Beyond The Gates Weekly Recap 08/04-08/08/25

This week on Beyond The Gates, Doug unravels, Naomi gets suspicious, Elon is a terrible father, Nicole has the eye of a hot doctor, and Ashley gets an eyeful. Let's get into it.

Triangles and Babies

Dani and Andre wake up basking in the afterglow. She makes him breakfast, which he enjoys, but he’s under the impression they’re keeping things casual. So he is shocked that she is making him breakfast. The conversation shifts to French food. Dani thinks that it is bland, and Andre says that sometimes subtle is nice, which somehow circles back to Ashley. Dani takes a swipe at Ashley, calling her unfit for him, too dull for someone as "interesting" and "dangerous” as Andre. She insists she’s not jealous, but the subtext says otherwise.

Later at the Uptown, Dani meets with Pam about their business venture, but Dani wants intel on Ashley Morgan. Pam teases Dani about being interested in Derek. Still, Dani makes it clear she’s happy with Andre, although she admits Ashley’s into him. Dani describes Ashley as a "sweet child" who couldn’t handle Andre. Dani feels like she put the work in with Andre and doesn't like to share. She already had to contend with one twit. They talk about Hayley without using her name.

Enter Hayley, who inserts herself into the conversation and ends up sparring with Dani. To her credit, Dani tried to keep it light until Hayley pressed, calling her a "dried up hag". Dani tries to laugh it off, but Hayley keeps going until Dani stands up. Words fly, Pam tries to intervene, and Hayley runs off clutching her stomach, milking the moment. She returns with bloody hands and when Dani tries to help she acts fearful using the moment to call her a bitch. She refuses Dani's help and points to Randy, a mere "stranger" to help her. Later when he returns, Dani asks how she is. He tells her it is not good. He also tells her his name is Sammy when she says he looks familiar. Dani is shaken and racked with guilt.

Shaken, Dani confides in Andre that she thinks she caused Hayley to lose her baby. She calls Bill, who confirms her fears, and she crumbles. Andre reassures her that he believes she never meant harm. Things turn heated… until the sound of a closing door kills the mood. Andre retreats to the “we’re friends” safety zone, trying to justify the uncertainty in his head.

Mob Ties: Vanessa, Doug, and a Bugged Car

Ted reprimands Doug for sloppy mistakes that could jeopardize his medical license. Doug snaps, quits, and hurls personal jabs about Ted’s marriage.

Meanwhile, Vanessa's numbers aren’t adding up; capital is appearing out of nowhere. She claims it’s for a commercial real estate bid, but the accountant isn't buying it. Nicole interrupts and presses for details when the accountant leaves. Vanessa dodges. Doug later calls Vanessa, he tells her that he quit his job. If she is going to be the queen of money laundering, he will be the king.  Later they meet at Orphey's, they are so toxic but there is still something there. They share children so they do not want to see harm come to the other. She warns him that Joey is dangerous and has tapped his phone.

Later, Vanessa goes to the backroom of the casino to reassure Joey. Joey doesn’t trust Vanessa’s reassurance that Doug’s no longer a problem. They spar, she defends Doug as a good man, and somehow it ends in intimacy. You know, as a side note, I could root for them if I liked Vanessa. As a character, I don't like her, but I like Lauren’s portrayal. It’s again the matter of telling and not showing. They aren’t even showing much. I do not understand her motivations, nor do I know why Doug tolerates it.

Elsewhere, Doug makes a call at Orphey’s and is shocked to hear a phone ringing, and finds Randy picking up the call. Randy’s in town, apparently helping Hayley. Doug floats, taking down Joey, but Randy warns that others have tried and died. Doug pivots to a murder plot to shield Vanessa from fallout. Randy says that he has the police in his pocket. Doug says that then they go to the DA, he can't have everyone in his pocket. Randy considers flipping to the DA.

Every Day Ashley

Ashley’s mother, Jan, encourages her to see Derek, while Jacob and Derek catch up. Derek vents that Andre will never settle down—ironically, Jan is telling Ashley the same thing. Jan makes it clear she prefers Derek for her daughter.

Ashley tries to break things off with Andre, saying she needs time. Derek, emboldened by Jan, visits Ashley and pledges to be with her. He’s not as worldly as Andre, but willing to try. Poor Derek...he’s done nothing wrong, but Ashley’s bored. She wants thrills and adventures. Things we never once saw her think of. Honestly? I’m rooting for him to get a glow-up and end up with Shanice.

Ashley later visits Andre, only to find him and Dani in the moment, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. She rushes out as the door clicks shut.

Hayley’s Baby: The Aftermath

Naomi visits Hayley and pointedly asks why she faked the ultrasound. Bill walks in and rushes to her side. Hayley claims she lost the baby. Once alone, Naomi calls her out. Hayley cries and lies and in the end Naomi keeps her secret… for now. I hope that she exposes her, but I doubt she will. Naomi is concerned for Bill's health and may feel that this could cause another stroke.

Odds and Ends

• Nicole meets Carlton for breakfast, chatting concerts and how Leslie scored a ticket. They flirted but were only on for a couple of minutes, one day. We will cover that in the wrap-up.

• Elon continues to be a contender for Worst Father of the Year, ripping into Jacob over not arresting Nicole and Dani while doing far worse himself.

Final Thoughts:

This episode was heavy on manipulation and power plays. It could have been an excellent week if not for writing inconsistencies and every day Ashley. I have gone on about these issues ad nauseam. So I will be skipping thumbs up/down this week as there are too many things to thumbs down.

Dani’s guilt spirals over Hayley’s “baby". We are supposed to believe that Dani, who never thought the baby was real would buy Hayley running off and returning with blood on her hands wouldn’t be suspicious?  Andre's sudden turn away from Dani, as if he hadn't been sleeping with her for months. MONTHS, not days, not weeks, months. I am so over this pile on Dani, who is a fan favorite by the way, across all fandoms. Ashley is the least favorite, but we see more of her than Nicole Dupree? Isn't this show about the Duprees?

Vanessa's motivations evade the audience, and Ashley has no character development. She is bland, she has no fire, no personality, she is just there. They want her to be sweet but sassy; however, she cannot pull off either. I'd like her to just be a nurse that we see in hospital scenes. She is on every week most days and we do not see Kat or Eva, every week. I care more about their stories.

The worst storyline yet is this baby mess. I wanted Hayley to be a vixen, and I will keep my thoughts to myself on why that won't work and isn't working. My biggest issue with it is the writing. This is why Hayley said that she faked an ultrasound, read it and tell me if it makes sense:

"

Hayley: You remember when your mom took me to Garland when I was cramping? I thought that I was losing the baby. The doctor wanted to do an ultrasound, but I couldn't because--

Naomi: Your womb is as empty as your words.

Hayley: If the doctor didn't see it or say it, no one could tell me that I was going to lose my baby, I was terrified and the pain subsided and I just convinced myself that I was all right. I went back for the follow-up, I knew Bill would ask about the sonogram so I just printed one out but it was stupid, I know, but it stopped Bill's questions and allowed me to keep pretending until today. Now all I can do is wonder if it would have made a difference if I had got it done? Would I have saved my baby?"

Huh? Are we to believe that Dani made her lose the baby weeks ago? I experienced cramping in the first trimester, and I was scared. The doctor did an ultrasound and a heart rate monitor. It was normal cramping that can happen in the first trimester. There is no way a mother would leave the hospital without knowing if their child was safe. I know that this is a soap, and she's lying, but the lie wasn't convincing.