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+

amazing line of dialogue, Friday Feb. 28:

(this scene is right after Cady McClain's entrance)

Naomi to Jacob:

Sad. I’m sad that our family’s come to this. Divided. Angry. Estranged. All because two narcissists recognized themselves in each other and fell in love with their own reflections. While the rest of us sort through the wreckage.

Edited March 1Mar 1 by janea4old

18 minutes ago, Vee said:

She's green but she hasn't gotten the kind of material he already has. Dude's delivery is like a video game NPC.

Add that he's such a key part - the whole thing about Anita and Vernon having to protect him from Bill is obviously going to be a big storyline... or at least is meant to be. Chelsea is kind of just there for now - as a character, she's given more grace to grow into the part as they can always hand over too meaty material for others to carry. 

2 minutes ago, janea4old said:

All because two narcissists recognized themselves in each other and fell in love with their own reflections.

LOL, that just made me think about how people use "narcissist" as the latest buzzword. Maybe Bill is, but Hayley clearly isn't being written as one. 

7 minutes ago, te. said:

LOL, that just made me think about how people use "narcissist" as the latest buzzword. Maybe Bill is, but Hayley clearly isn't being written as one. 

I agree. Hayley doesn't seem to be a narcissist.  Just interesting that Naomi sees the situation that way, and Naomi's line delivery was sincere and not bitter.

The whole way Naomi said those lines.  I was impressed with both the writing and the delivery.

Edited March 1Mar 1 by janea4old

10 minutes ago, janea4old said:

I agree. Hayley doesn't seem to be a narcissist.  Just interesting that Naomi sees the situation that way, and Naomi's line delivery was sincere and not bitter.

The whole way Naomi said those lines.  I was impressed with both the writing and the delivery.

Naomi has had great lines the last two days. Out of the two sisters I’m more drawn to her.

4 hours ago, Planet Soap said:

I just don't see that. BTG's intro was okay.

I agree that people are being a bit hyperbolic when they say that it's "one of the greatest first weeks ever"; I guess people are still a bit high on the "new soap smell" after mostly having cancellations for the past quarter of the decade. It was a nice opening week, but there are definitively things to work out. Technically, I probably prefer Dark Shadows and Sunset Beach (I love the 90s prime time soap gloss, ngl) at least.  

But in all honesty, most soaps opening weeks just aren't available to watch anywhere, so we have little to compare it to. Most of the soaps that launched since 1980 were short-lived on top of that (with B&B being the only survivor). 

What a great first week with so much happening! Had this been a Tyler Perry production, these 5 episodes would have been dragged out over the first 44 episodes of seasons 1 and 2.

1 hour ago, te. said:

I agree that people are being a bit hyperbolic when they say that it's "one of the greatest first weeks ever"; I guess people are still a bit high on the "new soap smell" after mostly having cancellations for the past quarter of the decade. It was a nice opening week, but there are definitively things to work out. Technically, I probably prefer Dark Shadows and Sunset Beach (I love the 90s prime time soap gloss, ngl) at least.  

But in all honesty, most soaps opening weeks just aren't available to watch anywhere, so we have little to compare it to. Most of the soaps that launched since 1980 were short-lived on top of that (with B&B being the only survivor). 

Or maybe just maybe to those people it is one of the greatest first weeks. What’s wrong with that? No need to call it hyperbolic because you don’t agree.

In Michael Fairman's interview posted a few pages back, Karla Mosley dropped a few interesting tidbits. Their lighting hadn't arrived when filming started which explains why the first episode was so brightly lit. She also mentioned that something happened where they had to film 17 episodes in a week. My guess is that this was reshoots due to technical issues and possibly allowing the cast time to adjust to a soap production model. That explains why starting with episode two we started seeing improved lighting and some of the performances as the week went on. I think it's nice they took care to make sure they got this first week right.

1 hour ago, te. said:

I agree that people are being a bit hyperbolic when they say that it's "one of the greatest first weeks ever"; I guess people are still a bit high on the "new soap smell" after mostly having cancellations for the past quarter of the decade. It was a nice opening week, but there are definitively things to work out. Technically, I probably prefer Dark Shadows and Sunset Beach (I love the 90s prime time soap gloss, ngl) at least.  

I don't think it's unreasonable to say this was an incredible week. A soap hasn't been launched in 25 years. There is no model for how to launch a soap in 2025. There have been complaints that too much happened this week but in today's tv landscape, you have to draw in the viewers instantly or you're not going to get them. I'm sure post launch there will be time to slow down and breathe but had they done that for launch week that could've tanked the show. Everyday this week a clip is viral on TikTok and Twitter, the show is also trending which is proof they did something right.

Of course it wasn't perfect but I definitely think the foundation they built is stronger than some of the first weeks I've seen. Particularly I'd say Texas, Port Charles and Sunset Beach. All needed extensive retooling for the shows to work. The one thing that makes BTG stand out for me is that I do think the writing is strong. The ideas feel familiar but fresh and despite all of the action and exposition to set things up, I feel like they've done a good job of quickly developing these characters and their relationships so the world feels real and so we actually care about them. 

There is definitely room to grow but I feel like they absolutely got it right and any changes will just be improving upon a good product. I don't see them having to drastically change the show in order to make it work. Launching a soap is daunting and they definitely should be proud of what they delivered.

Edited March 1Mar 1 by Chris B

1 hour ago, Chris B said:

where they had to film 17 episodes in a week.

Did she mean that they had to retape scenes for 17 eps? I can't believe it would be possible to tape 17 shows in a week. 

2 hours ago, Antoyne said:

Or maybe just maybe to those people it is one of the greatest first weeks. What’s wrong with that? No need to call it hyperbolic because you don’t agree.

Thank you. Seriously, when did having an opinion become “hyperbolic?” I don’t think anyone was claiming this first week was better than sliced bread. Everyone is welcome to their opinion, and I wouldn’t say those who felt differently were “out of touch” or “blind,” they’re entitled to feel that way without dismissing how others feel. 

I saw the first weeks of The City, Port Charles, Sunset Beach, and Passions - and I stand by this having a hell of better foundation than those soaps in their first weeks. That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement and change - but this is just the first week, and because daytime soaps are on 5 days a week, they have room to make changes and improvements over time if they’re wise. But, unlike those other soaps I saw the first weeks of, I feel instantly drawn and thrown into the mix here. There are characters and relationship dynamics I already care about and want to see developed further. I get a sense of the world building in Fairmont Crest. I am excited to tune back in for week #2 (which I struggled with on the other mentioned soaps). 

Overall, while there are things to be worked out (which I’ve already gone into detail about in my posts in this chain), there is great promise and potential here, and the show is off to a solid start in my opinion. 

Edited March 1Mar 1 by BetterForgotten

I would call it a pretty successful launch. The last 3 days showed considerable evolution and growth in the scripts out of some of the baldfaced expository dialogue in the first two, many of the characters have grabbed me, the potential is massive, the show looks great and Karla Mosley really impressed me with her power and authority. Is she subtle so far, not incredibly, but Dani hasn't really been either yet in story - she's making big moves. Nonetheless KM no longer came off like the creepy carnival doll I remembered from GL and early B&B, and I've been impressed. Whether Gen Z viewers will take to her deliberately arch performance or to soap opera in general remains to be seen. I've seen a wide range of reactions to the show or to certain scenes from the more uninitiated audiences, but what I haven't seen is anyone wanting to stop watching. That's a good start.

1 hour ago, Vee said:

Is she subtle so far, not incredibly, but Dani hasn't really been either yet in story - she's making big moves.

I think when you look at where she started the week and where she ended up, it makes perfect sense - as I've said previously, she's been the archetypical Woman on the Verge all week, even taking shots at her dressing room table. So I don't think she's meant to be like this all the time (see how she handled the fashion shoot), it's just that we've dropped in at a very stressful time for the poor dear.

Her behavior makes sense if you're viewing it from the perspective that she's having a complete and utter meltdown, culminating in her having a shoot out at the wedding. 

Edited March 1Mar 1 by te.

4 hours ago, Cheap21 said:

What a great first week with so much happening! Had this been a Tyler Perry production, these 5 episodes would have been dragged out over the first 44 episodes of seasons 1 and 2.

for me, it was way too much happening.

would have been happier if everything had unfolded over a few weeks — the leslie/eva story, for example — could have gotten to know them and how they fit into the landscape before finding out their agenda. 

1 hour ago, Paul Raven said:

Did she mean that they had to retape scenes for 17 eps? I can't believe it would be possible to tape 17 shows in a week. 

You can skip to 27:50 in. Some interesting things Karla mostly said about the production:

- The lighting was being shipped from Germany and was delayed, so they had to start filming the first week without all of their proper lighting equipment in place. CBS wouldn’t delay production further. 

- Because this is an Atlanta production, much the crew, the camera people in particular, had never done or shot soaps before. They said some woman came out of retirement and trained them for the first month and a half or so (they didn’t say who exactly this woman was)

- They had some catch up to do as the crew adjusted to the pace and unique nature of producing daytime soaps. It was not 17 episodes exactly - just scattered scenes across what felt like 17 episodes, since they like the other soaps, shoot scenes out of order. It was a lot to do but they got through it

- They estimate filming 5-7 episodes a week now, which is on par with the other soaps 

- They estimate they’re 12 weeks or 3 months ahead 

- They feel like the learning curve is over and they’ve settled into a normal rhythm now 

 

Edited March 1Mar 1 by BetterForgotten