3 hours ago, Chris B said:

I do think when keeping the US soaps in mind that the show is definitely being designed for binging. A big reason they created BTG is that The Talk wasn't successful on streaming. I love the lack of endless recapping which should've been a thing across the board a long time ago.

That's a good point supporting the binge design argument.

I'll also add that the other soaps have been relying so heavily on recapping because they are creatively stale - hence the need for some filler.
 

3 hours ago, Liberty City said:

Because, unlike American daytime, primetime television does not use it to sell its drama. It supports it. The music on Beyond the Gates, when used, is supportive of the material. Whereas the other four use it to sell the material. View it as contempt for the genre, but that's on you, not on me.

Obviously I am a fan of background scores supporting the drama, not them being some lazy gimmick to do the heavy lifting. That was my point. I love the scores from old school Y&R, B&B, even some GL. Now on BTG the music is missing or is somewhat generic IMHO.
 

2 hours ago, janea4old said:

I am slightly hard-of-hearing.  I appreciate it when there isn't too much background music.  I use closed-captioning when needed, but I appreciate when I don't need it.  I like it when the musical cues swell at certain moments, but I also like the drama of occasional silence.

That's an interesting POV, thanks.
 

2 hours ago, Maxim said:

Compared to some of the strongest actors in the show... he's meh... Compared to Martin or... Tomas... he's okay. But I really don't get the over the top reactions to his leaving and people acting like he's can't be replaced. He can. And he was. 

LMAO yes...
 

2 hours ago, Maxim said:

I love reading your takes every time! Gives me food for thought. 

Same here! ❤️ 

OLTL had interesting background music too during the Paul Rauch era. This was one of it's suspenseful background tunes which supported this particular scene with FakeBo, Tina, and Didi perfectly.

 

Congrats to Karla Mosley, who was chosen as the star of the month: https://t.co/tGVeIfdAxU#BeyondtheGates #BTG

— Soap Opera News (@SoapOperaNewss) March 30, 2025

1 hour ago, Aback said:

That's a good point supporting the binge design argument.

I'll also add that the other soaps have been relying so heavily on recapping because they are creatively stale - hence the need for some filler.

I can see both sides of this. You don't need as much recapping because that makes the show boring and you want people to be engaged and binge (or you are like Y&R, and you simply have no sets or writers, so the entire show is recapping things that happen offscreen). On the other hand, people have lower attention spans now and 5 hours a week is a big commitment, so it's not safe to assume the binge watchers are actively engaged, and you do need to repeat important points. I'm often scrolling the internet while watching (especially with Y&R and B&B, but I try to pay more attention during BTG) and I get annoyed when there's one important point in one line of dialogue and I miss it.

 

BTG is doing a pretty good job balancing this right now. This might be related to the music discussion too, because the music can be a cue to the audience to pay attention that something important is coming, lol.

Edited March 30Mar 30 by BoldRestless

I will say there are times where the scenes do feel a little empty with the lack of background music. I think there’s a perfect balance you can have. 

6 hours ago, Liberty City said:

Nah. The one thing I do love about this soap is how it isn't reliant on background music at all. It's refreshing that scenes are allowed to breathe without music drowning everything out. Takes it from cheesy (like the other soaps) to mature (like this soap).

There has to be a happy medium between music that drowns out everything and no music at all. I don't think it's particularly mature to have no music at all, especially in scenes (that others have pointed out) with weaker actors.

I don't need the bombast of GH music or the eye-roll corniness of DAYS music, but I would much prefer music used in the Y&R manner. I think Y&R gets it right.

A lot of us have mentioned the music, and to me that's an indication it's not working. It feel they're intentionally doing what they're doing solely to be different -- just as they're doing with their scene ends that I think are really awkward. Different isn't always better.

 

7 hours ago, Aback said:

I roll my eyes every time I see the hospital set and the convoluted excuses they use to bring characters together there. In real life, nobody wants to go near a hospital, and they’re so big you never run into anyone.

You nailed it on that hospital set. It doesn't look like any place where people would gather to talk, and it doesn't represent the "main station" at a hospital where everyone would come and go. And what's with the patient room just 3 feet away from that main desk? LOL

 

21 hours ago, Antoyne said:

Am I the only one where the opening theme has really grown on them? I find myself singing along to it now 😂

Yeah, I've grown to love it. Fits this show perfectly.

The visuals bothered me like crazy when I first saw it -- the ones with the car blowing through the stop sign. That made no sense to me. Now I see it as a sign that the Duprees believe stop signs are for people Beyond the Gates and not for them.

 

I could barely get through Wednesday's terrible episode. Again, for me, (besides the poor performances by the actors playing Tomas, Martin, Jacob and Naomi and even Smitty couldn't make it work) the main issue is MVJ story points. Martin/Smitty story is just a mess, partially because of casting plus the teen children angle. In addition, running for prez is not a compelling plot point especially with this young actor and given the real US political climate. This isn't escapism that works on a soap. The lawsuit story is like one of Bill Bell's worst summer social topic storylines. If they had made Mike a main player and maybe Bill's brother, it would have more heft or connected him to Joey, something.... The plot makes Bill's character look so dumb. He's supposed to be this highly successful lawyer who keeps this cretin, Mike, on the staff because he brings in big cases. Doesn't work. My bigger issue with the writing continues to be Dani. Chelsea's new dream was just dropped on viewers; Chelsea frets with Grand then in the next episode or two Dani's on board. Where's the drama? Nowhere to be found. I'm still hoping Guza's head writing experience will become apparent in upcoming episodes, but so far, not so much. The show also hasn't found its dialogue groove.  Jazmen Brown has talent and may settle in as a great script writer. Some of the vets scripts are bad i.e Davis's Wednesday script.  I hope Thursday/Friday episodes are an improvement.

Edited March 30Mar 30 by VelekaCarruthers

1 hour ago, VelekaCarruthers said:

I could barely get through Wednesday's terrible episode. Again, for me, (besides the poor performances by the actors playing Tomas, Martin, Jacob and Naomi and even Smitty couldn't make it work) the main issue is MVJ story points. Martin/Smitty story is just a mess, partially because of casting plus the teen children angle. In addition, running for prez is not a compelling plot point especially with this young actor and given the real US political climate. This isn't escapism that works on a soap. The lawsuit story is like one of Bill Bell's worst summer social topic storylines. If they had made Mike a main player and maybe Bill's brother, it would have more heft or connected him to Joey, something.... The plot makes Bill's character look so dumb. He's supposed to be this highly successful lawyer who keeps this cretin, Mike, on the staff because he brings in big cases. Doesn't work. My bigger issue with the writing continues to be Dani. Chelsea's new dream was just dropped on viewers; Chelsea frets with Grand then in the next episode or two Dani's on board. Where's the drama? Nowhere to be found. I'm still hoping Guza's head writing experience will become apparent in upcoming episodes, but so far, not so much. The show also hasn't found its dialogue groove.  Jazmen Brown has talent and may settle in as a great script writer. Some of the vets scripts are bad i.e Davis's Wednesday script.  I hope Thursday/Friday episodes are an improvement.

I'm just now catching up and I just watched Wednesday's episode and I feel like I watched a completely different show. 

Perspectives 🤷🏾‍♂️

2 minutes ago, MontyB said:

I'm just now catching up and I just watched Wednesday's episode and I feel like I watched a completely different show. 

Perspectives 🤷🏾‍♂️

I agree. I saw a completely different episode on Wednesday, and it's semi-baffling to me.

1 hour ago, ranger1rg said:

There has to be a happy medium between music that drowns out everything and no music at all. I don't think it's particularly mature to have no music at all, especially in scenes (that others have pointed out) with weaker actors.

We will have to agree to disagree on this one; I find that this soap is doing it miles better than any of the others with their music, and again, the silent scenes (meaning no music) are thoroughly enjoyable to me.

1 hour ago, VelekaCarruthers said:

My bigger issue with the writing continues to be Dani. Chelsea's new dream was just dropped on viewers; Chelsea frets with Grand then in the next episode or two Dani's on board. Where's the drama? Nowhere to be found. I'm still hoping Guza's head writing experience will become apparent in upcoming episodes, but so far, not so much. The show also hasn't found its dialogue groove.  Jazmen Brown has talent and may settle in as a great script writer. Some of the vets scripts are bad i.e Davis's Wednesday script.  I hope Thursday/Friday episodes are an improvement.

I'm sorry but they started talking about Chelsea's quitting modeling the very first week & they hit it every single week. If you are sincere in your statement that it was just dropped on us, I can only suggest paying much closer attention when you are watching.  It was right there, all along. It took that long for Chelsea to get up the nerve to broach the subject. Me, I am one who was so pleased that Dani took the shocking to her info in & turned it around to being proud.  

1 hour ago, VelekaCarruthers said:

Chelsea's new dream was just dropped on viewers; Chelsea frets with Grand then in the next episode or two Dani's on board. Where's the drama? Nowhere to be found.

 

6 minutes ago, Contessa Donatella said:

they started talking about Chelsea's quitting modeling the very first week & they hit it every single week. <snip>  It was right there, all along. It took that long for Chelsea to get up the nerve to broach the subject. 

True, this had been building for weeks.

Edited March 30Mar 30 by janea4old

3 minutes ago, Contessa Donatella said:

I'm sorry but they started talking about Chelsea's quitting modeling the very first week & they hit it every single week. If you are sincere in your statement that it was just dropped on us, I can only suggest paying much closer attention when you are watching.  It was right there, all along. It took that long for Chelsea to get up the nerve to broach the subject. Me, I am one who was so pleased that Dani took the shocking to her info in & turned it around to being proud.  

The Contessa is correct.  

18 minutes ago, Liberty City said:

I agree. I saw a completely different episode on Wednesday, and it's semi-baffling to me.

 

Quite baffling. I enjoyed the show. Just now watching Thursday's. Don't get me started with my girl in that wig. 😅

9 minutes ago, Contessa Donatella said:

 I am one who was so pleased that Dani took the shocking to her info in & turned it around to being proud.  

Yes! That was nice. 

Edited March 30Mar 30 by MontyB

2 minutes ago, MontyB said:

Don't get me started with my girl in that wig. 😅

You don't like the "Anna"?

Given that this show is not even six weeks old, I don't think it's unreasonable to want some of these plot points to percolate before everything's resolved. I would've preferred to see more than one or two instances of Chelsea resenting Dani's "momager" moments, and her struggle to tell Dani before "BOOM" Dani (who is still hanging on to the ashes of a lousy marriage) is just all mature enough to be ok with Chelsea leaving her.

For that matter, why isn't Chelsea's POV re: Bill and Hayley explored?