I ventured onto Twitter, which I will always call it, and interesting thoughts from the twitter peeps.

These were the three that stood out to me. The 3rd one baffles me because it shouldn't be an unpopular opinion... a soap opera needs to be more than just one family. There were other tweets about how they hate the focus on the Hawthornes, SPS/Eva, & Derek/Ashley and just want the Duprees to be the focus. Obviously tweets from people that don't understand the soap opera set up.

original release date: Friday, June 5, 2026 | writers: Sara A. Bibel, Jazmen Darnell Brown | director: Sonia Blangiardo-Goins

Thoughts:

• Well, here comes the introduction of Victor Newman.

• Martin knew Kyle back in New York? That is interesting and fun. Hopefully it will be a fun reunion.

• Not turning the casino into a fortress. I doubt Randy has the willpower to do that. That's hilarious.

• Yes, Vanessa, your man is meeting with the Impaler. And I hope you read him to filth for it.

• Ashley, please allow Grayson to at least begin to repair what's happened between you. He is not the one you should be mad at. He did not knowingly lead Derek to the warehouse.

• Makes me happy that Victor has been beyond the Dupree family dating back to Vernon's earlier days in the political world, and it shows a strong alliance for him to align with Martin now.

• Naomi is right: Derek made a choice, and the choice was his to make. No way Jacob could have known what Derek was going to do. This is the one time he does need to listen to his wife. I know his anger and grief are driving him right now.

• I know Grayson has pure intentions but he really needs to give Ashley some much-needed distance while she mourns and deals with Derek's death.

• Not the reverse psychology on Ashley from Naomi. She spoke some hard-to-swallow truths.

• Anita did well putting on a brave face in her phone call to Anastasia Belleclaire to get her presence to happen at the upcoming event.

• Joey, you are playing an awfully dangerous game right now. I hope you know what it is you are doing.

• I do think that Vernon's concerned about the event with Kenny coming to light, but Martin also brings up a solid point: there are so many hands at play that are at stake of being outed and losing it all.

• Randy followed Vanessa home? Oh, he is just a watchdog. I am glad that Vanessa brought up Douglas' past with Randy, and I hope it does hit home for him.

• Damn, Joey, how many guns do you really need during this meeting? Insanity.

• Oh sh*t. What a way to conclude this week! WOWZA! So Joey knows the Impaler. How interesting!

• BUCKLING UP FOR NEXT WEEK! YES! LET'S F**KING GO!!!!

Notes:

• Bibel was the perfect choice for today's breakdown, especially with her history at The Young and the Restless. And Brown really did some outstanding script work.

• Well, it looks like Victor is comfortably settled back into his office at Newman, redressed and all.

• I appreciate that topics of grief are being handled a bit more realistically on Beyond the Gates. Not everything needs to be wrapped up within one or two episodes. Grief is not linear or as easy as it is often misrepresented as. So refreshing.

• I love getting these montage-type scenes, with one character overriding it with a dialogue piece. A great way to wrap up things, especially at the conclusion of a Friday episode.

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Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by Vanguardian53

-- The intro to Victor and Vernon would have worked really well -- if we didn't know what we know about Victor and what he's just been through.

-- Victor got his company back YESTERDAY. Now he's calmly in charge behind his desk and then flying out of town for a political endorsement? 😂

-- A keynote from Victor would come with a ton of questions from the press, but the Duprees act as if it's all good and it's all golden. We all know WAY too much about Victor Newman to think he doesn't come with heavy baggage.

-- I laughed when I heard that Jack and Diane were invited to Fairmont Crest only because Kyle knows Martin. 🤣 I guess they put away all their marital problems to celebrate their son's friend.

-- Smitty carrying around that laptop is becoming a joke. And now this plasma story is a FIVE-PARTER? What possible information does Smitty have to do even a part two? Please give him an office and close the door, or at least sit him at the dining table with that laptop.

-- Tide is back. I wish I knew anyone who carried around the Tide Pods container from room to room in the laundry basket.

-- Ashley's anger and tears are a joke. It's all too extra. She'll be back with Grayson and panting for his D in a minute.

-- I don't mind hearing about Derek, but can we give these characters some new lines? Jacob keeps repeating the same thing over and over. This guy doesn't need undercover work, he needs therapy.

-- If Joey has nothing to do with the Red Market, why does he need to meet with the Impaler? He says this area belongs to him, but what does a casino -- and whatever else Joey does -- have to do with blood plasma? It makes no sense. This is writing that's counting on us to avoid thinking too hard, or at all.

-- And what's up with Joey having a loaded gun in his crummy backroom? So he'll be ready to shoot the Impaler? LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

-- Vanessa and Randy reminiscing over Doug? Give me an effing break.

-- I think Joey's daughter is at the door and that she's the Impaler.

Vanessa was so annoying acting as if Joey is so fragile. The guy is a criminal and is beyond capable of handling himself.

I officially cannot stand Naomi. Her blaming Derek for his own death was foul. Even if she shouldn't have gone there she still shouldn't have been blaming him and bringing up him lying about being paralyzed, especially considering that Jacob would have been a goner had Derek not been there.

The green screen background in the preview reminded me of when Sky and Raven would leave for a trip on EON. If your tech looks like something from 43 years ago then you should aim lower. Victor could have easily arrived in a less grand way.

44 minutes ago, ranger1rg said:

-- I think Joey's daughter is at the door and that she's the Impaler.

He recently confided in his brain-damaged concubine (Vanessa) that he's got some ole sister named Heather that he ain't seen in 150 years. I figure if the Impaler is jumping up & down wanting a 1-on-1 with Joey, she's probably that Heather person. (That seems like a fairly dull assumption, and I don't know how Smitty would get a 5-part story out of it.)

Just now, Broderick said:

He recently confided in his brain-damaged concubine (Vanessa) that he's got some ole sister named Heather that he ain't seen in 150 years. I figure if the Impaler is jumping up & down wanting a 1-on-1 with Joey, she's probably that Heather person. (That seems like a fairly dull assumption, and I don't know how Smitty would get a 5-part story out of it.)

Yeah, I meant the Heather character. I messed that up.

Knowing one actor who supposedly debuts Monday (spoiler) I don't think their character is the impaler?