The Duh-prees

- Count me in as someone who cannot stand Kat’s fashion. No one walks around town dressed like that. And those wigs? Completely immovable. We have incredible wig technology these days—can’t the show find something better?

- Vernon’s sermons are total FF material.

- It looks like they’re setting up a past drinking habit for Anita (with all the “drowning” references), and maybe even a rape/child plot? Also—remember when Dani was an alcoholic? Lol.

 

Ted / Nicole / Leslie

- Some people are projecting way too much onto OG Ted. Sure, he had screen presence, but his line delivery was pure caricature. He wasn’t menacing or threatening—he was a joke. NuTed may be meek, a bit one-note, and smaller in stature, but his confrontation with Leslie on Friday worked. Also, let’s be real—Bill’s not scary either. Total softie. Couldn’t scare a fly.

- The ATWT reference was cute, but wasn’t the Duncan storyline from the ‘80s? Are we supposed to believe Nicole was already practicing back then? Since she said it was her patients who watched… like others pointed out, God forbid she watched herself!

- Also: I stand corrected on Leslie. I think she’s starting to make more sense as a character. She’s fearless and provocative—that’s what drives her. I actually loved her mirror scene where Nicole 2.0 made her debut.

 

The non-Dupree characters

- You guys were a bit dramatic about Monday’s show. It just had too many unlikeable storylines crammed into one. That’s all. Also, I stand by what I said about Derek and Ashley—their storyline is totally rom-com coded, and I’m into it.

- I’ve developed a soft spot for Doug!! 🥰 And I thought that Vanessa ripping into Ted had a subtle layer of self-reprimand to it  

- I officially can’t stand André. I don’t buy him as a playboy at all. Same goes for Pamela with her transatlantic accent. It’s such a shame that this is the first character CML had to create… and this is what we got?

I'm getting the sense that something happened between Anita and Dante Green that wasn’t exactly copacetic, to say the least. I wonder — did he promise her fame and fortune as a solo artist, and then attack her when she rebuffed his advances? I hope it’s not a long-lost child plot lurking out there for her. Maybe she left behind an sibling in poverty or something instead, back in Cabrini-Green/Chicago.

It does seem like neither Tracy nor Sharon’s solo careers turned out the way they dreamed — both ended up singing at City Wineries.

I still think Leslie is connected to the Duprees — maybe her mother is Sharon, and she's going after the Duprees because she believes she could’ve had their lifestyle if things had gone differently for her mom. She does have ties to Chicago. That said, I hope this is the last disguise from her toolbox for a while — I’d hate for that to get played out. But I do wonder if she’s going to use Nicole 2.0 to frame Nicole for something down the line?

I’m all for giving Shanice more time on canvas, and I wouldn’t hate it if she and Andre became an item — someone who doesn’t mind being public, unlike Dani. Or I can see Doug finally getting fed up with their arrangement and turning to the nurse for some “relief.”

Vanessa was, in a way, telling herself off in those scenes with Ted about his cheating.

And I have to say, Keith Robinson’s Ted brings a broader range of emotion than Maurice Johnson’s did — though I think Ted 2.0 is benefitting from better writing than OG Ted, whose arc relied more on MJ’s charisma and physical presence. That said, as someone else pointed out, Keith looks like he’s drowning in the clothes they’ve got him in. Hopefully, they’ve got some better-fitted attire lined up now.

4 hours ago, BetterForgotten said:

I'm going to be so sad when she's written out or leaves. 

I won't be. We all know that the shelf life of a villainess isn't very long.

Trisha Mann-Grant is the breakout star of BtG and she is destined for bigger and better things.

16 hours ago, DemetriKane said:

I never once thought Ted would kill Leslie. I must've missed that episode. 

 

For sure. Any real man should.

I didnt mean that I thought he would kill her; just that he gave off the impression that he had the capacity to do so. The original Ted portrayed him with more of a dark side when they were together. Its the switch up I see in True Crime stories when an upstanding pillar of the community ends up doing heinous things under people's noise whom would never beleive  he'd do when in actuality, he's a covert monster. Thats a dichotomy in the character as portrayed by Maurice that I dont see anymore

18 hours ago, Taoboi said:

IKR. Silk Press Sheila has no chill.

It would be so CAMP if she just showed up dressed like this to the hospital or a Dupree family function and pretended to be Nicole 🤣

 

I am counting on Martin to step up and check Bill next week. I need an old, nasty gay read down.

Does anyone know if it has been stated that Dani went to college?

6 hours ago, Aback said:

- I’ve developed a soft spot for Doug!! 🥰 And I thought that Vanessa ripping into Ted had a subtle layer of self-reprimand to it  

I felt the same way. I got a bit worried when he didn't pick up the phone. I hope he is in good shape.

 

 

I still can't get over "New. And improved. And delicious". And "Gawd, she is as dry as day old cornbread" took me out too.

2 hours ago, soapfan770 said:

It would be so CAMP if she just showed up dressed like this to the hospital or a Dupree family function and pretended to be Nicole 🤣

 

She's serving Kenya Moore season 5 Phaedra obsession.

love her! 

BTG is fire!!! It has definitely found it's footing and has exceeded my expectations. 

Wednesday's episode and the scene with Dani & Chelsea was everything. I wish my 13yo self could have seen a scene like that. 

Dana/Leslie is absolutely nuts, but I love her. TMG, is just amazing, as is AM. All of the cast is improving and settling in. 

I can't wait to see how all the stories play out.

On 5/24/2025 at 3:01 AM, Antoyne said:

Trisha Mann-Grant is so so good. I can’t believe I’ve never seen her in something before.

She appeared in this movie.

 

I was the Beyond the Gates Facebook page and they are speculating about Mike Manning's and Brandon Claybon's real life sexual preferences.

I have to sit back and laugh out loud at the pure ignorance.

Supposedly, Brandon Claybon is reluctant to kiss Mike Manning because he's married to a woman. 😐

I just can't.

Thank God, most people who post on this site have some sense.

49 minutes ago, MontyB said:

 

Supposedly, Brandon Claybon is reluctant to kiss Mike Manning because he's married to a woman. 😐

 

IF that's true, it's 2025, and that's why they call it acting!

3 minutes ago, 1974mdp said:

IF that's true, it's 2025, and that's why they call it acting!

Sure, but when it comes to playing gay roles a lot of straight men become terrified that people will actually think they are gay if they do a kissing scene.

8 minutes ago, ReddFoxx said:

Sure, but when it comes to playing gay roles a lot of straight men become terrified that people will actually think they are gay if they do a kissing scene.

Then they shouldn't accept roles playing gay.

ETA: They would probably not have any reservations about playing cheaters or liars but kissing another man is too much. I'm so sick of this attitude.

Just to be clear though, we don't know for sure if that is the case here. It's still only a rumour.

Edited May 25May 25 by I Am A Swede

1 hour ago, MontyB said:

I was the Beyond the Gates Facebook page and they are speculating about Mike Manning's and Brandon Claybon's real life sexual preferences.

I have to sit back and laugh out loud at the pure ignorance.

Supposedly, Brandon Claybon is reluctant to kiss Mike Manning because he's married to a woman. 😐

I just can't.

Thank God, most people who post on this site have some sense.

The facebook comments are *very* entertaining! Sometimes I enjoy going down that rabbit hole. It doesn't matter the soap, if it's on Facebook, they are always wildly off the mark.