at the same time hinted at soooo much.

 

I thought the whole set-up for the episode was good. It all built up to an event...Vanessa telling the most powerful family in town that their current enemy was moving down the street from them, leading to that Dani vs Hayley confrontation and that whole family walk out (TT...you...betta...STRUCT!!! Love Nicole's little smirk and even her daughter...Kat? had a little look). I even loved seeing La Dame...but I love RHOP.

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I wouldn't even call it slow really because they dropped the audience in and still gave more show than tell for me. Like the fact, the affair happened/was revealed two months ago which puts Dani in an interesting light versus if it happened last week. No wonder Anita and Nicole are at the stage they want her to start building herself back up. Friends get tired of their friends crying over some lover that hurt their friend around 3 months. Picking up on Jacob's job. The fact that Chelesa and her mother Dani have some tension. The fact that Bill has cheated on Dani before now. Mentioning the election...bravo to whoever mentioned it in the other thread.   Just little intrigues all around. 

 

I loved that Nicole got first shot. Dani might be the wild child/focus point, but Nicole might be the heroine. I'm already intrigued by the whole Anite/Dani/Nicole dynamic. There was so much said and so much that was not said. That subtext. 

 

Dani, Dani, Dani. For all the things that make you root for her, I liked that the writers already set up things that will make her maddening and not seen in a good light. Cuz Vanessa giving her the advice about how to not make Chelesa pay for what Bill did...just felt like foreshadowing. And I liked that we already got a feel for how Chelesa feels. But that's another thing I liked about the first episode, I felt we got a lot of what made characters tick. Just layers. 

 

I liked a lot of the sets, but I agree I was meh on the hospital set as well.

 

Can I just say Jacob is hot? lol. I liked something so simple as his first day on the job and all him and Naomi wanted to do was sleep together all day. lol. I thought it was so simple, so nice to see love in the afternoon, and it showed their love and who they are, already making them a nice rootable couple. 

 

I thought the white couple was meta. For years, we have soaps where black characters are the Talk-Tos and C plot characters and they simply flipped that script. Someone somewhere in the audience probably had a good giggle. It was nice they were nicely established as a goody-two shoes (for now) couple and tied to some of the other more major characters. Easily the weakest link of the episode. 

 

Not enough Bill, but already being showed to be a powerful man. My bad. A powerful HOT man. Still looking forward to more tea on his past affairs.

 

Anita is LOVE. And when I look back in the years ahead, I will remember she looked fabulous and got the first main character line. But I loved that the show had a lot of set-up dialogue-wise and NONE of it felt forced at all unlike other soaps. It flowed and the conversations felt like actually conversation even when part of me knows it's exposition. I thought it was really well-done.

 

 

It very much stands out. I loved it. Just being greedy for more. Don't mind me.  

 

lol. Them facts. I was living. 

 

*sighs in relief*

 

I was just being greedy lol. I thought it was so good and so much going on. I even attempted a rewatch and then my brother called. How my system is now set up *cough*stupidlandlord*cough* it was a one and done, but family has been very important as of late so it's okay. He surprisingly did not know about a new soap...so gotta get him invested.  

Oh for sure...but I see Vanessa immediately as comic relief...ironically another trope that is using reserved for black people. I agree what you mean about the 'downstairs' side of the couple, but it also just felt deliciously on the nose. But again, I'm liked it all...whether it was intentionally meta or not. And...YES. Health car workers are always dragged into soap messes. It's why I also thought Jacob and Naomi had their talk about him going to see Ashley, the nurse...going ahead to set up to have her and her man tied to the incoming Dupree drama. That was smart writing. 

[Rmodelboy]

I can't stop saying Welcome To Fairmont Crest lol.

I wonder if Karen shot some more stuff  ?

[dc11786]

I watched it a second time. 

Something that stood out to me in the second viewing is that I can see why @BetterForgotten referred to Dani as divisive. Based on the first episode alone, Dani thinks of no one but herself. Every interaction she has from her neighbor Vanessa, to her mother and sister, to her daughter Chelsea is driven by its impact on her. It even trickles down to Chelsea only thinking of her mother's feelings for her few limited moments. Dani is suppose to be a self centered person writhing in the pain and anger over her broken marriage. She is a live wire who is easily provoked, but also easily calmed by the right person (Vernon). 

A little would have gone a long way by either having Dani ask about Vanessa's family or congratulating Nicole on the award. I also thought that the scene with Vernon talking Dani off the ledge was very emotionally intimate that was on public viewing which was almost more surprising to me than Dani punching Hayley.  

What I noticed was that a lot of the shorter scenes that stood out to me featuring some of the rawer, less experienced actors. I'd be curious to see if Val Jean had different drafts of the pilot or if Sheila Ducksworth was so in thick of planning that Val Jean knew what the reasonable outlook on the talent woudl be. 

I also think they did a nice bait and switch for Martin. Nothing about his appearance in the first episode screams his identity and Val Jean purposefully obscures that by stating that Martin is married. The general audience who isn't reading all the online media is going to receive a soft shock when Martin goes home to his husband. 

The fact that I was trying to figure out how Ashley and Derek had such a big place (is it a studio? Was there a bed in the back ?) over anything in their scenes spoke volumes. The setup for these three friends each entering a new stage of their life (Hayley, Naomi, and Ashley, assuming Ashley and Hayley are also firends) is smart, but that entire story bubble was unengaging. Sean Freeman was better than I expected as Andre. 

I am curious if Wayne from Bill's office will play a bigger role. Given his son was arrested for drugs, I have to wonder if Terry won't play a role in another characters story down the line based on the casting calls. 

Tamara Tunie reigns as the queen both on screen and off screen. Anita is a powerhouse and Tunie was the perfect level of modern day P&G diva. A bit over the top, a bit reserved. Anita negotiating between her two adult daughters is poignant and her recognition of what an energy suck Dani is hit for me. Anita and Vernon's backstory works really well between the details from Anita, Vernon, and from Bessie. I feel like Anita can drive story while also being a talk to character. 

Behind the scenes, I am happy to hear Tunie having an open door policy with the younger actors. Quite different from Beverly McKinsey going off to a talk show to complain about the cast of "Texas." I am so glad Tunie is getting this experience to be the show's matriarch in every sense of the phrase. Some are very green, and some were better than I expected. I do have to wonder how hard it will be to fill supporting and guest roles in the future as some of the most noteable struggling stand outs (other than Jacobs and Gavin) were some of the smaller parts.

The comfort between Nicole and Anita didn't not feel day 1 and it really helped to sell the first episode. Duplaix is exceeding my already high expectations. The family anchor who has it together (on the surface) and yet isn't a shrieking violet. I am curious to see more with her son and daughter as I would like to see how Val Jean fleshed those dynamics out. I hope we see Nicole's award ceremony. 

I am curious if we will see a parallel plot as Dani moves from passive anger to active revenge if we will see Hayley go from passive optimism and defense to active offense. Hayley as the pariah is intriguing and I appreciate that there was a moment (clearly scripted) where Naomi looks at Hayley after everything that has happened and Hayley at Naomi and you could see the hurt between them. It was the depth in so many of the themes that I expected from Val Jean but not this early in the game.  

 

[Rmodelboy]

What a wonderful scene this was

 

https://x.com/soaplover5/status/1894111831037297010?t=WoFbuCyg4E0dur3-3sIPvg&s=19

[Liberty City]

I know some have talked about the lighting, so I adjusted it in Photoshop for [some] scenes. And some sets could use adjustment more than others.

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[Errol]

Nearly five hours since the East Coast broadcast ended, Beyond the Gates is till trending, this tie at #12 on X/Twitter:

 

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[Alan]

In addition to the Nancy Hughes reference I found another Easter egg! There is a often-shown clip of Nurse Audrey March coming out of an elevator on GH. I couldn't find the full clip but it was shown at the 2004 Emmys during the lifetime achievement introductions. The fact that MVJ wrote this for Ashley indicates the importance that she places on this character. Even the names Audrey and Ashley are similar. I will try to give more grace to the character and actress on that basis alone.

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Edited February 25 by Alan

[Cheap21]

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Hayley aint ish. So she was the unfortunate girl whom the Hamiltons took under their wing, became friends with Dani, only to end up working for her husband and stealing him. And now is gonna marry him and move into the community of said ex wife. She is TRIFLING! Yet for some reason I found her endearing. On paper all that gives villian but thats not how the actress played her, so I'm intrigued to find out more about her. Dani is the one that comes across less likeable but her anger is warranted.

[Alan]

This is so true, she echoes the complex romantic heroine/upstanding professional woman in the vein of a Marlena Evans, Viki Lord, or Holly Lindsay.