Beyond The Gates Weekly Recap - 4/28

Beyond The Gates Weekly Recap - 4/28-5/25/25

Monday

Ted tries to get romantic with Nicole, but every time they get close, party plans interrupt them. Meanwhile, Vernon encourages Anita to revive her music career—he’s her biggest fan. But Anita, ever the realist, says it’s not just her aging voice. With Dani and Naomi by her side, she could maybe do it, but things ended badly with the Articulettes after she went solo, and that still lingers.

Derek and Ashley are arguing over furniture, and honestly, I’m bored. Over in a much more interesting scene, Martin has another daymare, and Chelsea drops by to talk about her sexuality. She wants to date the woman in her throuple but doesn’t know how to navigate it. She’s been with women before, but this one makes her want to do something she’s avoided—catch feelings. I really liked this moment between her and Martin—it felt like cousins having real talk. He was there for the tea and offered her space to work through it.

Eva confides in Nicole and Ted that she’s usually the one people leave. She admires their love and they reassure her that her time will come. Meanwhile, Leslie’s at the diner with friends, enjoying the moment. After they leave, she spots Martin with Vernon and walks over, handing Martin a brownie. Clock that moment—it comes back during the reveal.

Later, at home, Leslie is trying on wigs in the mirror. One thing Leslie is going to do is entertain. Eva walks in, and they talk wigs and Dupree business. Leslie casually drops that she talked to Martin and Vernon. Eva challenges her—why is she so focused on the Duprees when her real issue is with Ted? She tries to talk Leslie down again, but, of course, Leslie doesn’t listen.

The episode closes with a flashback to Leslie and Eva’s past. It leaves just enough mystery to keep us guessing about the ever-alluring Leslie and the secrets she’s still keeping.

Thursday

Nicole takes a trip down memory lane, flipping through her wedding album. Ted admits he always felt like she was out of his league. At home, Eva recalls Ted comforting her once and telling her she always had a place in his and Nicole’s life. She’s getting dressed when Leslie shows up—disguised. Leslie tells her that the architect of Ted’s destruction is none other than his own daughter.

Anita checks in on Kat’s speech—Vernon helped her with it. They praise Ted, saying Nicole did well, unlike Dani. Speaking of Dani, they want to make sure she’s party-ready, and Chelsea’s on it. Dani is glowing. She says she wants to celebrate Nicole, but we all see the reason she was rushing Chelsea out: Andre was upstairs. I’m smiling and kicking my feet—give us this couple, please. They are the story.

Eva doesn’t want to go through with this in public. Leslie, singing the same old song, doesn't get why Eva feels sorry for him. She calls her “little girl” and tells her it’s time to choose: with her or against her. She chooses the only person who has been there for her. That person just so happens to be the person who has manipulated her throughout her life.

We get a flashback to Dani’s anniversary with Bill. They’re getting dressed and running late, but the chemistry? Whew. It’s still there. Which makes it harder to swallow his relationship with his "child bride". Thankfully, Dani snaps back to the present, and there’s Andre, watching her in awe. They talk about going public, and while Andre is down, he says he’ll follow her lead.

At the country club, Vernon wants more details about Tomas. Kat opens up a little, though she confides somewhat about what Tomas asked of her. Her family is proud of her for standing firm and not going against her better judgement. She talks about not settling, about wanting what her parents have. It makes me wonder—will she unravel? Will this make her view on relationships change?

Eva and Leslie meet. Eva is tense. Leslie hands her the key to the supply room and tells her to lock her in—part of their plan. She’ll get dressed and wait until it’s time for her big reveal.

Guests start arriving. Chelsea’s live streaming (why?). She’s interviewing attendees, starting with Anita and Vernon. Andre is there snapping pictures and wants one of Eva, the event's mastermind. Kat’s still on the hunt for Leslie. She’s suspicious. Chelsea tries to play peacemaker, but Martin pops in to tease his sister, interrupting her crusade to find Leslie. Nicole and Ted arrive. Everyone’s in place.

This episode weaves family bonding with mounting tension. Nicole tries to play matchmaker, eyeing one of Ted’s colleagues for Dani—but Dani only has eyes for Andre. He takes their picture and flirts. Dani compliments Eva’s look and suggests modeling—please let that happen. Meanwhile, Ted and Nicole offer to pay for Eva to get certified as a medical assistant and a job in Ted’s practice.

Eva tries to stop Leslie from going through with it, but Leslie locks her in the supply closet. Luckily, Dr. Carlton saves her—but it’s too late. Leslie has already begun her villainess speech.

Friday

Leslie dives into her dramatic takedown of Ted. Eva tries to pivot by throwing her mother under the bus, but Nicole wants to hear it all. Naomi arrives just in time to snatch the phone from Chelsea—because obviously, this is not something we live stream.

Thursday and Friday were pure soap—explosive, emotional, and exactly what May Sweeps has been missing.

Ambyr Michelle is our Performer of the Week. She delivered. You felt her pain. I even teared up. And that final image—her standing alone—left us with more questions. So much story potential here.

Highlights

• The drama

• The fashion

• Ambyr, Karla, Colby, and Trisha Man Grant’s performances

• The slow burn build-up to the reveal

• The Duprees uniting around Nicole

• Daphne’s subtle yet gutting portrayal of Nicole’s heartbreak

• Bill knowing about the affair and even getting involved to control Leslie

Ten out of ten!

Lowlights

• Derek and Ashley… still arguing about furniture. I thought they already lived together? Either way, not interested.

Speculation Corner

Did Vanessa skip the party and end up in the ER because she’s pregnant—and Doug isn’t the father? Skyliners think so, and honestly? I agree.

And what was up with Leslie calling Eva “girl” and abandoning her? Is she even Eva’s real mother? There’s a theory floating around that Eva is actually Nicole’s daughter—Leslie stole an embryo and carried it herself. Sounds wild, but this is a soap, and I’d be all in. I also don't mind the original story, Eva is Leslie’s daughter—with Ted. Either way, the twisted family dynamics are giving everything they need to give.