2 hours ago, Sapounopera said:

I have never watched shows like Greenleaf or Queen Sugar. Does BTG have that vibe?

Having only ever watched Greenleaf and loving that series, I can say that it and Beyond the Gates are two very different vibes. Most I can say is that both have families that are very known to their [different] communities.

21 minutes ago, Contessa Donatella said:

Talking on message boards is of necessity back & forth. But, there's really no need for it to be a problem. I very plainly said that I could see them as friends in the sense that you described & I added that I had been looking more at "best friends". 

So, if it's a problem, then my advice to you is scroll on by. That's what I've been taught. Personally I enjoy lively discussion.

And, I'm sure you saw what I said about Dani having detractors ... 

First... I was not talking about you specifically in that post but responding to another member about the situation of people getting butt-hurt when a character gets negative feedback. Getting personally hurt. That to me is not that normal. That is only my opinion. When I start feeling scared to comment on characters because people act like I said something bad about their mother... is where I draw the line. Nowhere did I specify you or anyone else. I, in fact, underlined that I am speaking in general. Maybe you didn't read that part. And... If you recognize yourself in this pattern that's not my problem. I was not referring to you.

Also thats not the "back and forth" you are mentioning. Of course message boards are about back and forth. I mean... you have to be very confused not to know that. I meant "back and forth" in completely different context. Something which I'm sure @I Am A Swede understood, since my response was to him.

Second, I would give that same advice you are giving me (to just scroll down)... to you... If you find my posts about BTG unpopular and feel the need to argue every day with me... Just ignore. Let me remind you it is you who came and responded to my comment about Dani. I was just minding my business. 

You specifically say that you "don't get the impression they were friends"... But... when I gave my evidence and example with quotes... why I think they were... You started to twist it like I didn't understand what you mean or something like that. Listen, sweetheart... I am not Nostradamus and I don't know people's inner monologues. I judge by what I read. By the facts. Then in that same message you agreed with me that they were indeed friends. Which is contrary to what you said. That's the facts. Sorry to be so honest, but that's how I am. And... If you had just came in and said... Okay... My mistake... They were friends. None of this would be needed. But I am getting the feeling you don't want to admit you were wrong when you tried to correct me.

Which is your prerogative. I go by logic and what I see on the screen. 

Edited March 2Mar 2 by Maxim

2 minutes ago, Maxim said:

First... I was not talking about you specifically in that post but responding to another member about the situation of people getting butt-hurt when a character gets negative feedback. Getting personally hurt. That to me is not that normal. That is only my opinion. When I start feeling scared to comment on characters because people act like I said something bad about their mother... is where I draw the line. Nowhere did I specify you or anyone else. I, in fact, underlined that I am speaking in general. Maybe you didn't read that part. And... If you recognize yourself in this pattern that's not my problem. I was not referring to you.

Also thats not the "back and forth" you are mentioning. Of course message boards are about back and forth. I mean... you have to be very confused not to know that. I meant "back and forth" in completely different context. Something which I'm sure @I Am A Swede understood, since my response was to him.

Second, I would give that same advice you are giving me (to just scroll down)... to you... If you find my posts about BTG unpopular and feel the need to argue every day with me... Just ignore. Let me remind you it is you who came and responded to my comment about Dani. I was just minding my business. 

You specifically say that you "don't get the impression they were friends"... But... when I gave my evidence and example with quotes... why I think they were... You started to twist it like I didn't understand what you mean or something like that. Listen, sweetheart... I am not Nostradamus and I don't know people's inner monologues. I judge by what I read. By the facts. Then in that same message you agreed with me that they were indeed friends. Which is contrary to what you said. That's the facts. Sorry to be so honest, but that's how I am. And... If you had just came in and said... Okay... My mistake... They were friends. None of this would be needed. But I am getting the feeling you don't want to admit you were wrong when you tried to correct me.

Which is your prerogative. I go by logic and what I see on the screen. 

I was never in  any way correcting you. To me that doesn't even track. There's nothing to correct. There is no wrong. There is nothing to admit. 

In the Michael Fairman interview, Karla Mosley said she was using both Erika Kane and Reva Shayne as influences for Dani, but Michele Val Jean has specifically cited Bette Davis and old Holl ywood as an influence. 

 

2 minutes ago, BetterForgotten said:

In the Michael Fairman interview, Karla Mosley said she was using both Erika Kane and Reva Shayne as influences for Dani, but Michele Val Jean has specifically cited Bette Davis and old Holl ywood as an influence. 

 

I'm getting all of this. ❤️

3 hours ago, Maxim said:

I'm going to say something that may be unpopular too... but Dani is as annoying if not more than Hayley. And I'm not saying this as a negative. It's great-annoying. She is just so used to being on top of everyone all the time, it's nice to see her fake world shatter. I know this may be different to a lot of people's impression of her as this "victim" of Bill's. But she lost me with her words to her mother... that it was because this affair was so public and in front of other people... that she cares so much. That's a shallow person right there. Hayley and Dani are alike in so many ways... you are not surprised that once they were friends. 

I don't see anything wrong with that opinion. We have been given fair warning ahead of time that Dani would be divisive. Watching Week 1, I can see why. For every moment that she has given me a great diva moment, Dani has also given a cringe moment or a characteristic of hers that I don't like. And a person that is always ON in life CAN be exhausting. But I do find her refreshingly...to a fault...human. But tbf...we all know which sister I prefer.  

Just now, Taoboi said:

I don't see anything wrong with that opinion. We have been given fair warning ahead of time that Dani would be divisive. Watching Week 1, I can see why. For every moment that she has given me a great diva moment, Dani has also given a cringe moment or a characteristic of hers that I don't like. And a person that is always ON in life CAN be exhausting. But I do find her refreshingly...to a fault...human. But tbf...we all know which sister I prefer.  

I agree 100 percent.❤️ That's why I said it's... Annoying in a good way. Hehe.

3 hours ago, Chris B said:

Dani reminds me of an Erica Kane or Sami Brady. She's an over the top diva who does many questionable things so it can be difficult to feel sorry for her even when she's wronged. On the flip side with Hayley, she reminds me of a early Jill Abbott or Brooke Logan. She comes across as naive and innocent but still the decisions she makes are wrong and she needs to take accountability for that. 

I love that both of them are so complicated because it makes it more interesting to watch. I feel like these types of characters are sorely missing from the other soaps these days and things tend to be black and white. 

Same. I definitely see Dani as a black Erica Kane. Meanwhile Hayley is giving Brooke Logan...and feel like she will start talking about 'destiny' at any moment. lol.

 

But I love that the characters have so many layers to them. You can cheer for them one moment, want to shake them the next, and still maybe give them a hug through their pain. 

 

 

1 hour ago, dragonflies said:

I agree completely with this

 

 

And already being talked about on SNL straight out of the gate (pun unintended heehee) too!!!

 

 

18 minutes ago, BetterForgotten said:

In the Michael Fairman interview, Karla Mosley said she was using both Erika Kane and Reva Shayne as influences for Dani, but Michele Val Jean has specifically cited Bette Davis and old Holl ywood as an influence. 

 

Ooooo...I can see all that. And some Mommie Dearest. 

 

10 minutes ago, Maxim said:

I agree 100 percent.❤️ That's why I said it's... Annoying in a good way. Hehe.

Hehe. I understand. I feel like next week the A plot is going to be Nicole and SilkPress Sheila with Dani being a good B plot so we all can recover a bit before Dani's Round 2.   And I'm down for Nicole getting explored just as well as Dani was in Week 1. 

 

 

20 minutes ago, BetterForgotten said:

In the Michael Fairman interview, Karla Mosley said she was using both Erika Kane and Reva Shayne as influences for Dani, but Michele Val Jean has specifically cited Bette Davis and old Holl ywood as an influence. 

 

Enter RuPaul ... "Don't blame that sh*t on them!" 😄

41 minutes ago, BetterForgotten said:

In the Michael Fairman interview, Karla Mosley said she was using both Erika Kane and Reva Shayne as influences for Dani, but Michele Val Jean has specifically cited Bette Davis and old Holl ywood as an influence. 

 

Bette Davis is one of my personal favorites of her time period, for several reasons. She was quoted as saying, "Old age is not for sissies." which is like a mantra to me and she was a huge soap fan, daily, without fail, watching both AW and ATWT. Supposedly she offered Val Du Four, who was a friend of hers, advice on how his AW character Walter Curtin should deal with other characters & I LOVE that idea. 

So being in the UK, I haven’t been able to watch any full episodes of BTG yet, but did manage to catch some short clips from the first few episodes on YouTube, as well as make it through all 110 pages of the Feb thread *phew*. And my thoughts are as follows:

• I pretty much love all the core four (Vernon, Anita, Nicole and Dani).
• Having done a lot of late 80s ATWT bingeing late last year, it’s warmed my heart so much to see Tamara Tunie back in the thick of it all. And she nails Anita perfectly!
• I admit I had not seen much of Clifton Davis prior to this, but it’s refreshing to see someone portray a calm patriarch so well, especially the interactions between Vernon and Dani.
• Nicole is the sibling I’m instantly drawn to more because of how centred she is, but I also have a lot of empathy for Dani in her situation, and seeing how her emotions have driven every single one of her actions thus far - that’s character-driven story 101, and I am HERE FOR IT!
• IMO, both Daphnee Duplaix and Karla Mosley are perfectly cast for the roles they’ve got - I’m wholeheartedly invested in their sibling chemistry.
• When I first watched the clip of Martin and Smitty in their home, they did NOT strike me as a gay couple whatsoever. I actually thought they were just best friends and housemates. And I share everyone else’s thoughts on the actor who plays Martin -it’s jarring to watch.
• I also had to guess how Martin was related to the rest of the family - it took me a while to confirm that he was Nicole’s son.
• Some had commented on the overuse of exposition dialogue in the first few days - for someone like me whose brain is wired to think in black and white, it’s useful to have it all spelt out.

If there is any way for a UK resident like myself to watch full episodes, I’m eager to hear suggestions!

 

Cady McClain Gives High Praise to ‘Beyond the Gates’ Co-Star Karla Mosley, Exclaiming She’s, “So Damn Good On This Show” - https://t.co/igyVksMsue @CadyMcClain @karlamosley #BeyondtheGates pic.twitter.com/joWj7ibeyE

— MIchael Fairman (@MichaelFairman) March 2, 2025

I have watched the episodes multiple times but I'm not catching the reference to Ted being a twin. Can someone kindly point me to the episode number and scene?

38 minutes ago, OzFrog said:

If there is any way for a UK resident like myself to watch full episodes, I’m eager to hear suggestions!

If you are willing to invest in a vpn, cbs.com posts the latest 5 episodes for free: https://www.cbs.com/shows/video/xntraLCHjwumHJHCftwnL78kOPGZCDEm/

Personally I use Nordvpn to watch Brookside and Coronation Street on STV. It's super easy to use and reliable.

If you are willing to catch it live at 7pm GMT, you can watch CHCH's live feed: https://www.chch.com/live/

2 hours ago, BetterForgotten said:

In the Michael Fairman interview, Karla Mosley said she was using both Erika Kane and Reva Shayne as influences for Dani, but Michele Val Jean has specifically cited Bette Davis and old Holl ywood as an influence. 

 

That was a cute moment. I remember Brad Bell calling Maya the "Black Erica Kane" but it seems like Dani better fits that description. I loved Karla's comparison of Dani to Reva because Dani's various wardrobe changes reminded me of Reva putting on her notorious red dress:

 

26 minutes ago, dragonflies said:

Nice interview with yet another Dani/Erica comparison. It's intriguing to hear Cady describe Pamela as an Opal-type. It makes me wonder how might Pamela interact with with Vanessa. Maybe the two have a rivalry?

Edited March 2Mar 2 by Alan

38 minutes ago, OzFrog said:

• Having done a lot of late 80s ATWT bingeing late last year, it’s warmed my heart so much to see Tamara Tunie back in the thick of it all. And she nails Anita perfectly!

Yes, I, too first knew her as Jessica.

38 minutes ago, OzFrog said:

• I admit I had not seen much of Clifton Davis prior to this, but it’s refreshing to see someone portray a calm patriarch so well, especially the interactions between Vernon and Dani.

Me, too. Only knew him from Amen & it's terribly different. 

38 minutes ago, OzFrog said:

 

• Nicole is the sibling I’m instantly drawn to more because of how centred she is, but I also have a lot of empathy for Dani in her situation, and seeing how her emotions have driven every single one of her actions thus far - that’s character-driven story 101, and I am HERE FOR IT!
• IMO, both Daphnee Duplaix and Karla Mosley are perfectly cast for the roles they’ve got - I’m wholeheartedly invested in their sibling chemistry.

I had to giggle at the idea that Daphnee first read for Dani!

 

38 minutes ago, OzFrog said:

• I also had to guess how Martin was related to the rest of the family - it took me a while to confirm that he was Nicole’s son.

Try this https://beyondthegates.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Characters

 

38 minutes ago, OzFrog said:

IIf there is any way for a UK resident like myself to watch full episodes, I’m eager to hear suggestions!

I tried to send you a PM but you don't do that. 

There is a perfectly free way to watch outside America on the CBS site with Chrome browser. In the official built-in extension gallery in the browser just search for Urban VPN, which is a free browser ad-on, and pick the USA setting. Only use this from the Chrome browser extensions menu. Never install from 3rd party or any other side. Has been working for me without a glitch.