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+

15 minutes ago, kalbir said:

I think Andre is supposed to be the hotness of BtG.

I keep calling him Adrian! 

2 hours ago, wonderwoman1951 said:

with the exception of bill and haley, there was a constant repetition of how wonderful every character was that i found artificial  — just not how people speak naturally. 

When Anita would say things like how proud she is of them all, I believed her. As for the rest,  no comment. (I was told at a young age, if you can't say something nice, say nothing at all.)

7 minutes ago, Contessa Donatella said:

I hope that happens sooner rather than later.

Well...looking at the article on the news page for this coming week...  

50 minutes ago, te. said:

Eh. As a non-black person, I feel a good soap is a good soap.

 

Eh, as another non-black person, I really like saying a non-black person!!! Even more than "token". 

1 hour ago, Taoboi said:

That crossed my mind, too. Moreso given some of the online comments hating just to hate because the people commenting did not see anything but black main characters under the guise of wondering where white characters were. So MVJ beat them to the punch by having a white couple in the first episode.

 

Also, I feel for non-black people who were curious about BTG, but might feel...unsure? if they would try it out, Ashley/Derek could work as a safe space. If that makes sense. 

 

But again...I think her intro was intentional from a storyline POV, but also has more layers to it than it first appears. IMHO. Not the best part of the week, but we saw her first day at a job she wanted. We watched her interact with boyfriend, friends-some of who aren't her friends maybe?, interact with her boss, heard her fears, and got to hang with her for-sure-real friends at the bar, before seeing her pass out, carried off by a boyfriend who adores her from Episode 1. Given just who she's connected to rn...Andre, Naomi, now Laura...and their connections to the canvas (Andre-close backstory, Dani, Naomi-police bf, daughter of Dani/Bill, Laura-being her nurse AND friends with Leslie/Eva, Nicole's assistant), Ashley is nicely set-up for something and she's only a MINOR character at the moment. So her intro scenes...bland and all...set up a POV to work with as we get into the meat of it...which just writing those connections out, I would suspect is for the Nicole/Ted/Leslie story, but she could easily be all about her/Andre/Derek. Especially if Dani circles back around to Andre. Poor thing would get ate alive if she does but lmao. 

Vanessa as Dani's neighbor with the one liners/being the Greek chorus and being messy probably did more to lure in the non black fans in episode #1 then Ashley/Derek did.  Just my two cents

3 hours ago, Contessa Donatella said:

I tend to be leery of Guza, although I do credit the fact that he gave the revisitation of Luke raping Laura to MVJ to take & run with it. And, of course, he took Carly from the page (Labine) to actual existence.

Our descriptions are so different!!! My highlight was the use of the 3/4 inch "hardware" drill for ad hoc brain surgery which you didn't even mention. LOL 

 Guza is experienced with head-writing and he's worked with MVJ in the past so I think they will be a good team.  

See how memorable that 2 hour Port Charles movie was I remember poor Lucy hanging in the elevator shaft as well.

Edited March 1Mar 1 by Soaplovers

16 minutes ago, Contessa Donatella said:

2 hours ago, wonderwoman1951 said:

with the exception of bill and haley, there was a constant repetition of how wonderful every character was that i found artificial  — just not how people speak naturally. 

When Anita would say things like how proud she is of them all, I believed her. As for the rest,  no comment. (I was told at a young age, if you can't say something nice, say nothing at all.)

you’re missing my point:

of course, the sentiments are genuine. it’s the constant repetition that i find artificial. families can be proud of each other without saying “you’re so wonderful” every time they see each other. 

First glimpse of Diego gave me Derek 2.0 vibes.  

Nicole and Vanessa all hot and bothered at the sight of him - no.

Just now, wonderwoman1951 said:

you’re missing my point:

of course, the sentiments are genuine. it’s the constant repetition that i find artificial. families can be proud of each other without saying “you’re so wonderful” every time they see each other. 

agree.

10 minutes ago, Soaplovers said:

Vanessa as Dani's neighbor with the one liners/being the Greek chorus and being messy probably did more to lure in the non black fans in episode #1 then Ashley/Derek did.  Just my two cents

I think we can all agree so far Vanessa is the best of that bunch.  Which is why I think there is a more intentional reason for Ash by who she is connected to and what stories are connected to those people who she is connected to. Everything else is just me probably looking deeper than I probably should be...but writer mind.   

3 minutes ago, Paul Raven said:

irst glimpse of Diego gave me Derek 2.0 vibes.  

Nicole and Vanessa all hot and bothered at the sight of him - no.

Well tbf, If I had to pick, it's Diego over Derek so I can see why Nicole and Vanessa were hot and bothered.

 

1 hour ago, Taoboi said:

That crossed my mind, too. Moreso given some of the online comments hating just to hate because the people commenting did not see anything but black main characters under the guise of wondering where white characters were. So MVJ beat them to the punch by having a white couple in the first episode.

 

Also, I feel for non-black people who were curious about BTG, but might feel...unsure? if they would try it out, Ashley/Derek could work as a safe space. If that makes sense. 

 

But again...I think her intro was intentional from a storyline POV, but also has more layers to it than it first appears. IMHO. Not the best part of the week, but we saw her first day at a job she wanted. We watched her interact with boyfriend, friends-some of who aren't her friends maybe?, interact with her boss, heard her fears, and got to hang with her for-sure-real friends at the bar, before seeing her pass out, carried off by a boyfriend who adores her from Episode 1. Given just who she's connected to rn...Andre, Naomi, now Laura...and their connections to the canvas (Andre-close backstory, Dani, Naomi-police bf, daughter of Dani/Bill, Laura-being her nurse AND friends with Leslie/Eva, Nicole's assistant), Ashley is nicely set-up for something and she's only a MINOR character at the moment. So her intro scenes...bland and all...set up a POV to work with as we get into the meat of it...which just writing those connections out, I would suspect is for the Nicole/Ted/Leslie story, but she could easily be all about her/Andre/Derek. Especially if Dani circles back around to Andre. Poor thing would get ate alive if she does but lmao. 

Ted put it best with the way he talked about her. The btch is basic. NEXT!

5 minutes ago, wonderwoman1951 said:

you’re missing my point:

of course, the sentiments are genuine. it’s the constant repetition that i find artificial. families can be proud of each other without saying “you’re so wonderful” every time they see each other. 

No, I got what you were after.  I tried to say something different but related. Epic fail. 

2 minutes ago, Cheap21 said:

Ted put it best with the way he talked about her. The btch is basic. NEXT!

Well I didn't say she wasn't basic. LMAO.

17 minutes ago, Soaplovers said:

Vanessa as Dani's neighbor with the one liners/being the Greek chorus and being messy probably did more to lure in the non black fans in episode #1 then Ashley/Derek did.  Just my two cents

 Guza is experienced with head-writing and he's worked with MVJ in the past so I think they will be a good team.  

See how memorable that 2 hour Port Charles movie was I remember poor Lucy hanging in the elevator shaft as well.

OH, yes, it was memorable! Also, I thought bizarre. 😲🙃😉

23 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

Well...looking at the article on the news page for this coming week...  

Wow, I was spoiler free!

Now I'm off to Zoom where we're binging Week 1 BTG!

10 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

I think we can all agree so far Vanessa is the best of that bunch.

I think it's worth to remember that Vanessa was meant to be black from the casting calls - I guess they landed on Lauren Buglioli eventually and thank god for them being colour-blind, because she's hilarious as the town gossip. But yeah, all the other white actors are a bit white bread with a bland American cheese (which is the worst cheese in existence)  at the moment. 

It's a race to get out of the bottom as the Spice Girls once sang... 

Edited March 2Mar 2 by te.

2 minutes ago, Contessa Donatella said:

Wow, I was spoiler free!

Well, it's not a spoiler to say that there's an article that mentions something (not specific) saying something might happen with those two next week. Now if you read the article, then it might be considered a spoiler. If you read it of course. Your choice. 

 

Versus me saying this happens next week with specifics. THAT would be a spoiler. And I did not so...NO. NOT a spoiler.  OR saying something in an episode when a person has not watched or mentioning something in an episode when you know the person is watching it in real time or has not reached that point. Which would also be a spoiler.

 

3 minutes ago, te. said:

I think it's worth to remember that Vanessa was meant to be black from the casting calls - I guess they landed on Lauren Buglioli eventually and thank god for them being colour-blind, because she's hilarious as the town gossip. But yeah, all the other white actors are a bit white bread with a bland American cheese (which is the worst cheese in existence)  at the moment. 

It's a struggle to get out of the bottom as the Spice Girls once sang... 

I love colorblind casting. Some of the best characters and actors are discovered that way. 

Overall, I'm super excited to see where this soap takes us. I think there are some things that have been done really well that have been sorely missing from soaps for a long time. The sets are beautiful and it just shows how good sets impact stories and the feel of a show. The costuming has been exquisite. I do think they went overboard on the amount of outfit changes for Dani, she literally went from one outfit at the family meeting to a completely different one when she was home and her daughters came to console her. It would have been one thing if she was in comfy home clothes or pajamas since it was evening, but this was a whole other day look. I'm not complaining too much, because it's been so nice to see. Also, I think on Friday's episode Dani had four outfits overall.

A few of the shortcomings...

A few of the cast are so green that it takes away from the scene sometimes, but then there are some heavy hitters on the cast that do a lot of heavy lifting. The actor that plays Martin needs to work on his delivery. I'm all for keeping him on and I want new talent to succeed, but some of those scenes have been hard to watch. Dani's daughters also need some work, but Nicole's daughter has actually been a standout for me. I'm sorry I don't know everyone's name yet, but I'm working on it.

The premeire needed something big, it felt too ordinary and I think for some people just tuning in out of curiosity or those that are not typical soap viewers there needed to be a draw. Only thing I can think of is what White Lotus does. Their seasons starts with something explosive that piques our interest and then it really is a slow burn until the final episodes. I feel like a good soap premiere usually does this. I wish we could have started with Dani having a flashback walking into her husband having the affair or maybe his daughter finding out. I mean we could have even started with Dani pulling the gun out at the wedding. 

Also, I think someone mentioned a great idea. It would have been nice for some of the exposition to come from the employees of Fairmont Crest at the diner. You would see them living for all the drama and messiness that's been going down. Then we could have also had the family talking out some of the details as well. In the process, this creates the two worlds in this show, the ones IN Fairmont Crest and those that just work there.

The dialogue was also very hit or miss. Some of it was wonderful and some of it was just doing too much. It sounded like something you would read in a novel and say wow, but that just doesn't translate genuinely when a character is saying it on screen. Like when Dani told Bill he had been treating her so shabbily. I'm sorry, but who the hell says that? I had to laugh. There were other instances but I can't recall right now. 

A lot of the other hiccups were minor like some of the shots were off, but overall these things take time.

I am hoping that the show did enough to hold an audience all week and that it's successful. I've mentioned this before, but I am curious as to what the network and everyone involved would consider to be success numbers wise. 

 

Edited March 2Mar 2 by GLATWT88

There were many positives about the first week such as the sets, the costumes, and the actors. Overall the acting on the show was above average compared to other daytime soap operas premieres. The character that intrigued me most was Leslie.

I agree about the dialogue being a mix bag: especially the exposition dialogue. Lines like "Are you the Salami Police?"  and word choices like "shabbily" does comes across as campy or odd. 

I worried about Karla Mosley and her acting choices. She plays the lowkey scenes great, but once she goes "over the top", the acting is all over the place (and not in the fun campy way).

I haven't watch 5 episodes of a current daytime soap in years. I'm excited to see what comes next.