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+

20 minutes ago, Cheap21 said:

I know some people are speculating that Dani was daydreaming but that’s something Passions and Tyler Perry did all the time so I hope this show avoids that lame soap trope. I hope Dani really shot the gun but intentionally aimed it away from anyone just to be dramatic and cause chaos 

It is also something Bill Bell was famous for. 

Cady McClain debut awesome

Dani has a gun

Eva is the love child of Dana and Ted

Is Smitty cheating on Martin

Edited February 28Feb 28 by John

10 minutes ago, BetterForgotten said:

I’m ready for Dani to be on the backburner for an episode or two. She’s an exhausting character to be on 5 days a week with all of her high strung antics.

with you there!

and, i know i’m going to be in the minority here, but i found the entire week exhausting. so many characters i needed to check with a cheat sheet to keep them — and their relationships — straight. 

and so much going on  i’m not suggesting a return to storylines that dragged on for months before a resolution. but, i do miss being able to anticipate what might be happening. i would have been perfectly happy to find out about leslie/eve/ted next week — or even the week after. 

We got confirmation that Tomas is an attorney at Bill's law firm.

NOW THAT WAS A CLIFFHANGER to end A SUBLIME FIRST WEEK.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.

31 minutes ago, Cheap21 said:

I know some people are speculating that Dani was daydreaming but that’s something Passions and Tyler Perry did all the time so I hope this show avoids that lame soap trope. I hope Dani really shot the gun but intentionally aimed it away from anyone just to be dramatic and cause chaos 

I'd bet just that - either she aimed it away just to be dramatic. OR, she only put blank shells in the gun. She wanted to scare the crap out of Bill and Haley.

Edited February 28Feb 28 by adrnyc

10 minutes ago, John said:

 

Is Smitty cheating on Martin

Let's hope so.

20 minutes ago, Efulton said:

It is also something Bill Bell was famous for. 

What? The fake daydream cliffhangers?

TODAY at 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT, @MichaelFairman will conduct the first interviews with #BeyondTheGates cast members Marquita Goings, Karla Mosley and Arielle Prepetit following that shocking Friday cliffhanger ending!

Click here to tune in: https://t.co/sMW23Ek0SD pic.twitter.com/rhU4zPThd3

— Soap Opera Network (@SoapOperaNetwrk) February 28, 2025

3 minutes ago, Cheap21 said:

What? The fake daydream cliffhangers?

Yes those.

That better not be a dream or fantasy. I hate these. Hate them with all my soul especially when they are cliffhangers. But I think it's real - she really wants all the attention. Dani has had quite the week! 

Dream or a fantasy IMO is a cop out

Ugh I hope this doesn't mean Ted cheated for that girl to be his. I hope it was black out drunk thing and he doesn't remember 

2 minutes ago, dragonflies said:

Dream or a fantasy IMO is a cop out

Ugh I hope this doesn't mean Ted cheated for that girl to be his. I hope it was black out drunk thing and he doesn't remember 

I think Eva looks like she could be older than Kay so if she’s his kid, it could have happened before Nicole

Putting aside the fact that I don't think MVJ would do it I have very good reason to believe that was no daydream or fantasy, and I doubt I'm the only one.

I'll get to these last two eps in full tonight.