I'm enjoying this episode that seems to be featuring relationships between people. Romantic or friendship. Giving each characters points of view. Well done.

original release date: Thursday, January 8, 2026 | writers: Teresa Zimmerman, Danielle Paige | director: Michael V. Pomarico

Thoughts:

• A stress ball? I do not think that is what Nicole needs, Carlton. At all.

• Dani rubbing Andre's magic lamp? Ooh-la-la! She is in the mood!

• I love how supportive Vernon continues to be for Anita. That is a loving husband who stands by his spouse.

• Bradley had a goth phase? That is something I would like to see, truly! Eyeliner, hair dye and all!

• Can the spoilt, self-centred bitch stop trying to deny things and act as self-righteous as she always does? She is annoying the bloody piss out of me.

• I love how Ashley is there for Naomi and is able to talk her through things medically in the same way I know Naomi would do with legally inclined things.

• Damaged goods? Oh. Someone is looking to get slapped/punched right in their face. Gross.

• I mean, I am not a popcorn fan, but putting pickle spray on it? I will be passing on that one.

• Seeing Anita and Vernon continue to embrace Andre into the family is so sweet. And a Dupree family gathering! This looks like such an event.

• Mardi Gras? I have never been and it does overwhelm me and my anxiety, so this would be a fantastic middle ground for me.

• Seeing Naomi come around to accepting Andre as Dani's husband is amazing, knowing where it all began. Amazing.

• Not Anita throwing shade at Dani in the best of ways. This is what family is about! It truly is.

Notes:

• Zimmerman and Paige are a perfect match! More of this duo, stat!

• The barely stirring of the pasta by Sean Freeman (Andre) was hilarious. What was that mixing? NOTHING! Put some actual effort into it.

• The sexual nature of this soap is sublime; it is not dumbed down for audiences or shying away from innuendo, such as Dani wanting to give Andre a handjob in the kitchen.

• Loving the mention of this weekend's Golden Globes (on CBS). I wonder if anyone on the red carpet will have a ChelseaKat handbag?

• I love how much fun it seems the cast had during the Mardi Gras segment on the Dupree set. That is what I love seeing!

• No one does family like Beyond the Gates. No one. True P&G soap.

Edited 18 hours ago18 hr by Liberty City

1 hour ago, Cheap21 said:

Why would this cause conflict?

I dont think Eva will be happy that Leslie is going to be working for Joey

Looks like a special episode on January 19th

Edited 18 hours ago18 hr by dragonflies

SMH.

So another Dani crisis and her best friend Pamela is nowhere to be seen.

2 hours ago, Rmodelboy said:

I dont think Eva will be happy that Leslie is going to be working for Joey

I guess Im not see why she would care?

1 hour ago, Antoyne said:

So another Dani crisis and her best friend Pamela is nowhere to be seen.

Pamela who? Vanessa said that she was Nicole AND Dani's bestie yesterday

Edited 15 hours ago15 hr by Cheap21

24 minutes ago, Cheap21 said:

I guess Im not see why she would care?

Pamela who? Vanessa said that she was Nicole AND Dani's bestie yesterday

That’s been evident since the show started. I don’t even know why they created the character of Pamela or even tried to say she was Dani’s bestie if they can’t be bothered to I dunno actually have her on canvas more than once every 3 months.

I think they wanted to put Cady in a role, which was a fine idea but it hasn't gone anywhere. While I would like to do more with her I wouldn't hate if they've just phased her out.

I don't mind Pamela popping in from time to time-plenty of people have friends they touch base with occasionally,

But it could become wearing after a while I guess.

I know there's a lot of personal drama going on, but the lack of work related scenes and stories is still a bugbear for me. Dani was on her laptop and mentioned the modelling agency, but that business is so far on the backburner.

Chelsea/Kat is glossed over.

Martin the politician, gossipy nurses, not sure what Smitty is doing, Vanessa the real estate mogul and so on.

ChelseaKat does need to be a much bigger thing, as does Dani's business. Same with the nascent Martin/Bill political storyline. I think MM has hinted that Smitty in the workplace will become a bigger storyline soon, which makes me happy.

I did love the cotillion drama yesterday. That's how soaps can and should educate for their viewers, as opposed to the more random speechifying the show often likes to engage in for so many other moments. There was real specificity to the discussion.

I also loved Andre and Dani being domestic in the kitchen today!

Edited 13 hours ago13 hr by Vee

I had a friend of mine recently start watching the show and I was explaining to them about how Dani/Andre seemed to be a happy surprise and that the show listened to viewer feedback and kept them together as a couple instead of what I think was the intended plan of Andre/Ashley (which seems pretty much dormant now if today's episode was any indication).

The friend asked me why Dani/Andre only seem to be shown in bed and having sex vs having actual deep conversations that a couple should have. I told them that there had been numerous conversations between the two in the past.. but that they just happened to watch during their sexy time phase of the relationship.

What I liked about today's episode was the Chelsea/Kat conflict because I saw both sides of their arguments... but it is Kat's decision what she wants to do. I have to admit I like that Kat is establishing boundaries and having a life for herself away from her family. The timing is off because of what Anita's going through, but she'll visit her grandmother once she has worked through her own internal fears.

And Ashley continues to excel as the supportive friend and wondering if the show will actually keep her in this realm a bit longer before trying to throw her into another insta-relationship.... time will tell.

2 minutes ago, Soaplovers said:

And Ashley continues to excel as the supportive friend and wondering if the show will actually keep her in this realm a bit longer before trying to throw her into another insta-relationship.... time will tell.

I still don't think much of JJ's performance but I'll keep my mind open. They do seem to be planning to use

SPOILER

Jordi Vilasuso's lab tech Grayson Perez

with Ashley, and I'm willing to see what happens if Ashley finally surprises me. I'm just glad if they're leaving her thing with Andre in the rearview.

Edited 12 hours ago12 hr by Vee

Wow, yet another very entertaining family focused episode. BTG continues to impress me and fill that missing piece the other soaps hadn't been providing.

I have seen a couple of remarks about the Duprees reminding them of the Capwells of Santa Barbara and I couldn't agree more. Santa Barbara was my favorite soap opera. I still miss it but BTG and the others soaps, to some degree, are truly making me smile again.

I do think Kat will regret not showing up to the Mardi Gras party today. She is selfish, but I totally get where she is coming from. In time, I believe she will come around.

As for Ashley, I have actually been loving her the past few episodes. JJ has truly grown on me and I can finally say I really like Ashley now.

6 hours ago, Melroser said:

I'm enjoying this episode that seems to be featuring relationships between people. Romantic or friendship. Giving each characters points of view. Well done.

Very good episode today. I loved every aspect of it, I even tolerated Ashley lol